Can You Join The Canadian Military With Asthma
A doctor can make a recommendation for a suggested medical waiver to a recruiting commander in the Coast Guard.
The same recommendation is plausible in any of the military branches as MEPS falls under the command of the DOD.
A recruiting commander has the power to accept or deny a military medical waiver.
The recruiting commander will factor the recommendation of the doctor assigned to you at MEPS as well as the objectives of the specific branch.
Unfortunately, there is no method of an appeal for recruits that get denied for a medical waiver.
Every waiver requires varying levels of review for approval so its hard to give an estimate in terms of time.
The best thing you can do is be open and honest with a recruiter about any underlying medical conditions.
Joining The Army And Depression
Hi,I am considering joining the Army but have concerns about my medical background.I was diagnosed with depression and was prescribed anti-depressants following a family bereavement however, after much thought I decided to not take the anti-depressants, returned them to the docs, and opted for counselling and feel like I have successfully recovered. This is all quite recent .Is my application likely to be postponed for a few years? I will visit my local careers office to ask them, but thought I’d check on here first to see if I would be wasting my time!Cheers
Hi,I am considering joining the Army but have concerns about my medical background.I was diagnosed with depression and was prescribed anti-depressants following a family bereavement however, after much thought I decided to not take the anti-depressants, returned them to the docs, and opted for counselling and feel like I have successfully recovered. This is all quite recent .Is my application likely to be postponed for a few years? I will visit my local careers office to ask them, but thought I’d check on here first to see if I would be wasting my time!Cheers
Spine And Sacroiliac Joints
The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:
a. Arthritis.
b. Complaint of a disease or injury of the spine or sacroiliac joints with or without objective signs that has prevented the individual from successfully following a physically active vocation in civilian life or that is associated with pain referred to the lower extremities, muscular spasm, postural deformities or limitation of motion.
c. Deviation or curvature of spine from normal alignment, structure or function if —
It prevents the individual from following a physically active vocation in civilian life.
It interferes with wearing a uniform or military equipment.
It is symptomatic and associated with positive physical finding and demonstrable by X-ray.
There is lumbar scoliosis greater than 20 degrees, thoracic scoliosis greater than 30 degrees, and kyphosis or lordosis greater than 55 degrees when measured by the Cobb method.
d. Fusion, congenital, involving more than two vertebrae. Any surgical fusion is disqualifying.
e. Healed fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae. A compression fracture, involving less than 25% of a single vertebra is not disqualifying if the injury occurred more than one year before examination and the applicant is asymptomatic. A history of fractures of the transverse or spinous processes is not disqualifying if the applicant is asymptomatic.
f. Juvenile epiphysitis with any degree of residual change indicated by X-ray or kyphosis.
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Other Than These The Following Will Also Not Let You Get Selected In The Airforce:
- A history of an adjustment disorder within the last six months, or recurrent episodes of adjustment disorder
- A history of paraphilias like voyeurism or exhibitionism
- A history of or current alcohol or drug abuse or dependence
- A history of attempted suicide or suicidal behavior
- if their personality, conduct, or behavior disorder is believed to be a serious incongruence while adjusting to the military lifestyle
- may be a reason for disqualification if one has received treatment with the last two years
Obtaining An Army Waiver
There is a chance that you might qualify for current service if your bout of mental illness doesnt hit any of the triggers listed above and you are presently of solid mental health. In this case, youll have to apply for a waiver from the military. The waiver acts as a statement of confidence that your mental health issues will not affect your ability to serve.
If you want to try for a waiver, youll need all of your medical records from the doctors who worked with you. Get copies of all of your treatment paperwork, including medication information and therapy notes, to be given to your recruiter and reviewed by the chain of command up to the surgeon general. The point is to be upfront and straightforward, showing that the mark in your medical history is far in the past and does not currently affect your ability to do normal daily tasks and respond to stressful situations. The paperwork should include a statement of such by the doctor or doctors who helped treat your depression.
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Depression In Your Medical Record
The writers at the National Institute of Mental Health described depression as a common but serious mood disorder. Individuals with depression suffer from feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, often accompanied by emotions of sadness, pessimism and irritability. This persistent low, empty mood can then drive changes in behavior, such as loss of interest in normal activities, an increased sense of tiredness or fatigue or brain fog that can make it difficult to concentrate.
Most people consider depression being sad about something, but thats really only one piece this association can mean individuals who are actually suffering from depression but dont feel sad can go undiagnosed for years.
Depression is usually treated with a combination of medications and some sort of therapy. Some types of depression are caused by a lack of certain chemicals in the brain in these cases, medication can help to stabilize brain chemistry, which can help some individuals in recovery. In other cases, a psychotherapeutic approach is recommended, sometimes alongside medication. Therapy for depression doesnt always involve evaluating the past looking for causes newer types of therapy instead focus on helping the individual manage the symptoms of depression.
Can You Join The Military With Ptsd
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder disqualifies you from military service in most cases.
The problem with PTSD is that the disorder is often linked to serious trauma like what you might experience serving the Armed Forces.
Therefore, serving the military might only make symptoms worse.
You should avoid service to find more effective ways to cope with the disorder.
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You Need To Take Care Of Your Teeth
Your dental health is very important when joining the military you cant have too many cavities. According to the International Classification of Disease code, any dental issue that interferes with a normal diet, or includes complex dental implant systems with complications will disqualify you from service. Having braces can also temporarily disqualify you, also.
Can You Join The Military With Asthma
Can you join the military with asthma? The short answer is it depends. The military has a long and varied history of how they handle recruits with different medical conditions. Generally, the rule is medical conditions that impact availability and effectiveness are automatic disqualifiers. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard for people to breathe, especially during bouts of prolonged exercise. In this article, well look at how all 5 branches of the military view asthma and what to do if you have asthma and still want to serve your country.
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The Impact Of Stress On Military Families
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 1.7 million soldiers served in Iraq and Afghanistan by the end of 2008. Of those soldiers, nearly half have children. These children had to face the challenges that come with having a parent deployed overseas. They also had to cope with living with a parent who may have changed after going to war. Making these adjustments can have a profound impact on a young child or teenager.
According to a 2010 study , children with a deployed parent are particularly susceptible to behavioral problems, stress disorders, and mood disorders. Theyre also more likely to experience difficulty in school. This is largely due to the stress that children experience during their parents deployment as well as after they come home.
The parent who stays behind during a deployment may also experience similar issues. They often fear for their spouses safety and feel overwhelmed by increased responsibilities at home. As a result, they may begin to feel anxious, sad, or lonely while their spouse is away. All of these emotions can eventually lead to depression and other mental disorders.
Documentation For An Other Designated Physical And Mental Conditions Discharge
With some of these conditions, local commands are reluctant to believe that the problem exists and to grant discharge. Medical or psychiatric documentation is vital.
The best documentation for a personality disorder is a current and thorough psychiatric evaluation. While the military will require psychiatric examination by a military psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist, civilians are usually more thorough and more sympathetic than military doctors.
Military commands and psychiatrists may demand to know why a civilian psychiatrist was consulted, even though it is perfectly legal to do so. Members can justify the consultation by explaining how their emotional state frightened them.
You may want to write a cover letter describing your difficulties in performing your duties and what you have tried to do to alleviate the problem. This letter is usually most effective if it is not a request for discharge but an outline of the problems you are having.
The GI Rights Hotline may be able to help you find psychiatrists or licensed psychologists who are generally supportive and willing to learn about the militarys criteria and procedures.
It is not helpful to give the psychiatrist a detailed account of how the military has made life miserable for you. Instead, you can discuss your own feelings and actions without simply laying blame on the military.
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Are There Individuals In The Army With Depression History
The answer to this question will be no! Thats what many people would say. And why should they? The U.S. Army is well-organized and also viewed as one of the best in the entire world. Their level of professionalism second to none! They set the standard for others to follow.
However, I would like to state that statistics show that most enlistees have bent the rules in their favor. What I mean is that there are people who are in the U.S. Army with a depression history.
Most of them entered with the condition, while some developed it while in service. Now the big question is it right to disobey the rules that stipulate that people with a specific mental health condition arent qualified?
The answer is, no! Rules are meant to be obeyed. Those who are circumventing the rules need to understand that theres punishment for such offenses.
Having mental health challenges like depression and enlisting in the army can dent your reputation. It can also make it difficult to gain promotion to another level, which is something everyone in the military craves.
The army prohibits individuals with mental health conditions or disorders from joining the force. However, research data indicates many persons have been skirting these rules in the past.
A study conducted and shared in JAMA Psychiatry, in 2014, shows that 25 percent of non-deployed military members have got some form of mental health issues. The disorder in question ranged from ADHD , panic disorder, and even depression.
Disqualifying Mental Health Conditions
According to the Department of Defense, you’re disqualified from serving in the U.S. military if you have a current diagnosis or a history of most mental disorders. The presence of any disorder with psychotic features, such as schizophrenia or a delusional disorder, does not allow one to serve.
You’re also disqualified if you have bipolar disorder or affective psychoses. For depressive disorders , disqualification from the service occurs if a person had outpatient care that lasted for more than 12 months or any inpatient care. A person with a depressive disorder must be stable, without treatment or symptoms for a continuous 36 months, to be eligible to enlist.
For anxiety disorders , a person cannot enter the armed services if they needed any inpatient care, or outpatient care for more than 12 months cumulatively. They must not have needed any treatment for their anxiety disorder in the past 36 months. Other disqualifying mental health conditions include:
Disturbances of conduct, impulse control disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or other personality or behavior disorders characterized by frequent encounters with law enforcement agencies, and antisocial attitudes or behavior also warrant disqualification from service. Likewise, a person may be disqualified from enlisting if their personality, conduct, or behavior disorder is believed to be a serious interference in adjusting to the military.
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Your Butt Cant Be Too Big
Spinal disorders and conditions are taken very seriously by the military. Many of the jobs have stringent physical demands and standards, and having any sort of back issue can be detrimental to your health, and the readiness of the force. However, according to the Tucson recruiting office, as a result of spinal curvature misalignment, your butt can be too big for you to serve. Enough said.
Is Having Anxiety Or An Anxiety Disorder Disqualifying
As we mentioned earlier, anxiety is a broad term which covers several different mental illnesses.
For example, bipolar disorder and PTSD are extremely severe forms of mood disorders and usually difficult to receive a waiver.
Meanwhile, other forms of anxiety such as having panic attacks or dealing with mild forms of depression may allow you to obtain a waiver.
The military examines whether you recently had inpatient or outpatient care related to your anxiety.
It also studies if you took any prescription medication to help deal with anxiety in the last year or last three years depending on the condition.
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Allergies And Coeliac Disease
Allergies
Significant food or other allergies are a limiting factor to entry.
Coeliac disease
While coeliac disease is manageable day-to-day within New Zealand, in certain situations there may be limited dietary options for a prolonged period. In such situations there is a risk of complications ranging from gastrointestinal symptoms to nutritional deficiency. This has potential implications not only for the individual, but also those around them. The Defence Force has an obligation to minimise risk to the individual and the organisation wherever possible, and accordingly if you have coeliac disease you may not be admitted entry to the Defence Force.
Can The Military Discharge You If You Suffer From Depression
The military may discharge a soldier who has a mental condition such as depression. Any physical or mental illness that can interfere with a soldiers duty and performance can be used as grounds for discharge.
If the soldier shows signs of major depression while in a warzone, such as insomnia, feeling helpless and depressed, inability to focus on work and thoughts of suicide, the military may offer medication and therapy. However, if the soldier refuses psychiatric medication, then they may be administratively separated or discharged without medical retirement or benefits. The military may also discharge a soldier within the first few months of service if he displays symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders.
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Having A Current/ History Of Disorders That Comes With Psychotic Features
These psychotic features include paranoid disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychosis. Know that these conditions are disqualifying.
So, thats it about conditions that can disqualify a person from joining the U.S. army.
Alright, below are some other conditions that are disqualifying. Lets check them out!
Can You Be Kicked Out Of The Military For Depression
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, you’re disqualified from serving in the U.S. military if you have a current diagnosis or a history of most mental disorders. The presence of any disorder with psychotic features, such as schizophrenia or a delusional disorder, does not allow one to serve.
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How Do You Shut Up A Jehovah Witness
Politely interrupt to take control of the conversation.
Unknown Number Of Waivers
The Army did not respond to a question of how many waivers, if any, have been issued since the policy was changed.
Data reported by USA TODAY in October show how the Army met its recruiting goals by accepting more marginally qualified recruits.
In fiscal year 2017, the active-duty Army recruited nearly 69,000 soldiers, and only 1.9% belonged to what is known as Category Four. That refers to troops who score in the lowest category on military aptitude tests. In 2016, 0.6% of Army recruits came from Category Four. The Pentagon mandates that the services accept no more than 4% of recruiting classes from Category Four. In addition, waivers for marijuana use, illegal while in uniform, jumped from 191 in 2016 to 506 in 2017. Eight states have legalized recreational use of marijuana.
Recruiting generally is more challenging for the services when the economy is strong. The Army has responded by offering more bonuses to those who sign up for service. In fiscal year 2017, it paid out $424 million in bonuses, up from $284 million in 2016. In 2014, that figure was only $8.2 million. Some recruits can qualify for a bonus of $40,000.
The Army’s decision to rescind the ban for a history of mental health problems is in part a reaction to its difficulties in recruiting, Ritchie said.
“Youre widening your pool of applicants,” she said.
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