AboutRod Powers Expertise Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
Question Hi,
I want to join the Army, but i am unaware if my medical condition will disqualify me. Ive looked around the net and havent found any real concrete answers. I have dextrocardia and a murmur. Its was corrected with surgery....All of my phycians, Primary care and 3 different Cardiologists have all said they dont see any problems why not. I had the surgery done in 96' (16yrs old) i played football in high school and college. and currently im in excelent shape...i lift 5 days a week and run 6 mile eod....I dont want to waste a recruiters time if i have no chance from the get-go.
However, there is one category (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/misc.htm) that says if the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) examining official thinks your condition is a condition that: "in the opinion of the examining medical officer will significantly interfere with the successful performance of military duty or training (796) may be a cause for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction."
You can't go by what your civilian doctors say. They are not trained or educated in the requirements of Military service. "I can't see why not" doesn't hack it by the Military, especially from a civilian doctor with no military medical experience.
In short, the only way you're going to find out for sure is to apply to join a branch of the U.S. Military, and see what the MEPS doctors have to say. I would highly recommend you have a copy of all your civilian medical records, relating to the condition readily available for the recruiter to send to MEPS.
I don't think you're wasting a recruiter's time. I would estimate that your chances of being medically accepted are fairly good, and -- if medically disqualified by MEPS -- I would estimate your chances of a service medical waiver (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/medicalwaiver.htm) are also pretty good -- most especially for the Army.
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Website at: http://usmilitary.about.com.
