Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 10/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: Okay let me summarize my situation, my father is stationed overseas in korea, there's no meps here we have to fly to guam for me to enlist in either the marine corps or army in 2-3 weeks. Let's just say im very familiar with the military life and im exceptionaly qualified in all aspects except one. I have very mild hand eczema on my right 3 fingers and thumb. It's not cracked,oozing,bleeding,scaly it's just smooth and a little pinkish red from when i use to have it bad. Anyways i been looking for months on the net now discouraged, also getting mixed messages from some recruiters not knowing what they're talking about. Some say we need a picture and diagnosis other say in medical regulations it's a dq can't help you. What i think is they know they can get me through meps so it's not that im worried about it flaring up during bootcamp and getting sent home, and by then it wont be the recruiters problem so oh well im just a number on his quota so he or she could careless if i spend a grand flying over to guam to enlist. I need help real bad, what should i do? I know army doesn't check your hand during bootcamp once you get through meps i have a few friends that recently went to basic and ait but i want to join the corps real bad but i hear they do routine hygeine checks with your nails and hands. Should i get a doctor's note? just go in without telling the army and forget the marines? does it matter on the meps i go to? so many options please help

ANSWER: Dear Lee --

I cannot fully answer your question because I do not have access to your medical records and cannot see your skin's condition.

However, depending on the cause of your redness, you might be able to enlist, or you might need a waiver.

If your eczema was temporary and caused by an allergic reaction, but is now healed, and will not flare up again, you can enlist with no issue.

However, if your eczema is a permanent condition, and can flare up, you will need to apply for a medical waiver, and you will need to be medically assessed.

The Army has more waiver billets available than the Marine Corps, so your likelihood of enlistment success is higher with the Army.  But if your heart is set on the Marine Corps, you should try there first.

As for flying to a MEPS station, I would ask your dad to talk to the chain of command and find out if you can fly space available to Guam, or State-side to enlist.  Since ROTC cadets can fly space-A home for school breaks, and to travel to military bases during ROTC training, I should think a military family member could use it to fly in order to enlist.  That way, whether you are successful or not, you will not be out-of-pocket so much money trying to enlist.

Good luck to you.  Please write back, if you have other questions.  Thanks to your dad, and your whole family for his service.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Once your medicaly waivered and it gets a bit red in boot camp but your still capable of doing everything needed, will they blow it out of proportion and send you home or are they more lenient since you got a waiver? My eczema popped out and bite me in the butt when i turned 18 now im 19 doctors say it's because of weather, when i was in the states it cleared up a lot with no medication.

ANSWER: Dear Lee --

With the waiver, they cannot claim fraudulent enlistment, so you won't get in trouble.  However, if the eczema gets very bad and weepy or bleeding, they will probably discharge you.  Usually, they will not try to "blow it out of proportion and send you home" if you are able to do your skills and training events.  The only exception to that is if they think your condition is a threat to the health of the other trainees.

It sounds like you have a similar condition to my husband, he has winter eczema on his hands.  They get chapped and red, and sometimes bleed in the winter time, if he doesn't keep them moisturized.  He also has to use new gloves fairly often because the least amount of bacteria or fungus in gloves that didn't dry out properly causes a flare-up.  

Understand that temperature changes, humidity changes and stress can all bring on an eruption of the symptoms.  Since no doctor can predict whether you will fare well or ill in training, they may not be willing to give you a waiver.  It will depend on your history of flare-ups and what the likely cause has been.

Good luck to you.  I hope you get your chance to serve.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is a medical waiver applied for before or during MEPS? Also they cannot pull any medical documents up that i have not given them right? The reason im asking is what if my eczema was so trivial that i tried to get through meps without applying for a waiver since it's normal now. Would marking no and then going to the physical to see if the doctor would notice get me introuble at that point in time? Or if i mark yes what would they do? i don't understand how the waiver process would work and once waivered if they check up on you at boot camp more then others?

Answer
Dear Lee --

The medical waiver is applied for after you are medically declined at MEPS.  

I do not recommend lying.  If you were to have a flare-up during training, the medical officers are likely to find out that you had an episode of eczema previously, and that makes a fraudulent enlistment.  

If you are accepted for enlistment with an honest medical history, with or without a medical waiver, your medical conditions are covered even if it is a recurrence.  

I would put that you had allergy related eczema, a single episode that is healed now, and unlikely to re-occur.  So you would check the box yes, and put the above comments in the remarks box.  The doctor will interview you about your pre-existing conditions and make a medical determination on your candidacy.  If he recommends yes, you are good to go.  If he recommends no, then you would appeal for a medical waiver.

Good luck to you.