Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 3/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: I wanted to rejoin the military after I received a Reenlistment code of 3, I know I will have to repay the severance pay that I received but I contracted Asthma in the military and on my records it states that my asthma met retention standards, I never failed a PT Test and only used an inhaler as needed. I was wondering would the asthma be an issue for me to rejoin the military. Your opinion would be nice.

ANSWER: Dear Kimberly --

Your RE 3 indicates that your asthma was serious enough to limit your ability to do your military mission, or made you a health risk during deployment.

In order to re-enter the military you will need to prove to a military board that you were misdiagnosed with asthma, or that your asthma is so minor that there is no risk in either realm.

It may be difficult to prove this, and you will clearly need a medical waiver to re-enter.  However, if you have doctor's "proof" that you will not be a service risk, and if the medical board doctors agree, you might be allowed to re-join.

Please talk to an Army recruiter, or explore your options further by asking your question at: https://www.goarmy.com/contact/email_us.jsp?hmref=cs&ssl=true

Best of luck to you.

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

QUESTION: Ok, maybe I should've went into detail, I got out the military for a skin condition which was a misdiagnosis but I also was diagnosed with asthma but I never went to the medical board for that issue before I went to the medical board my doctor just glanced at my medical records and saw in there and just added it in my paperwork but noted that I met retention standards because my asthma was didn't prevent me from taking a PT test or performing my MOS. I was just wondering would my asthma be a issue for me trying to rejoin even though I got the diagnosis in the military and it was annotated in my medical records that my asthma wasn't an issue. Sorry for the missing information, I could've worded the question a little different. Thanks.....

Answer
Dear Kimberly -

You will need to prove to the military doctors that neither your skin condition nor your asthma will keep you from  doing your military mission.

Visit a recruiter and determine if you are otherwise qualified for return to service. If you are, the doctors at the MEP station will determine if you are medically qualified. If they determine you aren't, you can apply for a waiver. You will need the documents from your current doctors outlining the misdiagnosis when you apply for the waiver.

If you can show that neither condition interferes with a very active life, you should receive your waiver and be able to rejoin the service.

Best of luck to you.