Expert: John L - 10/26/2009

Question
Background info: My question is about qualifying standards for the HPSP (Army) program.  I am applying to medical school and the HPSP, and because of my grades and MCAT score, I qualify for "automatic acceptance" so I can apply before I have my medial school admission letter, so I have already started filling out all the paperwork.  I am the daughter of a retired LTC and want to serve my country as both an officer and a doctor.

Question: Should I apply for a waiver for "exercise induced asthma"?  Asthma is written all over my medical records, but I was never actually tested for it.  I have allergies and have just been routinely given inhalers to "help" or "prevent asthma attacks", which I've never actually had.  I occasionally get short of breath while exercising so do use the inhalers sometimes, but I'm very fit and in shape and passing the physical will be no problem at all for me. (I'm a marathon runner and have always been in excellent physical shape.)  My recruiter (medical services specific recruiter) said that if I was never formally diagnosed with asthma, I didn't have to put it in my paperwork, since asthma is an automatic DQ.  I don't want to be medically DQ'ed, and am unsure about how to handle the situation and what to indicate in my application paperwork.  Please advise as to the best course of action for this situation.

Answer
If you were never diagnosed, then you dont have it, but if you thing you might have issues, go get the lung test done where they hook you up to a machine and measure lung capacity.  I cant remember what it is called, but that can clear it for you or let you know that you cannot have a military career.

It is the safest way to go about this.