Expert: Rod Powers - 10/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey Rod,

I've read many of your articles on military.about.com.  Thank you for the candid and comprehensive information.  I know that you hate getting "medical waiver" questions, but I feel like you may be able to give me a little more information than I've been able to find so far.  I am 24 yrs old with a Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering.  I have always had an interest in becoming a Marine, but only recently decided to actually pursue it.  My question is regarding my shoulder.  I have dislocated it several times in the past, and am considering surgery.  I just completed eight weeks of physical therapy which helped really stabilize the joint.  I know that I could surpass the initial physical requirements for getting into OCS, but if I dislocate it during training I will be limited in activity for a least a day.  If I get surgery to tighten the joint, my surgeon says that I have a good chance of not dislocating it ever again.  My question is how does MEPS view a surgically repaired shoulder as opposed to a slightly unstable shoulder?  I'll need a waiver for either, but is one better than the other?

Thanks for your help!


ANSWER: Hi Dan,

I wish I could help, but I can't. First of all, either condition is probably medically disqualifying (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/genitalia.htm).

MEPS itself has nothing to do with medical waivers. All MEPS does is say that you either have a medically disqualifying condition, or you don't.

If you do have a medically disqualifying condition, all MEPS can do is to disqualify you. After that, it's up to the individual service you are trying to join to decide whether or not to consider or approve a medical waiver.

You may wish to read my article about medical waivers at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/medicalwaiver.htm.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com

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

QUESTION: Hey Rod,

Thanks for your help.  I think you meant to post this link and not the genitalia link.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/extremities.htm

Although the link you posted is unintentionally (I hope) hilarious; I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong impression about shoulder instability.  For the record, it does not affect the genital region ;D

In the link above, as well as in other official docs that I have found online, the only restrictions with regard to the shoulder is range of motion.  I can certainly fulfill these requirements, so the DQ would be for my medical history.  My question was do I stand a better chance for MEPS to recommend a waiver with surgery or without?  In retrospect I see that you can't answer that question without some kind of crystal ball.  I'll just have to make my own decision on whether or not I want to do surgery.

Thanks anyway for your help and for the humor:)

Dan

Answer
Hi Dan,

Sorry about the wrong link. Someone right before you had asked a question about joining with a missing testicle, and I guess the link was still on my clipboard when I pasted it for you.

You're right that I can't answer your question. The decision as to whether or not to recommend a waiver will be up to the individual MEPS doctor who does your examination. There is no way that I (or anyone else) can guess what that doctor will do.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com