Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 11/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have hypothyroidism. If I were to be granted a waiver and accepted to the Army's or the Marine Corps's basic training how would they take care of the medication details?

ANSWER: Dear Brandon --

If your condition is controlled by medication, and you receive a waiver for your condition in order to enter the service, you will receive your medication through military pharmacies or through the Tri-Care system at no cost to you.

You would be expected to monitor your condition and take your medication at the appropriate times in keeping with your duty schedule.

Good luck to you.



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

QUESTION: Colonel,

Went to the Army recruiters and they called their higher-ups about my hypothyroidism and they said the people above them said that its a permanent disqualification and that it was the same way for the rest of the military. However, I noticed that in your Q/A on this site a young man who has hypothyroidism got a waiver by MEPS for the Marine Corps. How is this possible when we have the same condition and they told me that it was a permanent disqualification and he got a waiver just a few months earlier?

Thank for your time,

Brandon

Answer
Dear Brandon --

Not all hypothyrodism is caused by the same condition.  The cause of your hypothyroidism could be the permanently disqualifying factor, not just the fact that your thyroid hormone levels are low.  Since I do not have the details of your condition nor the condition of the Marine candidate, I cannot tell you exactly why you are being turned down and the Marines granted a waiver for someone else.

You might want to talk to a different recruiting center, and see if you get the same answer.

Good luck to you.