Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 11/20/2009

Question
Hi,
  I guess the real concern I have about joining is my medical background.  My doctor has told me before that I have seasonal asthma, but I don't believe he has ever declared me of having asthma on my chart. Would this out right disqualify me from joining any branches?

Thanks,

Joe


Answer
Joe,
The military medical regulations say exactly, "The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are: Asthma, including reactive airway disease, exercise induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, reliably diagnosed at any age.  Reliable diagnostic criteria should consist of any of the following elements:

(1) Substantiated history of cough, wheeze, and/or dyspnea that persists or recurs over a prolonged period of time, generally more than 6 months.

(2) If the diagnosis of asthma is in doubt, a test for reversible airflow obstruction (greater than a 15 percent increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVI) following administration of an inhaled bronchodilator) or airway hyperactivity (exaggerated decrease in airflow induced by standard bronchoprovocation challenge such as methacholine inhalation or a demonstration of exercise-induced bronchospasm) must be performed."

The military does not require you to bring any medical records with you, so you will not be lying when you say you've never had asthma.  Do not volunteer any such information because it mat get you disqualified.

Thanks for wanting to join the military.
Colonel H

Please excuse me for the delay, I've been off on a no-notice mission.