Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 2/15/2009

Question
My 23 year old son has been trying to enlist in the Air Force since October.  When he went to MEPS his blood pressure was high, the lowest reading was 140/90. He has no history of hypertension and is in otherwise excellent health.  His recruiter advised him to have his blood pressure checked for 5 days and bring the readings in to be submitted for medical waiver (a medical waiver was recommended by the doctor at MEPS).  The readings were all within normal range and as far as we know the request for a waiver was submitted.  How long does it take to receive an answer?  Is there something else he can do or should he consider another branch?  When he calls the recruiter he is told only that he hasn't heard anything.  His test scores were high and he was planning on taking the linguist test.  If he does try another branch will this process have to be repeated?   Thank you.

Answer
Hi Brenda,
I surprised to hear that, because 140/90 is considered high normal in the Air Force.  Usually the doctor will have the person rest, relax, and calm down and retake the pressure in 10 minutes.  The excitement and nervousness of going to the MEPS for the first time is enough to raise anybody's blood pressure.  New things can be scary, whether you realize it or not.  Unfortunately, the MEPS doctor didn't want to take the time to give him a chance and just jumped to the waiver process.  (In my opinion that's like getting a "Life in Prison" sentence for stealing a candy bar.)  But now that the waiver process has been started, it'll take time, probably 4-6 weeks.  I'd bet that it'll be approved, it's just that there's always a backlog of waivers.  Going to another branch of the service won't accomplish anything at this point.  Hold out for the Air Force, it's the "elite" service.  If for some strange reason his waiver isn't approved, and he's dead set on serving his country, try the Navy next, especially if his ASVAB scores are high.  High is "greater than 70 in all qualification areas."
Tell him to be advised, if he does well on the linguist test guess where he'll be assigned.  Definitely overseas.  Unless he's already fluent in a foreign language, the linguist test just determines if you're capable of learning a foreign language.  If he passes they'll send him to Monterey , CA to language school to learn a language of THEIR choice.  Right now their choice is Arabic.  If, for example, he already speaks Spanish, he'll skip Monterey and be assigned directly to a South/Central American country.
I'm glad to see he's considering the military.
Good luck in whatever career he chooses!
Colonel Mark A. Howell