Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: Ok, so here is my question. My son joined the USMC, he was entered into the DEP and completed all his pre enlistment physicals and screenings(including hearing tests). He has only been gone 4 days. So here's the problem he called home yesterday and said they are sending him home due to the fact that he didn't pass the hearing test, he was highly upset and I could hear the disappointment and anger in his voice. This is something he really wanted to do, he was so excited when he found out he was in. They ran 2 tests on him then sent him to the US Navy hospital to be screened by a doctor. The doctor ran a series of tests which he also failed. My son has never so much as had an ear infection and has always passed his yearly physicals and hearing screenings. So now his recruiter has told me they will be processing him out(what exactly does that mean?) and that he can kiss his @&& goodbye as far as any branch of the US military ever goes. So what happens now? If they discharge him will it be Medical and can he join again later?

ANSWER: Shelley,
I don't quite understand this one, not enough details.  His medical evaluation comes BEFORE he is sworn into the military.  So where has he been for 4 days?  Is he in basic training at Parris Island or maybe in San Diego?  If there was a problem he never would have made it past the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)and would not have been sent to basic training.  If he somehow did make it to basic training he wouldn't have been sent to a hospital unless he said he had a problem.

The doctors may have found an internal ear problem that you son may have never knew he had.

His recruiter is correct, if he is "processed out" that means he'll be discharged from the USMC.  Because a hearing problem can rarely be fixed, he'll be ineligible for any other Service also.  A recruit cannot go through basic training with hearing aids.

I'm sorry this happened to him, but occasionally it does.
Colonel H

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

QUESTION: Colonel H,
Sorry I didn't give you enough information. Yes he is in basic training, has only been there 4 days. He went through the medical evaluation...passed...was sworn in. He passed all the tests at MEPS. His recruiter said it was standard procedure for them to check his hearing again, and that after he failed it 2 times that is why they sent him to the hospital to see a doctor. I really don't know much else as I have only spoken with him one time since this occurred.

Answer
Shelley,
It absolutely IS NOT standard procedure to check his hearing again.  Only if he said he had a problem hearing instructions, or the Drill Instructor noticed your son having difficulty hearing would they do that.

Whatever the reason, they discovered the problem.  This early in his training it's cheaper for the Marine Corps to discharge him than to keep him and spend money trying to fix his problem.  Sorry, but nowadays they look at $$$ first.

Colonel H