Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 5/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: I know you answered this question before, but i was wondering if you could
further clarify something for me. I know you can have controlled hypothyroidism and join the army. My question is, would having hypothyroidism give me limited duty assignments? In other words, would this
preclude me from airborne, ranger, SF, and etc. training?
Thanks

ANSWER: Dear Chris --

You should be eligible for Airborne School, but you may not be eligible for Ranger School.  You are unlikely to qualify for Special Forces with hypothyroidism.  A military medical officer or board will be required to make that determination.

Good luck to you.






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

QUESTION: I dont want to sound like I'm fishing for the answer I want to hear, but when I
looked at AR40-501 under the conditions for SF and Ranger it said to refer
back to endocrine disorders under section 2-8 which once again brings up hypothyroidism, uncontrolled by medication is DQ. Is this a loop hole in the
standards?
Thanks
chris

Sorry for asking so many questions, but this is something I always wanted to
do. Thanks again.  

Answer
Dear Chris --

It is not a loophole.  It means you will have to petition for your condition to be evaluated, and medically declared consistent with potential for success in the Special Forces.  As I said, if you qualify in all other ways, you will probably get approval for Ranger school.  If you pass Ranger School, then, when you apply for the SF qualification course (Q Course), you will have to petition again.

You have a good chance of being accepted, if your condition is truly controlled with medication, and the stress of training and military service has not thrown your hormone balance off.  Because of your condition, each application will require a medical determination, and will take longer than a application for someone with no contrary medical conditions.  

Good luck to you.  I hope you achieve your dream.