Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/MEPS

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Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 8/27/2009


Question
Hello there, my names kyle and im a healthy 17 year old male and a junior in high school. Im looking to join the army reserve and do split option for either 92y or 37f but im worried about MEPS.  I have nothing wrong with me but i have white coat sydrome, so when i get my blood pressure taken it shoots up for no reason.  Ive had this happen to me every doctor visit and ive been sent to a specialist and they found out nothing is wrong with my heart at all and there are papers to prove it, so i guess what im asking is, will my white coat sydrome disqualify me, and i can i show them the papers to prove nothing is wrong with me?

Answer
Comment - Thanks you so much!  The reserves has always been in the front of my mind.  With high school ending in two years for me and collage awaiting soon after, the Reserves just seems like the best choice for me.  I know many men who joined reserve, went to basic, then wanted to go active so bad, but if I join the reserve I can sign up as a junior, do basic between my junior and senior year, thanks to split option, then go to AIT once I graduate high school, all while going to drill once a month, starting when I sign up, which should be in the time frame of next month.  The Reserve just seems like the best choice for me, but who knows maybe when my contract is up and I'm done with schooling the active Army will be awaiting me :)

Kyle,
You're welcome.  As I was saying earlier, I just didn't want you to fall into the trap like many, thing you can switch from the Reserves to active-duty later on.  It's almost always impossible.  They are two separate components of the military and although the name Army is on both, they have little to do with each other.
Otherwise, it sounds like you have a good plan.
Lots of luck,
Colonel H

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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MARK A. HOWELL

Expertise

All military questions, any Service. 30 years experience & two Ph.D.'s. 4 times Base Commander. Worked with Army, Navy, USMC, USCG and several foreign military units. Veteran of Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 10 civil wars in Africa.

Experience

Air Force Colonel with 30 years experience. Air Force Base Commander 4 times. Highly decorated.

Organizations
Org of Am Historians, Wild West History Assoc., Disabled American Veterans - Life Member, Am Motorcyclist Assoc. - Life Member, North Am Hunt Club - Life Member, NWTF - Life Member

Publications
Numerous book reviews published in the Journal of American History. Two books submitted for publication.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in military history, Columbus University (Summa Cum Laude) Ph.D. in history, Northfield University, London, England (Summa Cum Laude) Master of Arts degree in history, Marshall University, WV Bachelors degree, double-major in history and mathematics, Salem College, WV Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

Awards and Honors
Legion of Merit Defense MSM MSM x 5 Joint Commendation Mdl AF Commendation Medal Army Commendation Mdl Joint Achievement Mdl AF Achievement Medal Outstanding Volunteer Mdl

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