Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 8/23/2009

Question
I entered into the Navy 10 years ago.
I made it to the end, but could not pass the final PT test.
I personally believe it was due to my being in Boot Camp during the winter (from a warm climate and therefore wasn't conditioned for it).
They diagnosed it as asthma and gave me a Medical Discharge with an RE-4.
I am in great shape now and want more than anything to re-enlist.
Is there anything I can do?

Thanks...


Answer
Jason,
A Re-Entry code of RE-4 means exactly "Not recommended for reenlistment."  Individuals with a Navy RE Code of "4" are normally not eligible to reenlist in the Navy, nor join another service.

Asthma is easily misdiagnosed and often confused with a mild allergy.  Also, young people often "outgrow" asthma.  Below is a quote from a medical journal:

"Asthma is usually diagnosed in childhood.  In many patients, however, the symptoms will disappear or be significantly reduced after puberty.  Around age 20, symptoms may begin to reappear.  Researchers have tracked this tendency for reappearing asthma and found that people with childhood asthma tend to experience reappearing symptoms through their 30s and 40s at various levels of severity.  Regardless of whether your asthma is active, continue to avoid your known triggers and keep your rescue medication handy in case you need them.  Approximately 50% of children with asthma appear to outgrow asthma when they reach adolescence.  Once someone develops sensitive airways, they remain that way for life, although asthma symptoms can vary through the years.  As a child's airways mature, they are able to handle airway inflammation and irritants better, so their asthma symptoms may notably decrease. About half of those children find their asthma symptoms reappear in varying degrees when they reach their late thirties or early forties.  There is no way to predict which children may experience greatly reduced symptoms as they get older."

Trying to prove to the military that you no longer have asthma or that you were is misdiagnosed can be difficult, but it can be done.  As you can see from the medical journal quote, asthma may reappear later in life, so the military may say you still have it, you're just in a dormant stage right now.  Hopefully you've outgrown it and will never have any problems again.

Also, are you still within the age limits?  (Navy age limit is 34)

Still, it wouldn't hurt to talk to a Navy recruiter and see what he can do for you.  Maybe you can prove you've OK now and get a waiver.  You may want to get a letter from your doctor first, saying you don't have asthma, and take that with you to the recruiter.

Good luck, and thanks for wanting to continue serving.
Colonel H