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

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Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 10/28/2010


Question
My 15 year old son wants to join the Navy after high school. Last summer he was in a 4-wheeler accident and broke his arm now people are telling him he can't enlist in any branch of the military is that true?

Answer
Tina,
Friends and relatives usually mean well, but seldom give good advice.  Fortunately, you have experts like me who can give you the real story.

The military medical regulations say that as long as he has "healed with no residual weakness or symptoms such as to preclude satisfactory performance of duty", he is good to enlist.  These regulations are good for all Branches of the Service.

If the military disqualified those with broken arms, there wouldn't be anyone in the military.  What kid hasn't broken an arm at sometime in their youth?

If his arm healed properly he won't have any problem enlisting in any Branch he likes.

I commend him for choosing the military as an occupation.
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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