Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 11/20/2010

Question
Hi. I was Discharged under a Honorable Medical term.
I was supposed to be a fire fighter in the USAF. While I was in basic I had to go through a flight physical to qualify for the job. During my physical they found I had Microscopic Hematuria. This was due to a kidney stone they found after I graduated BMT and was a holdover at the 319th training squadron. I fought my case through MEB and chose to come home after three months of fighting my case. I was told I could rejoin after proving my kidney stone was gone. But when I went to rejoin.. my recruiter had told me that I couldn't rejoin at all. I was devastated. I am a healthy 21 year old adult who wants to serve. I am curious if I could rejoin with the separation code: JFM and ReEntry code: 2Q into any other branch, if not the Air Force? Thank you for your time. -Christopher P.

Answer
Christopher,
I'm sorry to hear you have kidney stones.  I hope you have passed them by now.  If you haven't passed them yet, you're in for quite a painful experience, trust me, I know.

Thank you for providing your codes...they explain it all.

A Separation Code of JFM means exactly - Released for Conditions Existing Prior to Service and your RE Code of 2Q means exactly - Medically Discharged.

Microscopic Hematuria basically means they found blood in your urine.  While not dangerous in itself, it can be a symptom of a chronic kidney disease, like kidney stones.

Your RE Code 2 means you are ineligible to reenlist in the Air Force, but might be eligible to join another military service, if the circumstances which resulted in the code no longer apply.  So if you have proof that you have passed the kidney stone or had it removed, then you're OK to try again.

The real reason they discharged you is because once you have a kidney stone you are labeled a "stonemaker".  The old saying goes..."once a stonemaker always a stonemaker".  For me, that saying is certainly true..I've had 17 kidney stones over the years.  For many years I had one every year, then it finally slowed down to one about every 3 years.  The AF doesn't want to lose a productive worker for several days per year because of kidney stones.  Nor do they want the expense of treating you for them forever.  I was already in for about 5 years when mine started, so they didn't have any choice.  In your case, since you have so little time in service, it was just easier and cheaper for them to discharge you.

Kidney stones are serious business.  Fortunately I have always passed mine.  I met a fellow in the urology clinic who could not pass one.  It travelled about halfway out and then went back up in.  So he experienced the pain twice and eventually had to have it surgically removed.

If you wish to remain in the fire fighter career field, you might want to try the Army.  Job training for Firefighter requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 13 weeks, one day of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction.  The Navy, USCG, and USMC have pretty much contracted out their firefighters to civilians.

Colonel H