Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 11/21/2010

Question
Thankyou for taking your time to answer my questions. I am currently a career firefighter, I have been for 4 years now. I want to finish school and join the army as an officer. I'm only 23 right now, so I have the time. What I'm wondering is this. I have had shoulder surgery on my right shoulder (SLAP repair#. Me being cleared to get in the service aside,#I still need to talk to someone and go to meps to find out)Assuming I was able to join, what if I needed the same surgery on my left shoulder later on down the line while I was in the army? Would they let me stay in and give me the 4-5  months to let it heal and go back to my regular MOS and mission? or will they try to med. discharge me? I really want to serve but I'm afraid of doing so, if they try to kick me out after a couple years if I need the surgery on my other shoulder.

Answer
If you are healthy enough to enter military service the military will do its best to ensure you stay that way.  Generally speaking people in good standing are given the requisite time to make a recovery and return to duty.  A good example would be those people who have ACL surgery, they're allowed the 9 months to a year to heal and then returned to full duty.  During your healing you would still be required to do as much of your mission as doctors permit, it wouldn't just be time off.  You would be allowed to keep all of your physical therapy and other medical appointments, of course.. and work would fit in the rest of the time. Bottom line: if you get in, they generally wouldn't kick you out for needing surgery.  They will, however, thoroughly review your medical records prior to entry to assess your ability to serve.