Expert: Rod Powers - 6/3/2007

Question
I have been in the Navy for five and a half years now and BCA has been a constant battle every PFA cycle due to my small neck.  I have always passed the physical side of the PFA with flying colors but the tape measure is not my friend.  Since the new instruction came out that says 26% BCA is passable if you score excellent overall on the PRT I have had a little easier time of it.  However over the past year and a half to two years I began experiencing a lot of respiratory problems while PTing and sometimes around animals, smoke, and other pollutants.  I continued PTing everyday as best I could until finally I just couldn't breathe.  On more than several occasions the Corpsmen onboard my ship put me on oxygen.  After returning from my last deployment in January I was sent to Desron medical and then to a pulmonary specialist.  I did the test where you breathe into the tube hooked to a computer and when the results came back the Doctor diagnosed me with asthma.  The Doctor waived me from the spring 07 PFA cycle.  Obviously with my ability to PT at a high capacity before the diagnosis I found it very difficult to maintain my BC.  I have been told that even with the waiver from the doctor the BCA is still counting against me and will fail me regardless and I will be separated from the Navy.  Now that I am on medication (ADVAIR) for the asthma is there any way that I can be granted a grace period to bring my BCA back in line and avoid separation?  Once again I find myself fighting what seems to be a double standard.

Answer
Hi Mike,

I can't find anything in the regualtion or the NAVADMIN messages which state that if you've received a medical profile exempting you from a PFT cycle, that it counts against you.

Whoever told you this, I would advise you to ask them to "show you."

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com