Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 9/17/2007

Question
Hello, I am currently at Navy Officer Candidate School to join the Civil Engineering Corps upon completion.  15 weeks ago I started the program but fell out of training within the first week with an asthma attack, heat exhaution, and in the ER I was treated for asthme and diagnosed with Rhabdomyalisis and was held in the hospital for 5 days while I recovered.  
I had asthma as a young child but did not have problems(that I knew of at that time through high school or college.  However, three weeks ago I took a cardio/pulmonary exercise test and was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma.  I was perscribed two inhalers.  Advair, to take every morning and night, and Albuterol, to carry with me at all times.  Now I am waiting to hear what they will be doing with me and am impatient to hear something from them so I am searching for probabilities.  I have read other answers about asthma and I am pretty sure the policies disqualify me from service but what are the chances of getting a medical waiver?  
One twist that I think might effect the outcome is that I was enrolled in the Bachelor Degree Completion Plan in college.  So basically I recieved salary through the last two years of school before coming to OCS.  I had disclosed my asthma history at MEPS and was told that since I didn't think I had problems through hs or college I got a waiver.  Does the money situation increase the chances of a waiver so that the Navy can get their money's worth out of me?  
Your inputs about what will probably happen with me and how long the process might take would be greatly appreciated.       
Patiently Waiting...  

Answer
Dear Scott --

The real issue for your retention will come down to -- will your exercise induced asthma cause you to be a danger to yourself or others, when you try to do your military mission?  So the issue becomes -- how treatable is your asthma?

With exercise induced asthma, dry air often causes the breathing passages to become irritated and swell.  Sometimes just using a mister, or starting your exercise in a moist environment can delay the onset of symptoms.  Once your naturally occurring histamines kick in, you do not get breathing passage swelling, and no asthma attack.

If the Navy decides they cannot retain you due to your asthma, you should get an honorable discharge.  You also should not have to pay back the cost of your training, since you got a waiver for your asthma when you enlisted.  However, since you had a prior history of asthma, which you correctly reported at MEPS, you are unlikely to get any separation pay, or continued medical care.

"Getting their money's worth out of you" will not be the medical board's primary concern.  That concern will be -- can you safely and effectively do your mission given your health issues.

Good luck to you.