You are here:
Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/A Medical Concern
Advertisement
Question
I'm really considering joining the navy soon but I have a concern about my medical history. Back in my childhood (12 or 13 years of age) I was diagnosed with asthma. I know it was between those years, but I've never had an attack. I honestly never noticed any symptoms. But I was diagnosed anyways. I've only filled a prescription to an inhaler once right after my visit to the doctor who diagnosed me and I only used it for about a week because the doctor told me to. I soon realized that I didn't need it so I stopped using it after that week. Again I never had an asthma attack. Through out Jr. High School and my freshman year of High School I was active in PE and was able to participate in all of the activities as well as run a mile every week with no problem. To this day I have never had any problems with Gasping/Wheezing when I jog, maybe being out of breath from me being a little out of shape, but nothing that I would consider as symptoms of asthma. I'm really concerned that this "condition" I was identified with may stop me from doing what I've been dreaming of doing, which is JOINING THE NAVY. Do you have any insight for me? I've asked my parents if they can remember when I was diagnosed or who diagnosed me, but they don't have a clue. I want to find out when I was diagnosed but I don’t have access to any of my medical records, remember I don't know what doctor I went to and I am no longer with the insurance company I was covered under when I diagnosed. Sorry for using the word DIAGNOSED a billion times.
Thank you
Joseph
Hi Joseph,
For the military's current policy on childhood Asthma, see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/asthma.htm
As long as you were diagnosed before your 13th birthday, and there hasn't been any history of treatment or attack since then, there should be no problem.
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my Military Information Website at: http://usmilitary.about.com
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.