Expert: Jason Grabill - 12/11/2007

Question
Well first off I'm 20 years of age and have been wanting to be a Marine since I was a freshman in high school. I've taken pride in what I've accomplished so far from being active in sports all my young years such as running track for my high school (never competed by the way because of grades) to graduating high school to becoming a successful college student to working as a high school mentor. Since I'm one class away from receiving my AA Degree, I came to the decision that now would be the time I want to enlist. I don't want to wait any longer because as we know time does fly and I don't want to wait till the time where I can no longer enlist because of age. My plans were to serve as a Marine Reservist because I wanted to continue on going to school to obtain my Bachelors Degree. Many people including counselors, professors, and job supervisors have persuaded me to join the officers program. I gave it a great deal of thought but came to the conclusion that I don't feel that I have the right to wear that bar. I'm the type to work my way up from top to bottom because then I'd appreciate what I've earned a lot more. I've also had an interest of becoming a Drill Instructor because of life experiences as well as my current job. I carry a gift as most people say of helping, teaching, as well as giving others the proper motivation of being successful. I have a friend who's like an older brother to me who just finished his three year tour as a DI and the way I see them carry themselves out has become something I've been interested in. I currently work at the high school I graduated from as a peer educator specialist, a mentor if you will and I deal with kids that remind me a lot of myself and how I was when I Was their age which is the lack of discipline, lack of civil conduct, and a negative attitude. I'm assigned up to 7 students which I consider them my recruits in a college program that they must complete to satisfy their elective criteria. Upon their completion of the program, when I think back of all the struggles and stress I've given my students and just to see them receiving their certificate of completion makes me feel like I've made a difference in their lives. I've taught them well and they leave here with a sense of maturity, goals, and morals as do new Marines who graduate Boot Camp. I do apologize for the life story, I just wanted you to see where I'm coming from.

Well here's the deal, January of 2007 is when I was scheduled to take the Physical at the MEPS. Everything was going as planned because my recruiter, the recruiting office supervisor, and I went over as to what I was going to say and the regulations. I had a case of childhood asthma as we all know is a big disqualification. I had revealed that I did have a case of childhood asthma, but that was during my kid years. I've never had any case of an asthma attack. Everything runs perfectly fine. Well my recruiter was as disappointed as I was because we've spent so much time and just for that one word "yes" it threw it all away. When my godfather found out about the dilemma, he was as disappointed as I was and informed me that whatever they don't know about you that you don't reveal they don't know. At that moment at the MEPS, I thought I was being set up for a trap, that if I lied that they would have access to my civilian records, now that I know all the information that I didn't know before, I was highly dissapointed in myself. Since I'm the type of person to always have a plan A and plan B, I decided to through the officers program which I do know possibly can get a waiver for me through the results of my PFT. The recruiter down there had informed me that if I still wanted that chance of being able to enlist, all I would have to do is take the Pulmonary and Methancholine Challenge Examination. The costs of that particular examination was far too expensive, so my medical would have to cover it which took about 9 months to recover because of me being over age. When I finally got all that settled, I took the examination and passed it. All my breathing and vitals were all normal, everything excellent and good to go for military service. So when my recruiter submitted my results to the MEPS, I went from a disqualification from all branches of service to medical hold, all they wanted to ask for now were my medical history documents. So I submitted those documents and as I was reading through them, it stated it that I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was 3. Just yesterday afternoon when my recruiter called, eager to know the results had informed me that my waiver didn't go through. I was a bit confused, I mean I did pass the only examination that's out there to verify if you have asthma or not the results came back negative, I was good to go for military service as the physician who conducted the examination informed me as well as my local doctor. It just seems by the attitude and way of speaking that my recruiter has given up on me. I however have not, if I passed an examination that will be the only way of verifying that I'm healthy with no medical disability, then I should be in good terms. I just spoke to an Army recruiter today, and he states there is some way of being able to get me in, and I don't want to have to lean towards that route/option because I've always wanted to become a marine. I'm more familiar with that branch then any other and shown great interest. I know I made a mistake, but hey I'm only human. The most important thing is to fix and learn from the mistakes you've committed which I think would be the attitude of a Marine. I lived up to my word, I did to what I was told by my recruiter and gave him my word and promise of not bailing out on him, I took the examination, I passed, now I'm walking away empty handed. Well I will not accept no for an answer unless their aren't any possibilities left.

Any suggestions, advice, answers?

Answer
Gabriel:

 From what it sounds like to me, you were originally DQ'd for the 'childhood asthma' deal (gets alot of people...stupid but it's a DOD rule), which you went though the trouble to get examined and go back through the process, and the docs said you were fit.   So they put in for a waiver, and it was denied...by the Marine Corps, or by MEPS?  I'm not clear on that...

 If it was denied by MEPS, then your records will be flagged DoD wide, and you won't be able to get into ANY branch, no matter what some other recruiter says.  However, if it was just the Marine Corps, you might be able to 'back door' the system.  It will take some time and patience, but it's possible.  My suggestion on how to do that?  Enlist into a branch that WILL take you.  Look at the Air Force (they have tons of really good technical and interesting jobs) or the Air Guard (same deal).  If you can get into one of those branches, do so. Do your enlistment time, while working on your education. At the end of your active time (or your Guard commitment of several years), you likely would be able to do a branch change, and go into the Marine Corps.

You are only 'empty handed' in this if you can't get into any branch of the service, in that case, at least you tried, and did everything you could possibly do, and more, to enlist.  That is far more than most people your age would do these days, so you can say you've done it.

Best of luck,

Jason