Expert: Rod Powers - 7/13/2006

Question
I appreciate your help,  although, I don't understand why he would be disqualified.  Unless, they are not telling us something.  He is 17, and my understanding is that they have to tell me when it comes to medical. Now,  as a Mom I am worried, is there something wrong that our doctor missed, ect.  I know that you probably don't want to hear from a wining Mom,  so I appreciate your quick response and taking the time to answer.  Thank you again.  
-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
My son is 17 & attempting DEP for Navy. We have been to MEPS 4 times.  When he was 12 he had "Muscle twitch" of the left forearm.  He was hospitalized overnight, tests done, all neg.  Never happened again.  He went to MEPS for the 4th time today and went for a consult,  EEG done and now they tell us that it is being sent to Navy board, something like that.  We should get an answer in 5-7 days.  This happened 5 yrs ago and ruled out as not being a siezure. Fluke thing that happened years ago. My son is very active, plays sports, works out with a home gym, runs everyday, is a wiz at the computer and video games. He scored high on ASVAB and E test and he wants to make a career with the Navy in Avaition or Special Opps. Recruiter has been great, but he has only been recruiting for 1 month.  What do you think his chances are that he will be approved for the service?  Is there anything that I can do?  MEPS has medical records from then,  all tests results, everything. Catscans were done, EEG was done, blood work, you name they did it. Everything was negative and never happened again. The only other time he was seen for this was a 2 week follow up after it happened. This is my son's dream that I see falling apart. Please advise if you can.  Thank you.

Answer -
I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to "help," in this process, and I'm afraid there is simply no way I (or anyone else, including the recruiter) can tell you what the chances that a medical waiver will be granted.

I have a "standard answer" when it comes to ANY waiver. There is simply no way to even guess whether or not a waiver will be approved, even if someone has gotten a waiver for the same condition in the past, or -- conversely -- if nobody has ever gotten a waiver for the condition in the past. Each and every waiver is evaluated INDIVIDUALLY, using SEVERAL individual factors, including but not limited to:

1. Is the condition progressive (in the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer at MEPS)?

2. Is the condition subject to aggravation by military service (in the opinion of the CMO at MEPS)?

3. Will the condition preclude satisfactory completion of prescribed training and subsequent military duty (in the opinion of the CMO at MEPS)?

4. Will the condition constitute an undue hazard to the examine or to others, particularly under combat conditions (again, in the opinion of the CMO, at MEPS)?

5. Is the recruit *EXCEPTIONALLY* qualified, otherwise? (ASVAB scores, college education level, etc.)

6. How are current recruiting goals? How bad does that particular branch of the service need this particular applicant at this particular point-in-time?

There have been several cases of waivers approved for a specific condition, only to see a waiver disapproved for the same condition just a few weeks later.

Remember, if one requires a waiver, that means that they have been determined that they are disqualified for military service, by MEPS. The waiver procedure is the process of the person "begging" the medical officials of the specific military to make an exception in this particular case. There is no "right" to have a waiver approved.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


Answer
Hi,

If it's being sent to the Navy SG (Surgeon General), that means that the MEPS doctor disqualified him, based on current military medical admission standards.  Now, it's up to the Navy SG to determine whether or not they should approve a medical waiver for enlistment.

There is no *right* to join the military.  Each of the services have the absolute *right* to accept or deny applicants, based on their own individual needs.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com