Expert: Rod Powers - 7/3/2006

Question
My son is in the USCG Basic  Trainig and on Friday I received a phone call that he will no longer be able to be part of the coast guard I guess after the medical examination he went through they found out he has an allergic reaction to scallops and lobster.  He was told that because of this allergy he cannot continue his career with the USCG.
Is there anything else he can do, this was his life long dream and now it has been chattered by this.  Do you think is worth for him to keep trying to see if there is anything else he can do in the coast guard?  Awaiting your response, thank you.

Answer
Hi Ana,

It's hard to answer these types of questions, because I don't have access to his medical records.

Here's what I can say.  Regardless of what your son told you, he would not have been subject to any additional medical tests during basic training, unless something happened that caused a problem.

That means that, during basic training, he had an allergic reaction which caused a problem.  I'm sorry, but, no matter what your son told you, I seriously doubt that the allergic reaction was limited only to scallops and lobster (these are not meals that are normally featured in military "chow halls,") and -- as such, probably would not be a reason for discharge.  There are more allergies, other than "scallops and lobster," going on here, or there is a different reason for discharge that your son is not sharing with you.

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