Expert: Rod Powers - 7/27/2006

Question

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Followup To

Question -
my question has been in my head for so long and im so worryed that im not going to be able to join the corps. here it is. i went to the doctors a couple months ago and they noticed that my eyes were real blood shot so they ran some test on me and to make a long story short my blood cells are more circler than most peoples and they are dieing off faster and thats whats causeing the red eyes and the effects are a weak spleen BUT the doctors say its nothin serious at all and i still play in physical activite and contact sports in fact Im a cadet corporal in th R.O.T.C. (marines) and i finsh top male every year in the PFT and hope to one day become a u.s. marines please tell me if i can one day do so!

Answer -
Hi Brad,

It's hard for me to say, because you didn't say what the medical condition was called.

Medical conditions which are considered disqualifiers for military service (and thereby need a waiver) can be read on my site at:  http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/intmedstandards/blintmedstandards.ht.

Even if you have one of the standards listed there, a medical waiver may be possible.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


Sorry to bother u again but the info. u sent was very useful!! but i found out the condition in the web page u sent me and it came right back to me when i read it but i really dont understand it!! L.O.L. mabey u can help me again!! its called sperocytosis and i think i know what its sayin but im not sure, it says: (2) Splenectomy (P41.5), except when accomplished for trauma, or conditions unrelated to the spleen, or for hereditary spherocytosis (282.0). i have the hereditary spherocytosis. is that not goin to let me join or can i relax? sorry to bother u again thanks for the help!!


Answer
Hi Brad,

I wish I could help more, but you still didn't give me the medical name of your condition.  I'm not a doctor.  All I can do is to tell you what the regualtion(s) say, and the regulations use medical terms.  Again, see: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/intmedstandards/blintmedstandards.ht for medical conditions which are considered to be disqualifying for military service, and would require consideration for a waiver.

What you read was "Splenectomy," which is an operation (a medical procedure, not a medical condition).

Again, I'm not a MEPS Medical Physician, but -- if you want my best guess -- considering the condition doesn't seem to be causing you any adverse physical effects, I would say that either (1) it won't be a disqualifier, or (2) if it is, the chances of a waiver are pretty good.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com