Expert: Howard Lorenz - 12/7/2007

Question
Sir,
My husband was in the Navy for 5 years. He was honorably discharged in July of 2006. Before he was discharged, they put him on medicine for hypertension. He has recently decided to try to reenlist, and recruiters keep giving him the run around. They tell him that he will need a medical waiver from his personal doctor that he no longer has hypertension, even though he hasn't had any medication or problems since he got out. I must note that we have also spoke to the Coast Guard and the Air Force.  
When he was discharged, on his DD-214 it even has a reenlistment code of 1. I took it upon myself to look up the NAVY RECRUITING MANUAL-ENLISTED COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8F. According to what I read, the only thing it says in there about hypertension is that he wouldn't qualify for the Delayed Entry Program. Is it even possible for him to get back in without going into that? I am just confused as to where we go from here. I thought that recruiters were supposed to be helpful, instead they just seem to be getting in the way!  Does he have a chance of getting back in, or are we just spinning our wheels? Any information you could give to me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Sarah Walters

Answer
Sarah,

The Air Force resistance is due to the fact that your husband is 'Prior Service' The Air Force does not enlist prior service personnel.

As for the Navy, medical waivers are not easy, the also are approved and disapproved based on production needs of the Navy. I dont know much about the Coast Guard, We had one guy in the whole state of Montana, and I never saw them in the 3 years I was there....Unreal. If your husband wants to get back into the military....he needs to make the recruiters work for him. If you dont get the answer you want , go to another recruiter or go to their boss...

The one thing that you have to understand about todays recruiter. They are so heavily micromanaged  and production driven that they are going to process the sure things first. Those who have already been in are second on the list so to speak...Keep hitting them....try other recruiters..