Expert: Rod Powers - 11/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi I was wondering what my chances of getting into the guard or the navy.  I was in the Army 3 years ago and was discharged because my upper thigh was not strong enough to support my weight at the time because of recent ACL surgery.  The military doctor told me I joined to soon and to go home rehab it then join back up.  I was given a RE-3 Separation code JFW.  I tried joining the Marines, but was denied by BUMED (I didn't even physical).  I don't even think the Marines sent my paper work to BUMED because the recruiters told me that BUMED told them that I should have surgery or join the Army again.  It just sounds like BULL to me because why would a BEMED doctor say I should have surgery when they have documentation of perfect health from a Orthopedic surgeon.  Anyway, I didn't have a lot of documentation about my knee at the time.  Since then I have gotten physical therapy reports and another document from my doctor about my knee.  I was not justified at MEPS for Internal derangement of the knee and I know it was because of lack of documentation because now I have new documentation stating that I DO NOT HAVE INTERNAL DERANGEMENT.  I get to the point I am now talking to the Army guard and the Navy and both have sent my paper work to try and approve a waiver.  The national guard recruiter said with the amount of documentation I have he is 99 sure I'll get a waiver.  And the Marine recruiting station commander walked me over to the Navy office and referred me them.  I talked to Chief in charge there and he has been recruiting for 15 years and he said I have really good shot.  Sorry for it being so long what are your thoughts thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Brandon,

Technically, an RE Code of "3" means that re-enlistment is possible, if (1) you have documentation which shows that the original reason for discharge is no longer a factor, and (2), the service you want to join decides to grant a waiver.

Keep in mind there is no "right" to have a waiver approved. Whether or not a waiver is approved, or even considered is completely up to the Military service you are trying to join.

A very large part of whether or not a waiver will be positively considered or approved depends on just how bad a particular military service needs your particular warm body at any particular point in time. In other words, the harder time a particular military service has in meeting their current recruting goals at the time, the better chance you have of getting favorable consideration for a waiver.

Right now, the services having the hardest time in recruiting are the active duty Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserves. Those services would be your best chance of obtaining a waiver.

The Marine Corps, and Marine Corps Reserve are also struggling a bit to meet their recruiting goals, but -- because of the high level of physical fitness required for Marine Corps (or Marine Corps Reserve) service and training, they are reluctant to approve any waiver because of previous discharge for physical problems.

The Navy (and Navy Reserves) is kind of "in-between." They don't really need an influx of new recruits, but will consider prior service recruits who require a waiver, if BUMED determines that the prior condition is compatable with Navy service.

Chances of getting a medical waiver for Air Force active duty service, with a previous discharge for medical conditions are very, very small (the active duty Air Force is currently undergoing a "massive" down-sizing," and therefore are accepting very, very few "prior service" enlistees, in any event).

For more information about the U.S. Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well good news so from the Navy, MEPS approved me to physical which is a huge step from being not justified to physical when trying to join the Marines.  My recruiter told me I'm pretty much as good as in because I know I'll pass the physical because I passed it 3 years ago when I joined the Army.  What I'm wondering is the Navy recruiters are kind of pressuring me to go down to MEPS already after telling them I still don't know what I want to do.  I haven't made my decision to go either Active or Reserves or what job I want to do.  Honestly if I want to go reserves the Army national guard is probably the best route since I'm in Illinois and we have great benefits for guard members.  Plus I'd like to wait and hear what the guard says about my waiver.  So what can I do to tell them I want to wait.  Can I still go down to MEPS and physical and not pick a job and if I do go down to physical can that physical be used if I want to join the Army National guard.  Thank you

Answer
Hi Brandon,

When a recruiter sends you down to MEPS, that means that recruiter (and that particular service) has already spent dozens of man-hours in processing you. As such, they often are reluctant to send one to process to MEPS unless they are pretty sure that applicant is going to join their service.

In other words, you need to pretty much decide which service you want to join before you go to MEPS. Anything else is unfair to your recruiter (the one who put in all the paperwork and phone calls to send you to MEPS).

"Play around" with the recruiters too much, and you're going to find that none of them wants to work with you.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com