Expert: Howard Lorenz - 12/31/2007

Question
Hello, i read the response to Cynthia regarding medical discharges, but i have another question regarding having an allergy.  I am a cook in the united states navy and i was on the ship for a workup and had an allergic reaction to fish, i have had them before and gone to medical once before about it but this one was a severe reaction.  would this be a reason for a medical discharge since i am a cook and I am allergic to fish?  thank you for your time

Answer
The biggest reason is that depending on where they DoD will send the navy, there are products that contain fish products. Sounds to me like you meet the criteria for discharge. The Navy and the other military services have a broad scope of allergies that they will discharge for because there is no way to prevent you from getting another reaction...By this what I mean, is that I know and you know that to prevent a reaction ...Stay away from fish...Right? But there are products that could cause you to have an inadvertant reaction that contain fish products....the Military has no control to prevent the possibility of you falling victim to a more serious problem, so they discharge you....

I hope that made sense....Basically in a nut shell...the Military will not take a chance of you falling victim to a mistake, be it your s or someone elses..... For your protection..so to speak.

The other reason is because you are a cook and you will be required to use fish products of fish it self.

If they havent discharged you yet....see if you can be re-classified,,,,,moved to a different job?

HW