Expert: Rod Powers - 5/24/2007

Question
I love the military. Most of my friends and family are enlisted so when I decided to follow in their footsteps my family was proud. I started basic training on 27 Feb and was placed in the 319th on 27 March for severe chest pain. Less than a week later I was diagnosed with asthma and sent home. I thought about fighting my case but a certain Captain at Reid told me that most likely I wouldn't be granted a waiver so I came home. Now I realize that I've made a huge mistake. I should have taken my chance at getting that waiver.I know that I can't go back to the Air Force now but would it be possible to join the Army or Navy with "asthma"? I already know I have to wait six months before I try to join.

Answer
Hi Stephanie,

I'm afraid the answer is "probably not." You may wish to see the Military's policy on Asthma at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/asthma.htm

If you have been diagnosed with Asthma, after the age of 13, your chances of receiving a waiver in any of the branches are pretty much non-existent.

The Captain at Walter Reed was correct. Your chances of receiving a waiver for active asthma to stay in the Air Force were also pretty much non-existent.

Prior to 1990, the military services were pretty generous in issuing waivers for asthma for enlistment. Then the first Gulf War came, with massive deployments to Saudi Arabia, and the services suddently found they were doing hundreds of emergency medical evacuations from the area, because of dust-induced asthma, and asthma aggrevated by the oil-well fires set by Saddam's forces in Kuwait.

So, the military services tightened up on their Asthma policies.

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