Coast Guard Asthma Policy For 2019
OMK spoke with Petty Officer Devoir, a Coast Guard recruiter stationed in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
Heres what he had to say regarding the Coast Guards policy on asthma:
With the Coast Guard, if youre taking any asthma medications it is a disqualifier.
In the Coast Guard, the service person must have spirometer test, and the recruit must get doctors consultation.
The recruit will not be able to do strenuous jobs.
Well update the Coast Guards asthma policy regularly to reflect any changes.
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What Services Are Available For Asthma In The Military
Because asthma and related respiratory problems can worsen over time, its important that military servicemembers obtain a thorough evaluation of their health in order to help get treatment to control symptoms, even if youre already in the military.
As with signs of any medical condition during military service, asthma symptoms should also be taken seriously. Every effort should be made to determine whether an individual can continue with military service in order to avoid unnecessary risk to their own life or to the lives of others who serve with them.
Medical research supports the involvement of people with asthma in the military with basic treatment for symptoms.
Research from 2015 in Federal Practitioner suggests that most service members with asthma can remain on active duty when management with inhaled therapies that allows them to meet standards and perform required duties.
Researchers involved in this 2015 study also suggest that an asthma diagnosis should be given along with the following tests to confirm the accuracy of the diagnosis:
- how strongly the airways react to asthma triggers
- how the heart behaves during asthma diagnosis tests
You may have a greater chance of receiving a waiver if:
- you are currently being treated for asthma
- your symptoms appear to be well controlled
- your symptoms are relatively mild
Poorly controlled symptoms are likely to lead to a waiver disapproval and disqualification from joining the military.
How Hard Is It To Get Into Coast Guard
The Coast Guard is one of the more difficult branches to join because it accepts far fewer new recruits than the other branches of the military. If you have a GED, it will probably be difficult to be accepted into the Coast Guard. You will have to undergo a credit check and pass a security clearance check.
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How Long Do You Have To Be Off Adhd Medication To Join The Military
Recruiters generally tell applicants that they must be off medication for a considerable length of time by far the most important measure to take and show that they are able to function properly while off medication prior to starting the enlistment process and to be considered for a waiver.
The time frame required to be off medication differs across the branches and even among recruiters within the same branch. Some also recommend different approaches to demonstrating proper functioning without medication.
In the Army, Navy, and Marines in particular, recruiters largely advise applicants with ADHD to be off any and all stimulant or nonstimulant medications for at least one year.
Some recruiters, notably within the Air Force, tell applicants they must be off medication for 15 months or more . The Coast Guard which represents just 3 percent of active armed forces members is widely considered to be the most difficult branch to successfully petition for an ADHD waiver.
The time spent off medication should be noted by a doctor in the applicants medical and pharmacy records, and handed in as part of the waiver process. The records should also describe the applicants ADHD history, diagnosis, treatment, and stability while off medication.
Apart from medical documentation, recruiters may also recommend that applicants submit transcripts and letters of recommendation to showcase evidence of successful academic and work performance while off medication.
How Do You Get Discharged From The Air Force
In order to qualify for separation under this provision, the hardship must not be of a temporary nature must have developed or become increasingly worse since entry on active duty discharge or release from active duty is the only readily available means of alleviation and the individual must have made reasonable
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Your Butt Cant Be Too Big
Spinal disorders and conditions are taken very seriously by the military. Many of the jobs have stringent physical demands and standards, and having any sort of back issue can be detrimental to your health, and the readiness of the force. However, according to the Tucson recruiting office, as a result of spinal curvature misalignment, your butt can be too big for you to serve. Enough said.
Less Talented People Join The Military
The same 2020 study found that most recruits had average or slightly-above-average cognitive skills. Although there is an assumption that advanced technology requires less skilled individuals, researchers argue that people with higher skill levels are better placed to work with complex and sophisticated technology.
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Condition #19 Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a fairly rare condition that affects the small intestine and makes it very sensitive to consuming gluten. As a result, the individual often avoids gluten in meals.
Unfortunately in the military, much like the case with food allergies, it is unable to follow specific dietary requests. You essentially get what everyone else on the force receives for a meal.
And since you may get assigned to a remote location with limited food and medical help, it could disqualify you from service. Therefore, you may need to apply for a waiver.
How does the military regard hearing? It will test each year for frequencies in order to gauge hearing loss.
The following hearing conditions could disqualify you from service:
- If the pure tone at 500, 1000, and 2000 cycles per second of not more than 25 decibels on the average. No individual level can be greater than 30 dB at the same frequencies.
- Pure tone level that exceeds more than 35 dB at 3,000 cycles per second in each year, or 45 dB at 4,000 cycles per second in each year.
The military will conduct these tests to make sure that the results are within an acceptable standard.
Only significant hearing loss or complete deafness would probably play into a disqualification.
Likewise, if youre deaf in one ear, this would likely also disqualify you from serving in the military.
Your Testicles Have To Be Normal
You have to have normal genitalia to be in the military. According to the Tucson recruiting office, one man who was trying to join couldnt because his testicles were too big. As a result, he was permanently disqualified. However, thats not the only concern. The absence of one or both testicles, whether congenital, acquired, or unexplained absence of a testicle is also unacceptable according to military standards.
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Becoming A Truck Driver
Becoming A Truck Driver is a dream weve all pondered at some point in our lives. Weve all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day lives weve always known. At TruckingTruth well help you decide if trucking is right for you and help you get your career off to a great start.
Endocrine And Metabolic Disorders
The following conditions may disqualify you from military service:
a. Adrenal dysfunction of any degree.
b. Diabetes mellitus of any type.
c. Glycosuria. Persistent, when associated with impaired glucose tolerance or renal tubular defects.
d. Acromegaly. Gigantism or other disorder of pituitary function.
e. Gout.
Goiter, persistent or untreated.
Hypothyroidism, uncontrolled by medication.
Cretinism.
Thyroiditis.
i. Nutritional deficiency diseases. Such diseases include beriberi, pellagra and scurvy.
j. Other endocrine or metabolic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, porphyria and amyloidosis that obviously prevent satisfactory performance of duty or require frequent or prolonged treatment.
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Spine And Sacroiliac Joints
The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:
a. Arthritis.
b. Complaint of a disease or injury of the spine or sacroiliac joints with or without objective signs that has prevented the individual from successfully following a physically active vocation in civilian life or that is associated with pain referred to the lower extremities, muscular spasm, postural deformities or limitation of motion.
c. Deviation or curvature of spine from normal alignment, structure or function if —
It prevents the individual from following a physically active vocation in civilian life.
It interferes with wearing a uniform or military equipment.
It is symptomatic and associated with positive physical finding and demonstrable by X-ray.
There is lumbar scoliosis greater than 20 degrees, thoracic scoliosis greater than 30 degrees, and kyphosis or lordosis greater than 55 degrees when measured by the Cobb method.
d. Fusion, congenital, involving more than two vertebrae. Any surgical fusion is disqualifying.
e. Healed fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae. A compression fracture, involving less than 25% of a single vertebra is not disqualifying if the injury occurred more than one year before examination and the applicant is asymptomatic. A history of fractures of the transverse or spinous processes is not disqualifying if the applicant is asymptomatic.
f. Juvenile epiphysitis with any degree of residual change indicated by X-ray or kyphosis.
Asthma Reports From Other Countries
Sears et al determined that persistence or relapse of asthma among New Zealand children were associated with sensitization to house dust mite antigen, presence of airway hyperresponsiveness, current cigarette smoking and early age of asthma onset. Asthma relapses were common among ex-asthmatics showing persistent respiratory symptomatology. Asymptomatic airway hyperresponsiveness may be a feature of some cases of quiescent asthma that enter the military.
According to Taylor et al, who followed New Zealand children over time, 35% had asthma in remission at 18 years of age but relapsed by 21 or 26 years of age. Totally, new adult asthma developed by 26 years of age in 9% of study members who reportedly had no asthma or wheezing at any time up to 18 years of age.
In a 1988 study by the British Army, 6.3% of annual medical discharges were attributed to asthma. About 43% of 108 discharged soldiers were ultimately shown to have a history of asthma in childhood. Nearly 30% of military service persons discharged because of asthma denied having asthma in childhood.
In an Australian population, undiagnosed asthma was common and had a similar clinical spectrum as individuals with diagnosed asthma. Service in combat units tended to unmask previously mild cases of asthma that were not disabling and induced asthma in subjects who had never suffered from the disease. It was recommended that candidates with a history of asthma should not be accepted before the age of 22 years.
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I Used To Take Drugs Can I Still Join
If you have a history of drug dependence, you will need to provide evidence that you have abstained from the use of these drugs for at least the last 3 years prior to joining the Army.A history of occasional use of recreational drugs won’t stop you from joining, but you must stop using any such drugs before you join.
After joining the Army, you must not use recreational drugs. The Army carries out random, compulsory drugs testing, and you can expect to be tested while you’re in training. If you fail any of the tests, you’re very likely be discharged.
Do Shellfish Allergies Disqualify You For Frontline Service
Please say no
Seafood in the field is a death sentence either way.
Civilian: you were in the army ever kill anybody?
Me: I was a cook.. so yeah, probably
Ive seen surf and turf which contains seafood during deployment but thats not the actual field .
OP meant working on the DFAC line, they want to make sure they are far away from the baked tilapia when they serve it.
Answer: No, and you get a fancy red id tag
They still issue the red medical tags
The front line is everywhere. There be no shelter here.
The only Frontline anymore is what we spray down The Help with. It keeps the barracks cleaner.
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What If You Currently Run Ads
According to Recruiter Mendoza, if you are found to have asthma while on duty, you will be discharged.
With that said, someone contacted us and said that this is not necessarily true.
Check out what he had to say below:
- I would like to talk about the Navy that discharged you for being diagnosed with asthma while currently serving this is simply not true.
- I have enlisted for 10 years and am looking forward to 20+ years of enlistment right now.
- I was officially diagnosed with asthma earlier this year, and discharge was never discussed, except when I said that I dont want this diagnosis to cause me to be discharged from the service.
- They are treating me with a single daily pill and an inhaler to use before physical exercise and also as needed.
- They will not discharge me because I was diagnosed with asthma .
DBoydstun, comment left on August 1, 2019
The biggest concerns would be for anyone thinking of becoming a naval aviator , submarine, diver, or firefighter.
Navy policy is pretty straightforward on this too Any history of asthma , including childhood asthma and exercise-induced asthma, is considered disqualifying for aviation duties and training.
This includes even very mild asthma.
For all other fees , the recruit will perform a series of physical tests during MEPS.
If your doctor expects you have asthma, you will be referred to a specialist.
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Frequently Asked Questions We Receive
Below are a few of the most popular questions we receive regarding potential military disqualifiers:
What sorts of medical conditions could disqualify you from joining the military?
There is a very long list of medical conditions that can affect potential future military service. It completely depends on several factors, including which branch you want to join, what medical condition you have, and more.
Can you join the military with a felony?
Like everything else in the military, it depends on a wide array of factors. They include the type of felony, when it was committed, which branch you want to join, and much more.
What can disqualify you from MEPS?
As mentioned previously, there are dozens of conditions that can disqualify you at MEPS. They include dental issues, eye / ear issues, hearing problems, and heart problems.
Are waivers available?
Certain medical conditions do allow you to receive a waiver under the right conditions. Those include waivers for eyesight, height / weight, and previous surgerys.
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If You Have Eczema And Want To Serve
If you have eczema or a history if it and are considering a career in the military, the first thing to do is to make sure you get an accurate diagnosis. Eczema is a very broad term encompassing many different skin diseases, said Wong.
It is helpful to have appropriate evaluation and a clear diagnosis in the medical record, she recommended. If someone had a reaction to poison ivy a few times or recurrent ringworm or fungal infections, this should not be diagnosed as chronic eczema. For the majority of people, their eczema improves with time, so they may no longer have eczema as a teen or adult.
Dellavalle said that dermatologists now have many options for controlling eczema.
With approval of a biologic, its a new era for eczema patients. I encourage those with mild eczema and an interest in serving to seek a waiver, he said.
General And Miscellaneous Conditions And Defects
The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:
a. Allergic manifestations. A reliable history of anaphylaxis to stinging insects. Reliable history of a moderate to severe reaction to common foods, spices or food additives.
b. Any acute pathological condition, including acute communicable diseases, until recovery has occurred without sequelae.
c. Chronic metallic poisoning with lead, arsenic or silver, or beryllium or manganese.
d. Cold injury, residuals of, such as: frostbite, chilblain, immersion foot, trench foot, deep-seated ache, paresthesia, hyperhidrosis, easily traumatized skin, cyanosis, amputation of any digit or ankylosis.
e. Cold urticaria and angioedema, hereditary angioedema.
f. Filariasis, trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis, uncinariasis or other parasitic conditions, if symptomatic or carrier states.
g. Heat pyrexia, heatstroke or sunstroke. Documented evidence of a predisposition , recurrent episodes requiring medical attention or residual injury malignant hyperthermia.
h. Industrial solvent and other chemical intoxication.
i. Motion sickness. An authenticated history of frequent incapacitating motion sickness after the 12th birthday.
j. Mycotic infection of internal organs.
k. Organ transplant recipient.
l. Presence of human immunodeficiency virus or antibody. Presence is confirmed by repeatedly reactive enzyme-linked immunoassay serological test and positive immunoelectrophoresis test, or other DOD-approved confirmatory test.
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Condition #5 Eyesight Issues
According to the standards of physical fitness provided by Armed Forces, there are some eyesight issues that are disqualifying.
Armed Force members are required to maintain certain visual standards with or without visual correction devices such as spectacle lenses. The regulations for eyesight without a visual aid are:
- Soldiers must be able to see at least 20/40 in one eye, and 20/70 in the other eye.
- Or 20/30 in one eye and at least 20/100 in the other eye.
If a spectacle aid for eyesight is required the standards are:
- 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye.
Entrance into US Military Academy or ROTC has additional requirements. The distant visual acuity must correct to 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. Vision below those standards is disqualifying.
Officer Candidate School OCS has standards of 20/20 and 20/100.
There is no standard set for color vision, which is a common concern. Though it will get tested for certain branches of the military , it is not a requirement to qualify.
However, it may restrict you from joining certain specialties of the U.S. Military.
For example, if you wanted to become a Navy SEAL, you must meet specific eyesight requirements.
They include 20/40 vision in your best eye, 20/70 vision in your worst eye, and it must be correctable to 20/25 with no color blindness.
There are several rare types of eyesight issues such as blepharitis, conjunctiva, cornea dystrophy, and iridocyclitis that are disqualifying diseases.
