I talked to my Marine recruiter yesterday and mentioned that I have allergy-induced asthma. I should clarify that I have never had an attack, and although I used an inhaler when I was young, I have never used an inhaler (or any other asthma drug) since I was 12. My recruiter said that if I told the military physician that I had asthma, there was NO WAY they'd let me through. After that he implied that I should lie. He didn't say it outright, but he did say the following statements:
Lying to the military is not a felony.
My recruiter had personally lied about his criminal records, which would have disqualified him, and has kept his job.
One of his recruits lied about doing drugs, and drug test came back positive. Not only did the military not prosecute him, they allowed him to join 45 days later.
Another recruit had full blown asthma. She toughed it out through boot camp, then told the medics that she had asthma symptoms. They gave her an inhaler, and she wasn't kicked out.
2006-06-16 03:41:26 · 17 answers · asked by Texas Toast 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Then my recruiter said that if I failed my physical, I would never be allowed to join the military. He said that my strategy to join the Marines would depend on "how bad I wanted it". He never outright said it, but I think my recruiter encouraged me to lie? Should I lie? Should I report my recruiter?
2006-06-16 03:43:38 · update #1
I should clarify that I've already told the Army and Navy about my asthma so I think my chances of getting away with lying are slim.
2006-06-16 03:50:17 · update #2
You are trying to join an organization that has as its base the following:
Duty. Honor. Courage.
Apparently, your recruiter sees these as words to throw away in order to fill his quota for the month. It's up to you how you start your career- with Honor or without.
I am a veteran of the nuclear field of the navy. The reason why the nuclear program is the best in the world is the absolute ironclad personal integrity that the program demands from everyone involved. If there is the slightest question about a person's ability to do what is right, regardless of the consequences, that person does not belong in the program.
There are going to be a lot of marines relying on you. You also will be a representative of every marine who has come before you when you wear the uniform. It is up to you to decide if you want to serve as an example of the Marine Corps tradition of personal honor.
2006-06-16 04:42:26 · answer #1 · answered by Schmorgen 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm with Schmorgen...even as much as having been nuclear Navy...do not lie.
If you tell them the truth and they take you and you have issues, they will treat them.
If you lie, they can discharge you for having filled out a fraudulent enlistment contract. Don't put yourself in that position. If you simply cannot be in the military for those reasons, find something else to do.
There are reasons they want to know these things. Do not put yourself in the position where people might be relying upon you to save their butts and you cannot because something they didn't know about suddenly makes you unable to do so.
Tell the doctor the complete truth about it, including the history of not having problems since then. He/she is a medical professional and will make the call based on what is right for the Corps, but may not be right for you.
Do not report the recruiter; it becomes a case of he said/she said...nothing worth it down that road.
2006-06-16 12:38:31 · answer #2 · answered by Leo 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Like the other three said, lie... the recruiters lie to you (that's the truth). just remember that if you do have an asthma attack while doing training and they discover that you had asthma all along, all they can do is give ou a counseling statement. No medical discharge will be needed unless it gets to bad to handle!
2006-06-16 10:51:18 · answer #3 · answered by Proud Army Wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the Military has rules so that they get the best soldiers - the ones who can stay alive for the longest time. Lying to get in might get you killed. For example:
You're being chased by an insurgent squad.
The group of soldiers you're with don't need inhalers to run fast and far... but you do.
When you fall behind, you could be the one that they take down.
Lying gets the recruiter his bonus. It could get the liar killed.
2006-06-16 11:25:08 · answer #4 · answered by Rick W 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Recruiters get bonuses based on how many people they get to sign on for the military. If you feel like you could get in trouble or worse yet, injured or hurt, b/c of your condition I would be honest with the physician. As far as reporting him, it would probably be pointless, I don't think he would get in trouble. He didn't tell you to lie he just let you know that there were ways around your situation.
2006-06-16 10:48:04 · answer #5 · answered by May 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Recruiters are trained to lie. Get used to it! haha
He is correct in saying that if you have asthma you will get kicked out. When I went to basic training (boot camp) we had about 6 girls that were kicked out because of it.
But like someone said in an earlier statement - everyone lies.
2006-06-16 17:40:15 · answer #6 · answered by mrsstephaniekay 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Big liar and obviously a sh!tty recruiter. If possible u should ask other recruiters from other branches if lying to the military is a crime.
2006-06-18 14:48:10 · answer #7 · answered by bubba11338 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't go in blindly. If you have Asthma and during training you collapse. THEY WILL KNOW and then you will be kicked out for lying on your contract.
See if Active Reserves is an option for you or regular reserves.
2006-06-16 11:26:29 · answer #8 · answered by WDubsW 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ask you to think of this if you do and when you complete boot camp and get stationed over seas.different climate different conditions and say you are fighting terrorism how many of your friends lives are you willing to risk if you have an attack.
2006-06-16 10:47:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the receruter what he lied you about.It's his job to get you in and he will tell you anything he can to do that.If he made you any promises they're lies.get your mos in writeing or at the end of basic your job will be what ever or where ever thay want it to be. If you dont tell the truth chances are pretty good you will bolo out
2006-06-16 11:02:26 · answer #10 · answered by David L 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋