Hi im in the military (National Guard) and have been for about 6 months i have reported for all my duties every weekend but i have not went to boot camp yet. My date for boot camp is coming in a few months but i just found out that i have a disease! Ulcerative colitis...this would be a disqualification if i was trying to join the military but i have been sworn in and have been reporting for drills regularly. my recruiter says keep it on the hush, hush. but is this enough of a reason to have me discharged for having this disease that is not contagious?
2007-08-02 10:55:53 · 5 answers · asked by Lee 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
not necessarily. if it can be controlled with diet and medication, there shouldn't be an issue. BUT DO NOT HIDE IT. If you get called up to Deploy, and you fail to disclose the information, and your condition worsens while you are deployed, things will go much worse for you.
2007-08-02 13:08:52 · answer #1 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite right. You have a condition which is disqualifying for enlistment or appointment in the armed forces. The question is whether or not you had ulcerative colitis prior to your enlistment. A Report of Medical Board will try and determine that. If you had it prior to entry you will be given an honorable discharge for medical reasons. If it happened during service the board will make a recommendation as to what degree of disability you have. That report will be reviewed by a physical evaluation board who will make a recommended award of disability. If you accept and the percentage is above ten percent you will be medically retired. If it is ten percent or less, you will be severed with an honorable discharge.
Since you have only been in the service for six months, I suspect the condition existed prior to your entry and the first option mentioned above will be the one used.
2007-08-02 11:19:54 · answer #2 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your recruiter's incentive to tell you to keep it on the hush is so that he earns his enlistment quota from you.
If you have a disease, it is important that such information is available to medical personel. Should this disease be a disqualifier, then the military may pursue an entry level separation.
My opinion is to be honest and up front with your commanders.
Best wishes to you in your military career and dealing with this disease.
http://www.actionmilitary.com
2007-08-04 04:34:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bull. UC is a disqualifier for a reason. Suppose you're deployed to some remote area and begin to poop blood by the gallon. There's a reason for these rules. If they want you for some special-purpose MOS that's compatible with your illness, they'll offer a waiver. Have some honor, be open, and let the system work.
And I do hope your illness goes well. That one's a biotch, and I wouldn't wish it on anybody.
2007-08-02 11:42:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is it controllable or when you have to go....you have to go? I wouldn't let this from keeping you from going to boot-camp, if its controllable. Get a handle on it..talk with your doctor. Ask him/her the chances of it getting worse and how can I keep it from affecting my daily life. I know you want to go, but remember when in the field someone will depend on you being there and their life may depend on you!
2007-08-02 11:11:36 · answer #5 · answered by John 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋