Can You Join The Army When You Have Mild Asthma?

Question

Hi
Im currently 17 and a senior in high school. I plan on joining the Army right out of High school. I am also a female so my parents think that I can't handle this.The only thing conserning me is that i have sports induced asthma. Even though I never feel the effect of it. I have never had an attack or had to use my inhaller. The only reason that I get it refilled is because of my mom. I have mild asthma. That is what the doctor told me. Even though I had Bronchitis when I was diagnosed. This really worries me considering I want to do this more than anything that I will ever do. I have been doing some research and if anyone has any information on this it would be really nice to know.

Answer 1

It depends on how severe. I know someone who applied to go to officer's candidate school, which may have different requirements than enlisting. During the physical, they induced him with histamines and induced an asthma attack. He was rejected when he had an attack. I would ask a recruiter. They will probably have you go through the physical and see how you fare and then make an individual determination.

US Army 15 years
OIF 2003

Answer 2

Slight Asthma

Answer 3

No if you have asthma you cant join any branch. If it is exersise induced... well all the branches are required to run and do strenuous exersise. Also in the gas chamber... if you have asthma this will induce an asthma attack. I DO believe that wearing a gas mask for periods of time would induce an asthma attack too... and these are not one time things, you have to be physically able to do all of these things at ANY time.

I went to boot camp with a girl who had went through almost to graduation and they said she had asthma and they pushed her out because of this and she had to fight for 2 years with the military and doctors to get a waiver for it and proving she did NOT have asthma... you could try and fail to tell your recruiter about it, but if you get to boot camp and have an asthma attack you will be on your way back home. So I guess, good luck.

Answer 4

Well from my own expieriance, It is indeed a problem, if youve had it after the age of 13. Recruiters told me that if I had it when I was a little kid, but have not been diagnosed with it sence thirteen, or had to have any medications, not to mention it, in fact I knew i was fine. But the army will be alot of running and excercise and if you have asthma and lie about it and then have an attack you get hit with fraudulant (I cant spell lol ) enlistment. If you think your okay, just talk to your recruiter.

Answer 5

Yep its not a very big problem. Just bring a doctors note and your medications when you get to basic. You will not be held to a special standard though and will be treated like everybody else. So good luck. But don't worry 90% of the time recruits get sick in basic anyway so around the middle the training will be less hars but still hard because it is expected that a lot of the recruits are sick by that time. The reason for that is because your body is changing so fast that you cannot addopt fast enough and don't have enough rest so your more susseptible to viruses.

Answer 6

Asthma past age 12 is disqualifying for entry into the armed forces.

Answer 7

Try it all the ARMY can do is say no. Don't tell them about the asthma thing let them figure it out. If it is typical ARMY buy the time they figure it out you will probably already have been through boot and on to your first assignment. Good Luck.

Answer 8

asthma past the age of 13 is PDQ with no chance of a waiver. if you are currently under supervision for Asthma, you will NOT be getting into any branch of the military.

Answer 9

yes i had friends who had asthma and they were accepted