I'm 17, female, with a lot of leg problems. My family cannot afford to send me to the College I would like, or my medical issues.
But the air force has medical, plus the exercise would help strengthen and help my endurance, my living and schooling would be covered, and I could make a career out of the military, helping myself in many different aspects of my life.
I'd like to hear from people who are in, or who have been in the Air Force and army, tell me what it's like and if I should join. Also, I don't smoke, and i'm not really a "social" person, so a huge social networking and such isn't important to me.
2007-12-01 10:51:13 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Leg problems:
It's pain, LOTS of it. I work with pain and i'm used to it, but it's getting worse and worse. I'm going to have many in the future if I don't have help with it...........
2007-12-01 11:05:00 · update #1
Steven: The college i'd want to attend would take 8 to 12 years to complete. I'd rather attend while in the service. And if I do the full 20 years- which is smarter, I could cut the amount of work in college in half by staying in half the time, so I have more time to focus on the military, and less on research assignments.
The one thing you guys don't seem to get is that i'm ACTUALLY INTERESTED in the military. I figured the fact that you can ask every male member of my family for the last 7 generations if they were in the army, and they'll talk for 7 hours about where they were stationed etc. was a moot point. I was BORN overseas because of the fact my father was in the service, and stationed in Germany.
I figured I didn't have to say that. I was asking because my leg problems, although not life-threatening, can be bad at times. I'm trying to find which part of the military, PT wise, is less straining. And i'm NOT interested in a nonner job. I want to be strong for my country.
2007-12-02 03:53:46 · update #2
Well, they may not take you if you have health problems. I have a daughter in the Army and a Son in the Marines and both had to pass a highly structured physical before joining.
2007-12-01 10:55:00 · answer #1 · answered by Jade 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
My husband was slightly over-weight when he joined the Air Force. He was DEP for almost 3 months waiting for an opening into BMT, so he had plenty of time to get it off. He was only 15 pounds over the weight limit, so he dropped 25 to get good and under it. You also have to remember that if you are muscular, then the weight limit doesn't necessarily apply. That's where the body fat percentage comes in. I'm sure you'll do fine. Just work really hard and commit to it 100%.
2016-04-07 02:25:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can pass the physical then you should be fine. Keep in mind you have to go through basic training like every branch of the service which requires running, various excercises, extensive marching....and did I mention running. You do a lot of that. The military if no place for slackers. But if you want to serve your country and get in good shape and get a good education the Air Force is a great place to go, I'd also recommend the coast guard or navy.
2007-12-01 11:03:15 · answer #3 · answered by sshazzam 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, the problem I see is you don't tell us what your leg problem is. That could keep you out of any service. However, lets say you can pass the physical.
Yes you would get medical coverage, you would receive schooling, and have an opportunity to get financial assistance with latter schooling. If you stay for a career you would still want to continue your education.
As far as social networking, well loners don't do so well in the service, Its a team effort and the team is 24/7.
2007-12-01 10:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by SFC_Ollie 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The reason to join the military is to serve, not be served. I say this because if you do join, you will be expected to serve the needs of the branch you join. They will use you for what they need. They are not there to take care of you.
If you want to serve, and your medical condition doesn't bar you from service, by all means join up. It's a hard life, full of SERVICE. You'll be moved where you'r needed when they decide to move you. You'll do what you're needed to do.....and maybe not what you signed up for.
If you join to get medical, housing, food, clothing, and just someone to take care of you, you will not last. Those peoples motive become clear to everyone very soon. Reenlistment might not even be an option, a career certainly not.
Give it some thought. If your motive is to have a meaningful career of noble service to a country you love then please join....we need you. If it's to be taken care of, it's not for you.
2007-12-01 11:00:24 · answer #5 · answered by Ken 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm in the Air Force, and I think you should re-consider your stance. IF you can pass the physical, and get in, you could be doing more harm than good. One, with your leg problems, you would not be deployable. That could cause you to be discharged on a medical condition. And, if it's pre-existing, you won't get any VA benfits. Also, if you try to hide it when you are trying to enlist, they can get you on fraudulant enlistment. I've been in 17 years, and my knees have taken a beating over the years. I'm on a waiver for running, and just waiting for another 3 years to drag myself across the finish line. I came in with somewhat healthy knees, and if you come in with ones that are already bad, what do you think will happen?? Especially if you tear them up more, and they determine it was pre-existing, and you don't have VA benfits to help with the further medical bills. Also, if you are assigned to a section, and can't deploy because of your knees, you will basically be screwing over someone else in your unit that will have to deploy more and pick up the slack because you can't go. How's that fair to anybody?
2007-12-01 11:08:34 · answer #6 · answered by Mac 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Air Force has been good to my family, but if you have leg problems you might not be able to get in. Don't count on joining until you've passed the physicals and everything. Maybe if they won't take you the Peace Corp will? I don't know what they do.
2007-12-01 11:00:50 · answer #7 · answered by Rebeckah 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
See if you can get them to pay for your college before you go into the real military. Your time in service will be much easier, you will get paid more and it will be easier to find a civilian job afterwards. As for the health problems, they made me fix a bad ingrown toe before they would accept me.
2007-12-01 11:02:27 · answer #8 · answered by Steven W 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Meps Doctors get the final word, but it doesn't sound good for you.
Ask your recruiter and see if they will even send you that far.
I would have to meet you and see what meds you are on to say whether I would have referred you any further.
Sorry, but not everyone gets the call.
Ret. USAF SNCO, Former Recruiter
2007-12-01 11:15:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your leg is that bad you probably won't get in but if you do i would suggest you get a desk job in the chairforce.
2007-12-01 16:59:05 · answer #10 · answered by midwesttoeastcoast 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋