When did having flat feet not become a disqualifier? (Army, Navy, Marine)

[PeaceAndLove42]

I remember my uncle telling me he was originally drafted to go to Vietnam and even had a high draft number but because he had flat feet he was let go. At what point did having flat feet not become a disqualifier?

[dmarie123]

I've been a recruiter for half a decade and it has never been. I think it has been generations. In Vietnam, people had to walk for months at a time. That is not the case anymore. What would be the point of disqualifying someone with flat feet when it doesn't cause any issues in a modern military?

Someone can still be DQd for flat feet if they need special footwear or if they have issues, but if they function normally, we don't care.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by PeaceAndLove42

I remember my uncle telling me he was originally drafted to go to Vietnam and even had a high draft number but because he had flat feet he was let go. At what point did having flat feet not become a disqualifier?

I was drafted in May 1968, before there were draft numbers and I had (still have) flat feet. I was told I just would not go into Infantry...

[green papaya]

I thought I had flat feet, but the doctor wrote "low arches" after my physical

[Submariner]

I went through MEPS in 1976. At that time, I was told I had flat feet. The Navy did not care.

In 1978 one of my step brothers went to MEPS to get into the Navy. He was told that he had flat feet and he was DQ'ed for it.

It has been my understanding that when recruiting gets tough, they gradually remove things from being disqualifying. When recruiting gets easy, they gradually add things onto the list.

[Lodestar]

Originally Posted by PeaceAndLove42

I remember my uncle telling me he was originally drafted to go to Vietnam and even had a high draft number but because he had flat feet he was let go. At what point did having flat feet not become a disqualifier?

My husband's feet were so flat that they nearly bowed outward at the soles. I suspect that small bones were broken during his childhood as he told me there were a couple of years where he cried over pain in his feet as a child.

But as soon as he got his college diploma in 1968 he got his letter from Uncle Sam and he passed inspection in spite of his flat feet. So based on those two stories it must have been subjective at that time.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Submariner

In 1978 one of my step brothers went to MEPS to get into the Navy. He was told that he had flat feet and he was DQ'ed for it.

It has been my understanding that when recruiting gets tough, they gradually remove things from being disqualifying. When recruiting gets easy, they gradually add things onto the list.

Pretty much what I have heard and also seen over the years...

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by green papaya

I thought I had flat feet, but the doctor wrote "low arches" after my physical

Which is another term for "flat feet."

In general, the worse they need soldiers, sailors and airmen, the more likely they are to take you regardless of the state of your insteps. Remember that during Vietnam -- an extremely unpopular war almost nobody wanted to volunteer for -- as soon as your grades in high school dropped low enough they would draft you unless there was something radically wrong medically. Now, when we're caught up in war after war that people feel are good to participate in, the military won't touch you unless you have your diploma and are in perfect physical and mental condition.

[TabulaRasa]

My FIL had polio as a baby, and as a result has partially clubbed feet, and the Vietnam-era Army still took him, though he was then DQd two months into basic training. Looking at how he moves now, I'm amazed he even trained for two months.

[GrandmaMcCarty]

so does anyone out there know if you were generally discharged because of flat feet? I think it was Vietnam he was drafted for or right after, He's 63 years old now. Can you get health benefits through the VA if you have nothing else?