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If you lie, they will not know at meps, but someone will probably eventually figure it out. It can get you kicked out of the military. If you lie, you will probably get away with it, but not forever. If you go to a doctor, on base, in 3 years, and they notice you have asthma, the doctor may or may not make an issue of it. If at any point they make an issue of it, they can pull your childhood medical records and find it. You sign a release when you join.
If you put "NO" for everything on your 2807 (the medical questionnaire) then MEPS will NOT look at any of your medical records. If you put "yes" for anything, you'll need medical records about the "yes", with the exception of birth control, braces, and glasses. Some MEPS are more strict than others. If you get the medical records, for every asthma attack, every treatment you've had, and current statements from doctors that you are fine, the recruiter will send those docs to MEPS ahead of you, and they will get a go/no go from the doctor before you are examined. A "go" means you don't even need a waiver. That is possible. But each doctor at MEPS has a reputation for being hard or soft, so ask your recruiter.
So that you don't have to guess, the regulation used by MEPS is AR40-501. You can google it. It says
Quote:
Asthma (493), including reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday, is disqualifying. Reliable diagnostic criteria may include any of the following elements: substantiated history of cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and/or dyspnea that persists or recurs over a prolonged period of time, generally more than 12 months.
A MEPS doctor can let you in if they feel you were "unreliably" diagnosed... Maybe the doctor didn't run proper tests, or if you were not symptomatic after age 13, or if you only had the symptoms 1 or 2 times (less than 12 months).
If you currently have asthma, even mild, you will not get in.
Oh, BTW, the regulation is just the minimum guidelines. It doesn't mean they must let you in if you had asthma only as a child. It means they CAN let you in. Some services may make additional rules and be stricter.
Hi I'm intrested in joining the coast guard but am allergic to shellfish . I was diagnosed. At 6 but haven't eaten it since then . I'm going to the doctors soon to Get tested. What should I do? I'm really upset because I am very instresred in joining
Yeah, um... who is going to "pull his childhood medical records"? What a laugh - no one is going to find your childhood medical records, much less look for them.
Look- if you are someone who is comfortable with lying, who is pretty sure this won't kill you right away and if you're sure you won't admit that you knew you were lying at MEPS, then go for it. What is the chance that one of these allergies/asthma would interfere in a critical moment when other sailors/soldiers/civilians are counting on you for their lives?
Fewer and fewer people in general have any honor - why would anyone suspect/expect someone in the military of being 'guilty' of it as well?
Many applicants disclose the doctor who holds their records on the 2807 and if they suspect fraudulant enlistment the absolutely will go after those records. Otherwise, no, they usually do not. It is not, however, outside the realm of posibilities.
Let's see.... shellfish allergy. You are in the field, you are unconscious, the medic comes up to dress your wounds, and uses iodine to clearn the area. Iodine contains shell fish!!!
You are in the dining facility in basic training... this is the Air Force, I ate shrimp in basic training, you don't order shrimp, but one fell into the pasta you were eating and you have a reaction. The military has no idea you are allergic or how to treat you.
You are deployed and end up with an MRE. It has shellfish in it. It is the only food you have.
I have a friend that was nearly kicked out for a NON-prexisting rice allergy that took the Air Force 3 years to diagnose because it was so mild. Rice would always get caught in his esophogas and everyone thought he had an esophogeal disorder. When they found out it was a food allergy they tried to kick him out. It was extremely mild.
You will be found DQ'd by MEPS but can get a waiver from the service for shellfish. The waiver may take months. A recruiter may not feel it's worth working, but it can be done. I've personally seen it. If you go to an allergist and find out you are no longer allergic you may not need the waiver.
I was just discharged from Navy boot camp with a diagnosis of breathing problems. I made it to 4-3 DOT without any problems and they only had me tested because of a medication listed on a surgery record and the fact I am underweight and have seasonal allergies. I was sent home with an RE code 8 and am hoping to re-enlist very soon. Is it at all possible to re-enlist?
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question concerning asthma
