Posted on Oct 31, 2018
Madison Holloway
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Yeah, I know, you've all told me that I'm never going to get into any branch of the military with only one kidney. The Army has already disqualified me and now I'm in the middle of trying to enlist in the Air Force. People keep telling me that I have no chance of joining, but I'm making more progress than you've all expected. My recruiter has my medical papers and he knows all about my one kidney. And yet, he didn't turn me down and give me an automatic disqualification. He said I can go take the ASVAB, which I took today and scored a 94 on, and then he said that he'll send my scores down to be looked at so that I can be considered for MEPS.

So....when does this so-called "automatic disqualification" show up, because I ain't seeing it. I took the ASVAB, scored high on it, and now I'm being considered for MEPS. And what happens when my recruiter says I'm in the clear for MEPS? What happens when I pass the physical and MEPS lets me swear in? What happens when they notice that my one kidney doesn't impede me in any way? Chances are you all will still be saying "You're never gonna get in! You're disqualified!"

I honestly just typed this up because I like that I'm proving you guys wrong so far. I've made it farther than any of you have anticipated and I'm just the type of guy who likes to rub things in.
Posted in these groups: Ems MedicalUnnamed ASVABArmyrecruitposter Recruiter
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Responses: 255
MAJ Logistics Officer (S4)
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What it comes down to is this: did your recruiter check the regulation? He may not know the regs but the docs at MEPS will. And if someone still overlooks it and it gets picked up later, you will be processed out (this is all assuming it is in-fact a disqualifying condition) and a lot of time and resources will have been wasted.

I had the opposite situation when I enlisted in 1983. My recruiter immediately dismissed me, saying that because I am deaf in one ear, I won't qualify. My naive 17-year-old response was "What harm is there in trying? The worst they can do is say "no"". Of course, at that point, I had no idea about regulations, etc. As it turns out, I was right and he was wrong... at that time, single-sided deafness was NOT a disqualifier for enlistment (I believe it is now), only for certain MOSs. 36 years later, I am still serving.

My advice to you is to look up the regulation yourself. If it is a disqualifier, you will only slip through the cracks for so long; someone will eventually pick up on it and push the issue. If you still choose to take your chances beyond that point, at least you will be informed. The Army has AR 40-501, "Standards of Medical Fitness". I'm sure the AF has an equivalent regulation. Perhaps someone in here can help you locate that regulation. It will behoove you to know what it says regarding your condition, just in case they try to BS you like they did me.

Good luck!
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SSG Craig Newton
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You may want to check that attitude, son. It will not serve you well, in the military or in life.
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PO2 Karl Lehn
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Not only will you not be qualified medically for ANY military service after seeing what you wrote and your arrogant insulting attitude I'm glad you won't qualify. People like you with the mindset you displayed are a liability to everyone you're stationed with. Its people like you that get others hurt or killed.
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Debi Borglit
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You do realize there is a reason why you are disqualified from service based on having only one kidney.. right? It's not to pick on you or play games. It is because you are easily dehydrated and therefore a risk to have in tropical climates. Which would then make others have to deploy In your place.. also if your one kidney failed because of dehydration you would then have to be on dialysis and medically discharged at the expense of the government. Lost of revenue to train you and shelter you and feed you.
To be honest you are being really selfish and sound sort of entitled.
This would be covered by DODD 6130.3, DODI 6130.4, and Army Regulation 40–501, Paragraph 2–15:

f. Kidney.

(1) Current absence of one kidney, congenital (753.0) or acquired (V45.73) does not meet the standard.
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CPL Allan Suddeth
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I understand you wanting to get in, and I commend you for it. A friend of mine had a son leave for basic in the Marine Corp just 3 weeks ago. His recruiter knew about his only having 1 functioning kidney as well and they sent him through the MEPS in Little Rock. Just last week, the Marine Corp decided that they were going to be letting him go. Please keep that in mind if you do make it past MEPS. I know my friend's son now feels like he failed, but I told him to tell his son to keep his head up, because like you, he at least has the balls to sign his name on the line in order to defend our freedoms from all enemies, foreign and domestic!
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1SG Dave Carello
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Military service, ALL branches are TEAM oriented for good reason, you need to depend on the fighter to the left and right of you and, they you. If you are the type that likes to "Rub things in" you may need to go elsewhere cause it sounds like you are all for YOU.
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TSgt Patrick Hogan
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You haven't figured out how to take advice. Not a great way to start a career or a life.
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PFC Richard Delahoy
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Youre cocky and will not make it with that kind of disrespectful attitude, they made that call because you would be putting your comrade in arms and yourself at risk if you were to become incapacitated in the field because of your condition so id say that you should reconsider your current position and get a job elsewhere that is less likely for you to injure yourself
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SPC Brian Blaney
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Wrong attitude to have young person. You have 1 kidney, why would you put yourself at risk? While wanting to serve is admirable, your attitude sucks.

I was honorably discharged because of a medical condition that happened, as in I didn't have it previously, when I was in. And mine was extremely manageable.
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MSgt Marsha Ptomey
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Your arrogance is appalling, quite frankly. Either you want to get into the military to serve your country, or you don't. It's not a matter of proving the system wrong and patting yourself on the back because you "beat" that system. I hope the system proves you wrong.
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