I was sent home from meps 2 days ago because I told the doctor I was on amlodiphine 10mg & it was not on paper. What do I do?

2020-12-18T11:42:48-05:00

I'm a 37 yr old with blood pressure that is controlled. On the day at meps, my BP reading was 126/86. Before I started the process of enlisting, I told my recruiter I had high blood pressure, his response; it was not an issue.

So we started the process after over a week in, it was time to show up at meps. Went to my recruiters off to fill out my medical form, came across the do you take prescription meds, my response in writing; yes amlodiphine 10mg. My recruiter says that is a disqualifying condition and wasn't willing to move forward. Basically saying I should go home. There was a number clearly stated under the prescription line to call and find out more so I asked him to pls call that number.
But he said no need, that I was disqualified except I lied!

He and his leadership persuaded me to lie and that when I get in, at bootcamp, if they find out on their own, the will prescribe meds for me then. As much as that was tempting, I was uneasy with the suggestion.

So I did a quick google research and saw an article, I think its military.com( don't quite me this) which stated that people with controlled BP can be given an unrestritive waiver. And that 180 out of 202 have been approved thus far.
I felt those were good odds, if only I could get to the right place. So I agreed with my recruiter on his suggestion knowing I wouldnt go through with it. I didnt want to be turned back even before trying.

So he gave me what I needed and I went to meps. Then told the doctor the truth voluntarily. She was furious. Now she requires me to get my medical records which is in a different country( I don't mind getting it), and a psych evaluation aswell.
After all that, I updated my recruiter on what had transpired but as I suspected, he is not euthiastic about moving forward with me.
What do I do? as I want exhaust all that is withing my control.
P.s the mos I'm interested in, is clerical

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Dec 18 at 2020 12:07 PM

2020-12-18T12:07:35-05:00

I don't know if you will find the exact answer you are looking for on this site. But I can tell you if you truly want to serve you will get the required documents, so the doctors and your recruiter will be able to push the waiver. I had to get a waiver for Acid Reflux, had to have an upper GI done and everything to join.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 12:15 PM

2020-12-18T12:15:15-05:00

There's a whole lot going on here, and I'm not going to have a definitive path for you to follow. As we get older in life staying in the ideal heath range the military wants us at becomes harder.

It continues to be repeated over and over and over here how delicate the MEPS process is. Meanwhile, those of us in the military are nurtured into a system of very wide grey areas of ethics, rules, and just getting to the point of executing action however we need for the sake of the end state regardless of the process.

*****
I only figured this out after the fact, but folks could if they wanted is research and look up the medical requirements for enlistment/commission and then take those standards to their own doctor on their own dime, and see how they qualify. Then that data will be personally owned, will be out of the hands of the military history, and if possible could correct themselves before MEPS.

Not illegal, not unethical, but self correcting before the problem becomes MEPS data/known.

But it's a lot to try and figure out because there are a lot of waivers and exceptions at different times for different situations.

*****

What no one is being clear about your stage of this process is if you enter the military with an undisclosed condition, and then it is discovered later, you open the window of being prosecuted for Fraud if that condition could result in any sort of disability rating, and certainly are in big trouble if that is a disqualifying condition for enlistment.

MEPS is pissed because they just don't have time to deal with unknowns, and start over. It's just easier to move onto the next widget.

Joining the military is WAY harder when we are older. I did so at 39, and well, those paths of unhealthy choices catch up with us and are much harder to turn around from. I was lucky I led an active life for 20 years and sort of barely made it through.

When I tired to commission 4 years later I had high cholesterol when they did my commissioning exam. It was the first I found out about it (it wasn't part of my MEPS), and thankfully I was never medicated for it.

A fellow soldier tempted me with getting medication for it, but I passed up his offer. I crashed my cholesterol numbers with diet (yuck), and water for a few months, and then had my blood tested again on my own dime, and then sent the results to the Army Doctors for review. I did get a waiver, but in the end I fixed myself health wise WITHOUT medication.

The military doesn't want service members that are on medication or allergic to anything. They want to be able to dump you into the middle of nowhere and not have to worry about anything more than setting you up with MRE's, and water. Your needing medication for anything would require an additional logistical chain of support to ensure you are always kept supplied.

******
Solution, fix yourself so you don't need to be medicated, have it medically followed and charted, and get doctors guidance for this path. Then go back to the military with such data in hand.

However, you're 37 so time is not your friend.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 12:28 PM

2020-12-18T12:28:26-05:00

I also want to point out I was in the field a few years ago (not that long ago) and went into medical to have a tweaked leg examined. They check my blood pressure like everything else and it was through the roof. Now, I check mine all the time, and I am constantly normal. Just at the upper edge of normal, but in the Green.

However, now my BP has skyrocketed. Why, because where we are in the field sucks ass, it's 110 degrees, we are eating nothing but MRE's for a month, and I can't stay hydrated, and my diet is stacked with sodium.

Imagine if your starting base line BP was much higher than normal.

Response by SPC Nicholis Markham made Dec 18 at 2020 2:10 PM

2020-12-18T14:10:48-05:00

I would reach out to some other recruiters. Find one willing to help you with the process. Make sure to get them all info they require and you will get through it. In my experience, they arent happy about the extra work it takes to get these waivers. They will do what they need to but not happily.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 2:32 PM

2020-12-18T14:32:56-05:00

If a recruiter isn't willing to submit a waiver, then it's likely not to happen. You can try to find another recruiter but I doubt it.

I think this is the link you found because it's the first one I found: http://www.asams.org/guidelines/Completed/NEW%20Hypertension.htm#:~:text=Almost%2090%25%20of%20military%20submitted,end%2Dorgan%20damage%20is%20confirmed.

This isn't even for the Army. It appears to be for the Air Force in regard to pilots or those who fly. It states: "Developed for the Aerospace Medical Association by their constituent organization American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists"

"For aeromedical purposes, the USAF defines hypertension for flying personnel as a 3-day average systolic blood pressure greater than 140mm Hg or a 3-day average diastolic blood pressure greater than 90mm Hg. Asymptomatic trained flying personnel with average systolic blood pressure ranging between 141 mmHg and 160 mmHg, or average diastolic blood pressure ranging between 91 mmHg and 100 mmHg, may remain on flying status for up to 6 months (from the date the elevated blood pressure was first identified) while undergoing non-pharmacological intervention to achieve acceptable values."

It does say further down "waiver (military)" but I'm not sure if this really applies to your situation. And this is what it says about flying personnel in the AR for the Army.

You should probably read AR 40-501.

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Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 4:04 PM

2020-12-18T16:04:15-05:00

Any chronic issue can jeopardize enlistment. What was the PULHES code? Any 4 is not good. It's permanent i.e. P4 (permanent) Used to be. T4 (temporary was a temporary bar).

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 18 at 2020 4:30 PM

2020-12-18T16:30:16-05:00

What would your BP be if you didn't take your meds? The Army and the civilian world have two different standards. You are good if you are under 140/90. You aren't on a real heavy duty med. You might try exercise and a restricted carb diet, often that will drop it enough to pass without the drugs.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 18 at 2020 5:06 PM

2020-12-18T17:06:33-05:00

1. Don't understand? 2, As of right now you are medically disqualified from serving. 3. Even using meds, regardless of most MOS's there is no guarantee that the local clinic/medics would have the medication on hand, about all the could do would be to wait for you to stroke out. 4. Recruiters are like car salesman- only believe what you have on paper, tho having high Blood pressure, and being medicated for it are two different critters. You can see about a wavier, but it is doubtful.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Dec 18 at 2020 5:53 PM

2020-12-18T17:53:46-05:00

My recruiter told me to tell them nothing at AFEES (Before MEPS). "It is their job to find anything that is wrong with you" was his words. At the time there was nothing wrong so I didn't have to lie anyways. That is the norm for recruiters to tell you to lie. You are a check mark towards their quota.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2020 11:16 PM

2020-12-19T23:16:57-05:00

Is it really worth risking your health/life to get in when you won’t be able to support the military by being a deployable asset? The point of the entry restrictions is to ensure suitable personnel enter, are trained and continue readiness standards by being combat ready and deployable. If you don’t meet those standards then you put yourself and your battle buddies at risk.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2020 11:59 PM

2020-12-19T23:59:37-05:00

Sadly, you are not only an age waiver but you will now be a medical waiver. I may be wrong, but I do not believe at this moment that you are allowed a medical waiver if you are already requiring an age waiver. I'd ask your recruiters boss (station commander).

Response by SGT James Vidito made Dec 29 at 2020 1:22 AM

2020-12-29T01:22:49-05:00

37 years old? How many years of prior service do you have? Were you ever in the reserves?