Posted on Jul 6, 2020
Would I have been able to get a waiver and reenlist or would it have truly been a waste of time?
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I got out in 2017 without submitting a reenlistment package. I got told it was a waste of time. In early 2017, I went to the firing range and didn't qualify for the second time. This is when I decided that it was time to get my eyes checked. It turns out that I have something called refractive amblyopia. My right eye never fully developed. I tried to go through my command to get a medical waiver which is when I was told that there is no point in putting in a reenlistment package. I was also told by my command that there wasn't enough evidence for a medical waiver. After my discharge, I studied my medical records and found that it was recorded back in 2013 when I had first enlisted and numerous times after. After I got them checked, I started to do eye corrective training. Basically just wearing glasses or a patch over my strong eye. However, I could still perform my job excellently and still fire a weapon effectively up to the 300 yard line. The 500 yard line gave me a bit of a run for my money which is where I failed every time. In your opinion, would it have been possible to put in for a medical waiver or a reenlistment?
Re-enlistment
Medical
Honorable Discharge
Leadership
Waivers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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Here’s the ‘million dollar question,’ is your vision in BOTH eyes correctable to at least 20/40? If the answer is “yes,” you may actually have a shot at a waiver, however if the answer is “no,” it doesn’t really matter if they noted it, as a note in your chart in itself is NOT a waiver. If it was an injury that was directly related to combat or caused by the service itself, they probably wouldn’t have a ‘leg to stand on’ in denying you, but since it’s congenital, without a proper waiver, it doesn’t look promising for you.
Now, I’m not sure if you thought about it, but you may be entitled to some disability rating if severe enough to call for separation of service, especially if you could show a direct link that the service made the problem worse. It was also the fault of the service in not properly waiving you to begin with, and they should be responsible for any disability resulting from their negligence. Yes, it is negligent on their part. Let’s also not forget that as a civilian, you have access to care through the VA for the rest of your life! Maybe they could at least help you by getting you treatment which should be either free or very low cost! MOST vets will qualify!
One more thing, NEVER trust your command regarding a medical waiver, they’re not licensed medical professionals. I’ve seen people start by showing-up at sick-call and simply work their way up the medical chain until a proper waiver could be authorized, but only medical could initiate such a process. I hope this helps in at least clarifying things a bit better for you!
Best of luck!
Jay
Now, I’m not sure if you thought about it, but you may be entitled to some disability rating if severe enough to call for separation of service, especially if you could show a direct link that the service made the problem worse. It was also the fault of the service in not properly waiving you to begin with, and they should be responsible for any disability resulting from their negligence. Yes, it is negligent on their part. Let’s also not forget that as a civilian, you have access to care through the VA for the rest of your life! Maybe they could at least help you by getting you treatment which should be either free or very low cost! MOST vets will qualify!
One more thing, NEVER trust your command regarding a medical waiver, they’re not licensed medical professionals. I’ve seen people start by showing-up at sick-call and simply work their way up the medical chain until a proper waiver could be authorized, but only medical could initiate such a process. I hope this helps in at least clarifying things a bit better for you!
Best of luck!
Jay
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PO3 Jay Rose
That’s the minimum vision requirement! You ARE on par with it, even without correction! The catch is that I’ve seen people disqualified, albeit at MEPS for having a “birthmark” or “discoloration” in their eye while still having 20/20 vision WITHOUT correction! I have personally seen it, and it was a minor discoloring that you wouldn’t even notice unless you were looking for it. The sad part, at least with MEPS, is that they are looking, and for EVERYTHING!
What’s your RE-code on your DD-214? Will it “allow” you to [easily] re-enlist?
You also want to look at the bottom of your DD-214, and check the separation code and narrative to make sure personnel didn’t screw you with something that will make it harder to re-enlist with.
Finally, how ‘needed’ is your MOS? Is it something that they absolutely ‘need’ right now? That could make the process easier for you if you do decide to try. Believe me, I totally understand, I was separated because of severe joint and bone issues. It wasn’t until I was 39 years old that I found out that I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a painful and rare genetic disorder that messes-up your connective tissue. I loved serving, and I wanted many times to serve again, but my condition was worsening through the years. I’m just grateful that I was able to serve at all! As for you, you may actually have a chance as long as the stuff I mentioned above works in your favor (which it probably will)!
The bottom-line is that I would try to get a letter from BOTH a civilian optometrist (regular eye doctor with an OD degree), and an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor that specializes in eye diseases with a MD or DO degree) saying that you are “fit for full military duty with NO LIMITATIONS.” If you have that to back you up, plus the remarks and the like on your DD-214 works in your favor, bring it to a USMC recruiter. Just remember that recruiters are NOT obligated to put in a waiver for you, but they are the only people who COULD put one in at this point. If you don’t think that a particular recruiter is helping you or ‘doing enough,’ well, there are plenty more recruiters out there if you’re willing to drive around, and something says you most certainly are! Just go to the next and next recruiting office until you find somebody willing to fight for you, having a recruiter that’s willing to go all out and help you with a waiver is half the battle!
Honestly, I think it’s a “coin toss” as there are A LOT of variables at play here, plus I don’t know the remarks on your DD-214 that I mentioned above. If you want it, I say GO FOR IT! If I didn’t think you had a chance, I would tell you. After all, there is almost nothing worse than false hope. Just ‘look at the big picture’ and TAKE YOUR TIME doing everything that I mentioned, and you will have a chance. It also doesn’t hurt to get as much advice as possible on this, just remember to ‘FACT CHECK’ EVERYTHING. Here’s one last bit of advice that I tell people all the time: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST ADVOCATE!!! (Please don’t forget it!)
Best of luck!
Jay
What’s your RE-code on your DD-214? Will it “allow” you to [easily] re-enlist?
You also want to look at the bottom of your DD-214, and check the separation code and narrative to make sure personnel didn’t screw you with something that will make it harder to re-enlist with.
Finally, how ‘needed’ is your MOS? Is it something that they absolutely ‘need’ right now? That could make the process easier for you if you do decide to try. Believe me, I totally understand, I was separated because of severe joint and bone issues. It wasn’t until I was 39 years old that I found out that I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a painful and rare genetic disorder that messes-up your connective tissue. I loved serving, and I wanted many times to serve again, but my condition was worsening through the years. I’m just grateful that I was able to serve at all! As for you, you may actually have a chance as long as the stuff I mentioned above works in your favor (which it probably will)!
The bottom-line is that I would try to get a letter from BOTH a civilian optometrist (regular eye doctor with an OD degree), and an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor that specializes in eye diseases with a MD or DO degree) saying that you are “fit for full military duty with NO LIMITATIONS.” If you have that to back you up, plus the remarks and the like on your DD-214 works in your favor, bring it to a USMC recruiter. Just remember that recruiters are NOT obligated to put in a waiver for you, but they are the only people who COULD put one in at this point. If you don’t think that a particular recruiter is helping you or ‘doing enough,’ well, there are plenty more recruiters out there if you’re willing to drive around, and something says you most certainly are! Just go to the next and next recruiting office until you find somebody willing to fight for you, having a recruiter that’s willing to go all out and help you with a waiver is half the battle!
Honestly, I think it’s a “coin toss” as there are A LOT of variables at play here, plus I don’t know the remarks on your DD-214 that I mentioned above. If you want it, I say GO FOR IT! If I didn’t think you had a chance, I would tell you. After all, there is almost nothing worse than false hope. Just ‘look at the big picture’ and TAKE YOUR TIME doing everything that I mentioned, and you will have a chance. It also doesn’t hurt to get as much advice as possible on this, just remember to ‘FACT CHECK’ EVERYTHING. Here’s one last bit of advice that I tell people all the time: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST ADVOCATE!!! (Please don’t forget it!)
Best of luck!
Jay
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If that was noted during your MEPs physical and the determination they cleared you to go there maybe and I underline maybe, some wiggle room for that possibility of a waiver. Being that said it will be a up hill battle. The higher ups that said it was a waist of time are more likely telling you they don't want to have to do the paperwork. If its worth it to you do the good fight. Talk to your physician and see what all conservative and invasive treatment option for you. This will also help once you get out when placing your VA claims for C&P as well as physician having a following history going forward. Good luck to you.
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LCpl (Join to see)
I tried to do a claim for it. Unfortunately its hereditary. Although I am looking into care options to hopefully have some corrective surgery.
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Waivers are at best a maybe. Anyone that tells you oh yeah, you would have gotten it is full of crap. You could have submitted a waiver, you might have gotten it. As long as your vision is correctable to the standard then go for it. The very worst they can do is say no. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and if you really want to be be serving, this is what you want to do.
Never, never let some barracks schmuck tell you no. You leave that to the actual experts and unless those are a little higher up on the food chain, the ones that told you waste of time, are full of crap. Sorry you bought into it.
Never, never let some barracks schmuck tell you no. You leave that to the actual experts and unless those are a little higher up on the food chain, the ones that told you waste of time, are full of crap. Sorry you bought into it.
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