Military Career
Military Career
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What options do I have?
(This is my last post pertaining to this topic, I promise)
I am currently a freshman in high school. I'm very interested in a career in the US Army. I’ve recently joined the Army ROTC at my school for the spring semester but was not able to join it in the fall semester. It has been a dream of mine to work and serve in the military, specifically the Army. My whole life I've been dedicated and committed to making this dream a reality, by talking with family and friends, studying for the ASVAB, speaking with those in the military currently and previously, and ensuring my fitness levels are more than adequate for service when the time comes. It is a dream of mine to serve in the military. I’ve considered the National Guard, which is my top choice, along with the US Corps of Engineers. I am majoring in civil engineering, with hopes that I can apply what I’ve learned to something in the military, ideally in the National Guard, although I’d be fine with any other fields or branches. I’ve been doing nearly everything I can think of since I can remember to prepare myself for the military, and I’d be willing to do whatever else it takes to be able to join.
Despite all that, there are a few things I'm concerned about, and I hope you can help me with. Essentially, I'm wondering if I could still serve in the military despite having red-green color blindness and hemochromatosis as well as being on medicine for anxiety. As for being on medicine for anxiety, if all goes well, I will be off of it before I graduate from college, as I have greatly improved since I began taking it, almost to the point of not needing it. For hemochromatosis, I am currently not needing treatment, but my brother, who has a worse version (for lack of a better word) of it, needs a phlebotomy once every three months. As long as this treatment is regularly done, then there are no side effects that my brother has, and my mother expects it to look the same for me, except perhaps to a less severe degree. Regardless, I am willing to give my all to be able to be a member of the military. Despite having these medical conditions, I promise that if given the opportunity I’d give it my all and go the extra mile, absolutely whatever is necessary to make up for these health conditions. I would be extremely grateful if I could have the opportunity to serve and be a member of the military. If there is absolutely anything, I can do to prove myself or to deserve an opportunity, I will do it, and I won't let you guys down. I promise this. If I have any options at all to serve in the military, I will take them and give it my all.
In conclusion, I’m just wondering what exactly my options are. With dedication, commitment, and hard work, I know there must be a way for me to be able to be a part of the military. The only thing I don’t know is what my best path is. I’ve reached out to a National Guard recruiter, along with other recruiters, but I’m really afraid that they’re not going to give me a chance. What should I do? What’re my chances of attaining a medical waiver for hemochromatosis? Is that my best path? Have I really hit a dead end? I really need any and all advice you guys can give me.
(This is my last post pertaining to this topic, I promise)
I am currently a freshman in high school. I'm very interested in a career in the US Army. I’ve recently joined the Army ROTC at my school for the spring semester but was not able to join it in the fall semester. It has been a dream of mine to work and serve in the military, specifically the Army. My whole life I've been dedicated and committed to making this dream a reality, by talking with family and friends, studying for the ASVAB, speaking with those in the military currently and previously, and ensuring my fitness levels are more than adequate for service when the time comes. It is a dream of mine to serve in the military. I’ve considered the National Guard, which is my top choice, along with the US Corps of Engineers. I am majoring in civil engineering, with hopes that I can apply what I’ve learned to something in the military, ideally in the National Guard, although I’d be fine with any other fields or branches. I’ve been doing nearly everything I can think of since I can remember to prepare myself for the military, and I’d be willing to do whatever else it takes to be able to join.
Despite all that, there are a few things I'm concerned about, and I hope you can help me with. Essentially, I'm wondering if I could still serve in the military despite having red-green color blindness and hemochromatosis as well as being on medicine for anxiety. As for being on medicine for anxiety, if all goes well, I will be off of it before I graduate from college, as I have greatly improved since I began taking it, almost to the point of not needing it. For hemochromatosis, I am currently not needing treatment, but my brother, who has a worse version (for lack of a better word) of it, needs a phlebotomy once every three months. As long as this treatment is regularly done, then there are no side effects that my brother has, and my mother expects it to look the same for me, except perhaps to a less severe degree. Regardless, I am willing to give my all to be able to be a member of the military. Despite having these medical conditions, I promise that if given the opportunity I’d give it my all and go the extra mile, absolutely whatever is necessary to make up for these health conditions. I would be extremely grateful if I could have the opportunity to serve and be a member of the military. If there is absolutely anything, I can do to prove myself or to deserve an opportunity, I will do it, and I won't let you guys down. I promise this. If I have any options at all to serve in the military, I will take them and give it my all.
In conclusion, I’m just wondering what exactly my options are. With dedication, commitment, and hard work, I know there must be a way for me to be able to be a part of the military. The only thing I don’t know is what my best path is. I’ve reached out to a National Guard recruiter, along with other recruiters, but I’m really afraid that they’re not going to give me a chance. What should I do? What’re my chances of attaining a medical waiver for hemochromatosis? Is that my best path? Have I really hit a dead end? I really need any and all advice you guys can give me.
Career Advice
Medical
Waivers
Military Career
Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
17
17
0
Go talk to a recruiter. There is no side door we can use to let you in. There is no secret handshake that gets you into the club. You have to do it the same way we all did - let a recruiter build your packet, go to MEPS, submit for waivers if needed, get qualified or disqualified to serve. There is literally no other option.
(17)
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14
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Aidan Lally You are asking the same question over and over expecting different results. Some advice....
- only become a civil engineer if you are sure that is what you want. Its a hard row to hoe. Ask me how I know.
- the best path for a civil engineer is to become a licensed Professional Engineer -PE. I starts with the FE exam and 4-8 years of experience, a lot of design experience, to apply with the state license board to sit for the PE exam. Design experience is tough as a young engineer.
- the experience documentation to apply as a PE is tough to do in the military, even as an Engineer Branch officer. Especially for design work. You don’t get to serve in a USACE position until you are KD complete as a senior Captain. You don’t get to stay. 2-3 years, off you go.
- to be an “engineer” in the way you are imagining is a commissioned officer field. you are not guaranteed a branch as a cadet or OCS candidate. Ask me how I know. ROTC recruiting is sort of ambivalent, they don't get the same pressure as your standard recruiters.
- If you are enlisted, you get some choice but “tech time” doesn’t always count for your PE application. It varies by state. 12 series MOSs vary widely. If I had to guess 12T may be a good bet. The prime power MOS puts you in “USACE” but may not count for civil time.
- recruiters are dedicated to getting qualified people in. Especially the ARNG. Key term Qualified. If there is a legal way they will do it. There is almost more incentive for them to get you in than you getting in.
- did you look in the two regulatory links I sent you?
- as I stated before: USACE is mostly civilian employees. They are specific to USACE. Go look at USAjobs at the postings. The military people come and go on USACE. The civilians are permanent.
You can't let this define you. If you have not been permanently DQed by MEPS, then you can and should try. Just to know you did everything that can be done. Paragraph 2-3 AR 40-501 says that hemochromatosis does not meet standard for enlistment. The same standards are used for accessions of officer candidates. I feel it would be dishonest not to tell you....but I am not the waiver authority. Try and hear it for yourself.
You are a sophomore in HS? Your whole life....you just started. I know it doesn't seem that way to you as you are living it. Summary:
-Wait until you are old enough, then try. You will need to decide if you are going to try enlisted or officer, or enlist in the Guard then do ROTC in college. Either way you will get a MEPS physical which is GO / NO GO (PASS/FAIL)
- Take Army ROTC as an elective in case the medical piece can get worked out.
- Any physical or educational preparation you do will not be wasted, as you need to be healthy and get into a college if you desire to be a civil engineer.
- Don't stop getting medication and treatment for any of your conditions to somehow skirt the system. You still have the rest of your life to live, with or without the Army.
- Always consider a wide band of options because you do not know which way life will eventually take you....ask me how I know.
- only become a civil engineer if you are sure that is what you want. Its a hard row to hoe. Ask me how I know.
- the best path for a civil engineer is to become a licensed Professional Engineer -PE. I starts with the FE exam and 4-8 years of experience, a lot of design experience, to apply with the state license board to sit for the PE exam. Design experience is tough as a young engineer.
- the experience documentation to apply as a PE is tough to do in the military, even as an Engineer Branch officer. Especially for design work. You don’t get to serve in a USACE position until you are KD complete as a senior Captain. You don’t get to stay. 2-3 years, off you go.
- to be an “engineer” in the way you are imagining is a commissioned officer field. you are not guaranteed a branch as a cadet or OCS candidate. Ask me how I know. ROTC recruiting is sort of ambivalent, they don't get the same pressure as your standard recruiters.
- If you are enlisted, you get some choice but “tech time” doesn’t always count for your PE application. It varies by state. 12 series MOSs vary widely. If I had to guess 12T may be a good bet. The prime power MOS puts you in “USACE” but may not count for civil time.
- recruiters are dedicated to getting qualified people in. Especially the ARNG. Key term Qualified. If there is a legal way they will do it. There is almost more incentive for them to get you in than you getting in.
- did you look in the two regulatory links I sent you?
- as I stated before: USACE is mostly civilian employees. They are specific to USACE. Go look at USAjobs at the postings. The military people come and go on USACE. The civilians are permanent.
You can't let this define you. If you have not been permanently DQed by MEPS, then you can and should try. Just to know you did everything that can be done. Paragraph 2-3 AR 40-501 says that hemochromatosis does not meet standard for enlistment. The same standards are used for accessions of officer candidates. I feel it would be dishonest not to tell you....but I am not the waiver authority. Try and hear it for yourself.
You are a sophomore in HS? Your whole life....you just started. I know it doesn't seem that way to you as you are living it. Summary:
-Wait until you are old enough, then try. You will need to decide if you are going to try enlisted or officer, or enlist in the Guard then do ROTC in college. Either way you will get a MEPS physical which is GO / NO GO (PASS/FAIL)
- Take Army ROTC as an elective in case the medical piece can get worked out.
- Any physical or educational preparation you do will not be wasted, as you need to be healthy and get into a college if you desire to be a civil engineer.
- Don't stop getting medication and treatment for any of your conditions to somehow skirt the system. You still have the rest of your life to live, with or without the Army.
- Always consider a wide band of options because you do not know which way life will eventually take you....ask me how I know.
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‘Last question promise’ but will be the same results from the previous questions. Nothing is going to change no matter how many times you ask the same question. Sorry for being so blunt.
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