Question Military medical standards?

[DanM]

To anyone here from any country who has ever even tried to join their country's military, what were the medical standards like?

I'm looking into going to the US Navy's Officer Candidate School after college, but I have mild asthma. If anyone here is familiar with the US military's medical requirements, asthma, even if it was a wrong diagnosis, is usually a death sentence as far as any hopes of joining the military go. Is this just an American thing or do other countries have this?

 

[Urwumpe]

To anyone here from any country who has ever even tried to join their country's military, what were the medical standards like?

If you are too fat and lazy, or collect allergies and illnesses, you can still become soldier here, by doing everything funny inside the basement of the barracks. We have officially still a draft here, with pretty low standards. Only few allergies are absolutely no-go, also only few injuries or illnesses are a reason for you not being able to become soldier.

For everything better than just defending a telephone, you need to pass much stricter standards. Even wearing glasses is a limitation in your physical grade, you need at least the second highest classification for becoming officer.

 

[SiberianTiger]

To anyone here from any country who has ever even tried to join their country's military, what were the medical standards like?

I'm looking into going to the US Navy's Officer Candidate School after college, but I have mild asthma. If anyone here is familiar with the US military's medical requirements, asthma, even if it was a wrong diagnosis, is usually a death sentence as far as any hopes of joining the military go. Is this just an American thing or do other countries have this?

God helped me to have asthma too (along with another decease), and that was why I DIDN'T join our Army. :blink: Otherwise, I had all chances to end up as a chunk of rotten meat is some Tchechen roadside ditch 15 years ago.

 

[RisingFury]

God helped me to have asthma too (along with another decease), and that was why I DIDN'T join our Army. :blink: Otherwise, I had all chances to end up as a chunk of rotten meat is some Tchechen roadside ditch 15 years ago.

:lol:
Well, you know what they say: Everything's good for something!

 

[deltawing777]

I tried to join the military 3 different times and almost made it. I to had a history of asthma. I almost made it when it was determined that allergys (cats and dogs) is what triggered mine I passed all the physical requirements they give you by the army doctor. But don't try to lie about it. They will help you try to downplay it,but carefull though cause in the end if your'e caught in a lie you will be paying for your own ticket home. And if you do make it through basic training and go further and you are busted, it is a automatic dis-honorable discharge and you will be required to pay back the gov't. We all know how bad the taxman is here in the US. They WILL get thier money! This is what was told to me by a number of people. Shame to I qualified for everything on the ASVAB. I could of picked any MOS I wanted. You will know how bad it can be when they get you in the tear gas chamber. If you have asthma this is the area you need to worry about. Some people that have lied got in there (gas chamber) and actually died. It's not all just about running

 

[DanM]

Even wearing glasses is a limitation in your physical grade, you need at least the second highest classification for becoming officer.

That's strange, because I know here in the US you can even be a pilot given that your vision is better than 20/40 uncorrected, as long as it is correctable to 20/20. I'm 20/30 uncorrected in my right eye, and 20/20 in my left eye, my goal is to become a Naval Aviator or NFO.

I to had a history of asthma. I almost made it when it was determined that allergys (cats and dogs) is what triggered mine

I guess that's encouraging. I have a few allergies (food, environmental, and penicillin). I'm probably going to outgrow most of my common food allergies, and I'm not to worried about penicillin. Enviornmental allergies and being sick are the only things that can set off my asthma. Though I do have mild allergies to pollen, trees, ragweed, and grass; cats and dogs are what really set off my asthma.

 

[Urwumpe]

I had applied as officer and passed all medical (had been in total tested 4 times, before and after my application as officer, and eventually joining the army) and skill tests with flying flags, but finally, the psychological evaluation determined that I was completely unfit as officer... not sure what was the reason there, the psychologists was more busy filling the letters on his German Army pad with his pencil, than to really pay attention to what I answer to the questions, but I suspect that my motivation for risking my life in foreign countries was doubtful for them. Maybe I should have answered "For people and fatherland, Sir!".

Well, I was among the top 20 of the course, and only 2 out of 90 in the course had been accepted. Judging how hard a friend had it in the beginning until he finally started training recruits (which was why he applied in first place), the better fate for me.

Strangely, the officers and NCOs eventually found out that I was an ex-applicant for officer during my basic training, and always reminded me on occasion.

---------- Post added at 05:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:49 PM ----------

That's strange, because I know here in the US you can even be a pilot given that your vision is better than 20/40 uncorrected, as long as it is correctable to 20/20. I'm 20/30 uncorrected in my right eye, and 20/20 in my left eye, my goal is to become a Naval Aviator or NFO.

Well, if you need to wear glasses, you are not permitted for some careers in the German Army, especially the special forces. I don't know of the "correctable to 20/20" also applies to fighter pilots, I know only that surgery permitted some of them to become fighter pilots here.

 

[Artlav]

It's startling to see the difference between the opinion about army service here and over there.

There the people risk their lives and cheat to GET INTO the army, while here people do anything they can, including chopping their own limbs off, NOT TO go into the army.

And only 30 years ago it was almost backwards.

 

[DanM]

It's startling to see the difference between the opinion about army service here and over there.

There the people risk their lives and cheat to GET INTO the army, while here people do anything they can, including chopping their own limbs off, NOT TO go into the army.

And only 30 years ago it was almost backwards.

I read that Russia has a serious recruitment crisis, and that there are people with severe diabetes in the Russian Army.

 

[Tex]

It's startling to see the difference between the opinion about army service here and over there.

There the people risk their lives and cheat to GET INTO the army, while here people do anything they can, including chopping their own limbs off, NOT TO go into the army.

And only 30 years ago it was almost backwards.

That's because here, when you join the military, you're offered better career and school opportunities both while still serving and after you serve (obviously for those who weren't fortunate enough to win a scholarship after graduating high school). For me, I wanted to be a paid fire fighter in Houston. They require previous military service or at least 2 years of college, both of which I could have gotten if I joined the Army.

 

[deltawing777]

It's startling to see the difference between the opinion about army service here and over there.

There the people risk their lives and cheat to GET INTO the army, while here people do anything they can, including chopping their own limbs off, NOT TO go into the army.

And only 30 years ago it was almost backwards.

It hasn't always been this way here in US. My dad told me stories of what guys would go through during the Vietnam draft to get out of that meat-grinder!

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, what worth is a country, if you can't find volunteers to fight for it... Even Libya has volunteers fighting for Gaddafi.

I think soldiers should be considered a precious resource and not cannon fodder, but then I am speaking from a very subjective POV. In Russia, getting to the army is maybe not glorious at all (except if you are fan of old vehicles), but that is also largely because the soviet union Stalinist mindset of soldiers being an expendable resource is still living on. Here it is completely opposite, soldiers are the precious resource and the tanks and vehicles expendable. a tank can get destroyed, as long as the crew of it is still able to pick a new one and keep on fighting.

A tank can be build in less than a year, or just be pulled out of the depot and made combat ready in a few days, but training a complete tank crew can take around 4 years until they become really useful for combat.

 

[deltawing777]

That's strange, because I know here in the US you can even be a pilot given that your vision is better than 20/40 uncorrected, as long as it is correctable to 20/20. I'm 20/30 uncorrected in my right eye, and 20/20 in my left eye, my goal is to become a Naval Aviator or NFO.


I guess that's encouraging. I have a few allergies (food, environmental, and penicillin). I'm probably going to outgrow most of my common food allergies, and I'm not to worried about penicillin. Enviornmental allergies and being sick are the only things that can set off my asthma. Though I do have mild allergies to pollen, trees, ragweed, and grass; cats and dogs are what really set off my asthma.

Well it sucks but when it comes to Asthma and aviation it's almost a death sentence. Think about it though. Asthma and the thin air higher you go in altitude. There is all kinds of scenerios in which this could be a problem as far as THEY see it. Such as a asthmatic person in a ejection situation at high altitudes. Recovering from a hypoxia type situation, hyperventilation in high G force situations,that kind of thing. This is where the dollar signs come in. The cost of a fighter jet + Asthmatic pilot .

 

[SiberianTiger]

In Russia, getting to the army is maybe not glorious at all (except if you are fan of old vehicles), but that is also largely because the soviet union Stalinist mindset of soldiers being an expendable resource is still living on.

Not exactly. A risk of being killed in action is present, but the most fearful thing in being drafted for youngsters is that you are taken from your family and get locked with a crowd of thugs who begin to humiliate and brutalize you from the first day over there. And that is like an infrangible rule.

Often the situation is worsened by presence of ethnic self-organized communities. North Caucasus natives are especially infamous, it's commonly known that any three randomly taken Dag recruits produce enough testosterone to force the rest of regiment into virtual slavery. Joining army is like being sentenced for a prison term without guilt, except that in the army nobody really cares if you commit a suicide. Cases of suicide and walkout number at hundreds a year in Russian army.

 

[Urwumpe]

Not exactly. A risk of being killed in action is present, but the most fearful thing in being drafted for youngsters is that you are taken from your family and get locked with a crowd of thugs who begin to humiliate and brutalize you from the first day over there. And that is like an infrangible rule.

Try that in any German army in history and you would end badly. Psychological hostility is common, but open violence is not tolerated at all. Attacking a fellow German soldier is considered some kind of sabotage against the army, and this is not what you like to face. Especially since German soldier law results in you getting punished twice for the same crime. first by soldier laws, then by civilian laws. In its effect pretty much like what Heinlein describes in "Starship Troopers", but without capital punishment. There are ways in German legalese to make you wish you are dead.

The worst enemy inside the German army is alcohol abuse. But that is sure nothing surprising. Also the German army is pretty poorly prepared handling post-combat stress disorders. An of course, if you like your life, stay away from medics. Most of them are good, but those few that are terrible are existing often enough in the worst possible places to make you consider doing an appendectomy yourself.

Often the situation is worsened by presence of ethnic self-organized communities. North Caucasus natives are especially infamous, it's commonly known that any three randomly taken Dag recruits produce enough testosterone to force the rest of regiment into virtual slavery. Joining army is like being sentenced for a prison term without guilt, except that in the army nobody really cares if you commit a suicide. Cases of suicide and walkout number at hundreds a year in Russian army.

That is then a really bad discipline problem. And would require real officers to fix. If somebody has the right to command others around, it is the guys with the stars on their shoulder.

After all, it impairs the ability of the Russian soldiers to fight, especially fight together.

 

[Hlynkacg]

That's strange, because I know here in the US you can even be a pilot given that your vision is better than 20/40 uncorrected, as long as it is correctable to 20/20. I'm 20/30 uncorrected in my right eye, and 20/20 in my left eye, my goal is to become a Naval Aviator or NFO.

Dan, I wish you the best of luck. :tiphat:

If OCS gives you guff you might also want to look into the NAC/CWO program. The pay is less, as NACs are not officers, but you will get to fly. I served 6.5 years as a SAR Helicopter Crewman in US Navy, and am currently a Petty Officer 1st Class in the Reserves.

The big Deal breakers are usually color blindness, and anything involving the lungs so you need to make sure you've got that stuff under tight control. Depending on how serious your asthma is, waivers are available for NFO and NAC, but not Aviators.

NAMI will yank your chain quite a bit so be ready for it and don't let them get you down. If you have the opprotunity to foster connections do so.

If you have more specific questions drop me a line and I'll see if I can put you in touch with someone who can answer them.

 

[deltawing777]

Dan, I wish you the best of luck. :tiphat:

If OCS gives you guff you might also want to look into the NAC/CWO program. The pay is less, as NACs are not officers, but you will get to fly. I served 6.5 years as a SAR Helicopter Crewman in US Navy, and am currently a Petty Officer 1st Class in the Reserves.

The big Deal breakers are usually color blindness, and anything involving the lungs so you need to make sure you've got that stuff under tight control. Depending on how serious your asthma is, waivers are available for NFO and NAC, but not Aviators.

NAMI will yank your chain quite a bit so be ready for it and don't let them get you down. If you have the opprotunity to foster connections do so.

If you have more specific questions drop me a line and I'll see if I can put you in touch with someone who can answer them.

Good advice! :10sign:

 

[SiberianTiger]

That is then a really bad discipline problem. And would require real officers to fix. If somebody has the right to command others around, it is the guys with the stars on their shoulder.

After all, it impairs the ability of the Russian soldiers to fight, especially fight together.

There are things that are really wrong with this army... and with this country, too. And probably, one of such is the way of thinking: "If 'them' ever get really hard on us, we'll push the button and send this entire world to hell. They know it. And that's why nothing will ever change".

 

[DanM]

Well it sucks but when it comes to Asthma and aviation it's almost a death sentence. Think about it though. Asthma and the thin air higher you go in altitude. There is all kinds of scenerios in which this could be a problem as far as THEY see it. Such as a asthmatic person in a ejection situation at high altitudes. Recovering from a hypoxia type situation, hyperventilation in high G force situations,that kind of thing. This is where the dollar signs come in. The cost of a fighter jet + Asthmatic pilot .

Of course, this all depends on what triggers it.

 

[deltawing777]

Thats the spirit! :thumbup: