" target=_blank href_cetemp=">http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/NAMI/WaiverGuideTopics/index.htm

If your condition is waiverable by aviation medical standards, it is very likely waiverable for SOF as well.

 

I'd also think about going to a doctor just to get a typical physical(vital signs, blood/urine tests, sensory tests). That's what they do at MEPS...if he/she sees nothing of concern, neither will MEPS...it's the same tests, just that MEPS does it cattle style and with longer waiting room times.  

Yeah as mentioned before, the key is whether or not you can function at full capacity without the meds.

 

If you can, there's no problem.

 

Some things do occasionally get people nailed(like ADD in certain cases), but persistence seems to allow for waivers if it's clear that they're not actually medically unfit.

 

I've seen/heard guys get by with all sorts of minor yet "disqualifying" issues with a doctor's evaluation saying that it wouldn't be a problem.

 

Still recommend you look over the waiver guide for your condition to get a better feel for it.

 

GOP,

 

You ain't a gonna like what I'm about to tell you.

 

Don't lie.  I'm not saying you have to volunteer information that was not specifically asked for, but give straight answers to straight questions.

 

I believe I remember you saying you're an evangelical Christian.  How do you plan to reconcile lying with that?  Never mind if other Christians have done it.  Christ didn't tell you to be like other Christians, Christ told you to be like himself.   And what about the soverignty of God?  Don't you have to accept the idea that God might not have put you on Earth to be a SEAL?

 

Let your yea mean yea and your nay mean nay.

 

Not easy doctrines are they?

 

I'm not trying to come down hard on you, but when iron sharpens iron sometimes sparks fly.   

I completely get what you are saying, but to be honest, I'm extremely confused. This is a lifelong dream I've had since I was a little boy, and it is a goal that has consumed me ever since.  I've worked hard for it (physically/mentally/academically), and I've done everything I can to ensure complete success. Here I am though, with a possible medical disqualifier. I don't know whether this is a obstacle to make me stronger, harder, and more motivated...or if this is an obstacle that God put in my way that he doesn't want me to overcome. Maybe he doesn't want me to be a SEAL...maybe he does, I continue to pray for an answer. One part of me wants to just say "screw, I'll do it no matter what", but another part says "I need an answer from God". This is one of the most confusing things I've ever had in my life (with all the conflicting answers, etc), and I know to most that this is probably baby stuff and all, but to me it's painful and confusing. I've been talking to my Parents alot lately about this, and they also believe that I should be completely honest; because A) if I get a wiaver, then thats probably a sign that I can continue my quest to be a SEAL, and B) If I don't get a waiver, then the Lord is telling me "No, bad idea, I don't want you to do it".

 

You know, hey, it's not all bad though. As a SEAL, I wouldn't be able to have a family most likely, at least not a 'family life', as I'd have to give 100% to the Teams, and 100% to a family...the math doesn't add up. I've always wanted to have a wife and kids, and even if I did get married and didn't get a divorce (70%-90% divorce rate in the Teams), then I'd still not have much money to provide for my family, wouldn't have much time to see them (I'd probably be gone 9 months out of the year, not to mention the long extended delpoyments in Iraq and A'stan)...so that's a big downside.

 

Lying is wrong, and I don't believe God would bless me if I lied. I've honestly never lied before in my life, and I'm not kidding. So if I tried to lie, I'd probably get caught anyway lol.

 

Law Enforcement has some great options in my area, so maybe that's worth pursuing (most PD's don't have a problem with my medical issues). SWAT, Narcotics, and Detective seem like great options worth looking at...and although our states big city SWAT unit isn't on the same level as SEALs in most areas, in door kicking they are pretty dang good from what I've read (Dallas SWAT and San Antonio SWAT did very well when they went head to head with GSG-9). FBI has some excellent options (agent, then possibly HRT, but medical issues would be a much bigger issue at the Federal level). From what I've read, the DEA has the worst ROE's and they have to have permission everytime they even want to carry M4's. The ATF seems decent, but their "SWAT" like unit doesn't seem to have a stellar reputation. So if Law Enforcement became my primary focus, then I'd stay in a local PD probably.

 

By the way, I'm not sure of the definition of "Evangelical" Christian lol :), but I'm Baptist if that counts. I've been raised in church my whole life, was saved at 7 (on Mothers day actually), and truly love the Lord. My Dad is by far the biggest Christian influence in my life, he's extremely knowledgable on the Bib

GOP, I don't want to offend you or your religion, but you are not going to get an answer from God. God gave you free will to choose what you want to do. He is not going to intervene in the physical laws he created to tell you what you should do. It has been my experience that there is no such animal as predestination. But that's the beauty of it all. You get to choose what you want to do. As long as you treat others with respect (which you do), then He'll probably be just as happy if you are a plumber than a SEAL. If the trident is what you want, go for it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it because you were destined for something else or because of minor health issues.

If you lie..and it's about something that's a big deal, you WILL get caught. You simply can't cover up something that will compromise you during training...training exposes weakness, and if you lie about potential weakness, it will surface. At least that's my take on it

 

Like I've said...everybody makes a judgment call at MEPS. Some guy I was with chirped about a broken clavicle when he was a kid...led to huge delays for him.

 

The point is, you have to know what is significant, and what isn't. It's YOUR medical condition, you should try to find out what you can about it and then make a judgment call.

At some point, you have to start making your own decisions.

 

Integrity is important, but so is KNOWING what's important and what isn't.

 

I don't even think it should be an ethics issue, IMO it should be pretty black and white if you're well informed on what your medical condition means for you. There have been many documented cases of world class athletes having various "abnormalities" but those people are in such fantastic shape it doesn't even slow them down.

To me, it's not a medical issue. My overall fitness level is excellent (but certainly, certainly not 'world class'), especially my strength and anaerobic capacity (I focus on MMA right now, but I can still pass the PST with ease). I googled my medical condition with "Marathon runner/Triathletes" in parantheses, and came up with several different names, so if I have to give examples then I'm good to go.

 

I'm just going to go to MEPS armed with an extreme amount of knowledge on my medical issue (in the process of ordering several books now, I'm going to drill my Doc with questions, I'm going to talk to other docs, and I'm going to keep looking up examples of world class athletes with my condition). Since I know I shouldn't lie, then the next best way is to be as prepared and knowledgable on the subject as possible.

When I went through MEPS in late 1991/early 1992, I was a little concerned because I suffered from occasional migraines and have medication prescribed for it.  I don't remember them asking specifically about it, and I sure didn't mention it.  I was in otherwise good health and accepted for military service.  I was not, however, allowed to take my meds with me.  When you get to the reception depot when you are shipped out they shake you down and take any medicine, even aspirin, away from you as "contraband". 

 

I was lucky on a couple of fronts.  First, I only had one minor migraine the whole time I was at Ft. Benning.  Secondly, my lack of migraines gave me an indication of what caused my migraines.  I figured out that my migraines were caused by irregular sleeping patterns (six hours one night, ten another, then four hours and eight the next, etc.).  At boot camp I pretty much went to bed the same time and woke up the same time every day.  Other buddies of mine weren't as lucky.  For various reasons they "hid" or did not disclose very conditions, like asthma.  Many of them were found out because their condition popped up at a very inopportune time, such as at a confidence course or during PT.  Now from what I understand they were given a medical discharge, which isn't considered a discharge under less than honorable conditions. 

 

There are a million ways to slice this, GOP.  On one hand, I sure as heck wouldn't disclose your condition because I'm sure it would probably disqualify you from military service, but if you are asked specifically about it I feel that you are honor bound to tell the truth.  I'm sure that you are in excellent shape, but from what you described about your medical condition, there is a chance that your condition could flare up under extreme conditions.  At best your drill instructors could become aware of it and send you to the docs, and at worst you could drop dead.  Good luck.

Politically Correct way of saying Assault Course?