Is asthma in the military really an issue?I'm looking for some truth as to what happens when someone enlists into the service with asthma. Im agitated that so many moral / legal waivers exist for the service but asthma waivers are few an far between. I've been a police officer for 5 years and recently considered commissioning as an officer. I've had exercised induced asthma off an on for a few years and use an inhaler maybe twice a year for shortness of breath issues. Really twice a year. At any rate, I kept hearing about how bad things would be if you lied and got caught. As a police officer, I won't lie so I never joined up thinking that I would be dq'ed anyway. Then a friend of mine with asthma lied and joined the AF about 3 years ago. After he finished tech school and was stationed in Florida, he was advised to see a specialist at the base hospital. It was a pulmonary specialist. The first question he was asked was, "Hows your asthma?" He thinks they found out because of his dependent medical records somehow. Anyway, nothing happened. The doctor told him that if he had any problems, let him know so he could be treated, simple as that. 3 months later, he was sent to Afghanistan and did a 6 month tour and now he is stationed in Germany. Still no issues. And he says he wasn't the only airmen over seas with asthma and is certainly not alone in his flight.
I've heard this happens often, yet online you hear about people being discharged for lying or being arrested and fined. I'm no longer convinced that's accurate. I meet more soldiers and airmen with asthma every day and I have yet to meet anyone put out for not disclosing it. So what's the real deal? Is it a scare tactic? Why would the military want to waive drug use or criminal behavior over a well trained educated moral person with exercised induced asthma anyway?
I understand the military policy. I wasn't asking about that. I was asking about what actually happens once your already in. From the military personnel I've spoken with, the answer has been exclusively "nothing."
-redleg
Any incident of documented asthma past the age of 13 is a permanent disqualifier for service in any branch. If the military lets you in with a preexisting medical condition they, and the taxpayers, have effectively bought that condition for the rest of your life.
-Tyler
Wait, you want to be an OFFICER with asthma? So your men will be fighting for their lives, you're in charge with them, then you get an attack and screw everyone up? THAT RISK ABSOLUTELY CANNOT HAPPEN. And since we're on the Officer side, moral/legal waivers don't really exist there anyway. But still, twice a year is way too often. Has it occurred to you that maybe people can break out of those problems but "exercised induced asthma" can be a MAJOR problem when you're essentially "exercising" for your very lives?
-poolhalljunkie_12
No its not as much of an issue anymore. I have been in the Army since 2003, with EIA. (Exercise Induced Asthma) It is on my medical records, and I go in every 6 months to get a new inhaler. I have gone to Airborne school, Air Assault school, and have a reservation for Ranger school in February. Most of the time I don't need to use my inhaler, but it is there in the event that I need it, similiar to you.
They will not discharge you for having it. I know people that have tried, and unless its just so severe you cant function on a daily basis, you're not going anywhere.
I was a Cavalry Scout for 4 years, deployed to Iraq with no problems.
As a person with Asthma, you already know the stigma that comes with it. "You're weak, you can't keep up, etc etc." Well I'm here to tell you I've got the fatest run time in my unit, WITHOUT my inhaler. I've completed the Army Ten Miler, I've run marathons, all without my inhaler. So that stigma is for the people that milk the situation. That is why you get the answers you do from other people. They think they know the rules, but are really just talking off of what they've heard.
Best of luck to you.
-Bradley
Your asthma CAN become a serious issue if you were to join. I know people who have lied about their problems and were just fine, but that is the risk they take and I can't judge them for it. What if you lie your way through MEPS and then move on to basic training, and while you go through the gas chamber die? Is it worth it? Another factor is the possibility of not having access to an inhaler while in some remote outpost downrange... what if you have an asthma attack... your f'd.
I have great respect for police officers, thank you for your service. I appreciate the fact that you are willing to serve the country in other ways, but not everybody can. If I remember correctly, at MEPS they said that only 2% of the population is actually physically and mentally qualified to serve?
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