uh, not when you tell the recruiter

[Edited on March 26, 2007 at 9:47 AM. Reason : deux]

3/26/2007 9:46:45 AM

No. and actually, now that I think about it, I remember when I was in HS and constantly being bugged by recruiters, my buddies told me to tell them that I had asthma and they would leave me alone, but when I told them that they started to ask how bad, and history and stuff.

3/26/2007 9:54:10 AM

No chance man. The Army won't take you even if you can get through all the training now without using the inhaler. If you have ever used an inhaler, then you can't join. Simple as that. Some might tell you that you could get a waiver, and I guess it COULD be possible, but not likely.

Sorry man.

3/26/2007 9:54:41 AM

Since your dad is SF and you've mentioned enlisting, have you considered the 18x program or going and talking to the 20th group reservists in RoRap? With 20th group, you could go through the SF pipeline, get tabbed, get a tour or two in the sandbox and still maintain some sort of career stateside outside of the army.

3/26/2007 9:56:01 AM

^^ As I stated earlier, my brother-in-law has asthma and is in the Army. He joined approx 2 years go and just got back from a year in Iraq. I don't think the Army would make it harder to join in the last 2 years considering how bad they need people. He just had to make it through basic without using it.

3/26/2007 10:19:19 AM

^ Yeah, I guess our current situation would require the Army to soften its standards some. Honestly though, I've heard of kids being turned away from rotc within the last year or so due to asthma. Guess it just depends.

3/26/2007 1:44:21 PM

^ I know the AF has been extremely strict. They have been letting people go left and right and are just looking for reasons to get rid of people.

3/26/2007 2:04:45 PM

Quote :

"Since your dad is SF and you've mentioned enlisting, have you considered the 18x program or going and talking to the 20th group reservists in RoRap? With 20th group, you could go through the SF pipeline, get tabbed, get a tour or two in the sandbox and still maintain some sort of career stateside outside of the army."

if you can elaborate on the 18x program id appreciate it.

obviously, if my dad was in the country id be talking to him about this stuff rather than bothering all you, but he does not get back from his current tour until july. The asthma thing has me down, but im hoping he can pull some strings since it looks like that would be the only way it would work at this point.

3/26/2007 4:16:50 PM

^ Have you ever had an asthma attack? Don't worry about the 18X until you are sure you qualify. Pulling strings at MEPS isn't going to happen unless your dad is damn close to the surgeon general . I've never known anyone to get through MEPS because of who they know. I've known a few that "omitted" information that they knew was going to be a problem.

3/26/2007 4:54:01 PM

Quote :

"While my motivation derives most from an inclination to serve, I would be a liar to say that money isn't an issue. "

WHAT ABOUT LIBERATING IRAQIS?

3/26/2007 5:12:08 PM

WHAT ABOUT REFEREEING IRAQIS?

3/26/2007 5:19:18 PM

Quote :

"WHAT ABOUT LIBERATING IRAQIS?"

I don't understand this question. Isn't liberating Iraqis (if they haven't already been liberated by the capture and execution of Hussein) inherent in serving in the War in Iraq?

if not...yes that is a motivating factor--the greatest when put in context of this war.

3/26/2007 8:41:54 PM

As Johnny57 has already mentioned, all this info is useless if you cant get past meps. Anyway, the 18x program is the armys relatively new program (although theyve done this intermittantly in the past) to boost the number of SF operators. Basically by enlisting 18x, you are guaranteed a crack at SFAS in your contract. Obviously this doesnt mean that you will get to Q or get tabbed. Id imagine that having a family member in the SF community could be advantagous in getting a feel for what to expect and how to prepare.

The other thing that I mentioned is the 20th SFG. The have some of their guys based out of the National Guard complex in Roanoke Rapids. While they are National Guard, they also have to go through the same stuff to become operators. You will get plenty of trigger time in the sandbox and after SFAS, Q, probably one tour overseas, etc. you could presumably maintain a normal career outside of the army.

3/27/2007 6:11:56 AM

If you do decide to go with the B Co 3/20 SFG make sure you only deal with a NG SF recruiter. Also, for the 20th (and the 19th) it is called the REP63 program instead of 18X. It's basically the same program but the guard can normally pick their MOS. It been over 5 years since I was anywhere close to in the know but echos and deltas were always needed and easy to secure. You will also be around guys that have spent a considerable amount of time in the community which is never a bad thing. As a guard you can make inquiries with your unit, find out what missions are available and pick and choose when and where you go, something active duty guys don't have the luxury of. Of course when you are under federal control this flexibility goes out the window. I know the A Co 3/20 SFG (FL) has been deployed almost constantly. This is basically how the last few years have gone for them. OIF + OEF + Hurricane Cleanup repeated multiple times.

And hey, maybe you can get them to fund ranger school so you can get tabbed and people will forever call you a ranger

One final word on guard SF, they do not normally conduct the same mission as their AD counterparts. Thats not to say they just sit on the sidelines but there is a difference.

Back to my last question. Have you EVER had an asthma attack?

3/27/2007 11:12:46 AM

I'm an active duty Army first lieutenant.....I did ROTC....I wanted Infantry and Ft Bragg....you would think they would need Infantry LTs bad. Well I got my 9th branch choice (Quartermaster...which is logistics/maintenance/supply) and 8th duty station (Ft. Drum.) What hurt me was my GPA...you need to have at least a 3.2 to get your top 3 choices. I have a 3 year active duty obligation and a 5 year guard/reserve. I wasn't scholarshipped because I was in the reserves while in college, so it counted towards my years of service, so I make more than most of my peers that came straight out of college like I did.

If the Army "fucked you over" when you tried to commission, then someone probably decided that you weren't officer material..this is not a cheap shot (although it is an assumption I feel that I am qualified to make) at anyone, but believe it or not there is a screening process (mentally and physically) before you become an officer....there's always 3 sides to the story and the truth is somewhere in between.

If your only concern with joining the military is money/benefits, than it's probably not for you. If you want to join because you feel a duty to serve and you want a challenge and to break out of your comfort zone, than join up. If you go OCS, you do have to complete basic/AIT but then you go straight into OCS....but you have to get accepted and contracted into OCS first and get interviewed, etc. You will have more responsibility than 99% of people your age if you commission when you're under 26.....and yes, the pay isnt bad at all, but there's no such thing as set hours...you may work 15 hours one week, than 100 the next.

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 12:02 PM. Reason : typo]

3/27/2007 12:01:10 PM

Quote :

"What hurt me was my GPA...you need to have at least a 3.2 to get your top 3 choices."

Can GPA come back to haunt you if you do OCS?

3/27/2007 12:33:16 PM

I received a conditional acceptance into USUHS (Navy) for med. school. The "conditional" is based on my medical waiver going through. I have been on a very small dose of zoloft (SSRI) for a while for slight anxiety. Anyone know what the chances of this waiver going through are? Are SSRIs allowed to be taken in the military? They requested my psychiatric history and an evaluation (getting next week) so far.



[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 3:19 PM. Reason : h]

3/27/2007 3:10:40 PM

cant talk on the navy...i know i lost my airborne slot because I was taking aciphex for indigestion, and had to go get a waiver..everything's gravy now.


GPA in college doesn't really play a role in branching from OCS, but it may have a part in deciding whether to accept you into OCS at all...but nowadays, I'm sure you'll be alright.

3/27/2007 9:36:37 PM

well, i got a 99 on my asvab, so hopefully it will even out if i do it

3/27/2007 9:41:39 PM

who doesn't get a 99 on the asvab?

3/28/2007 2:38:25 PM

Does Army OCS even care about the ASVAB? I know in the AF the Officer side doesn't care if you took the ASVAB. We did have to take the AFOQT.

Unless we're back to talking about enlisting again and then yes, I know they look at the ASVAB

3/28/2007 2:47:03 PM

^ Pretty sure they don't. College GPA is another story.

3/28/2007 6:51:56 PM

The ASVAB is required when applying to OCS, with a GT of 110 or greater, so yeah, it matters
Of course, if you have a 4 year degree and don't get a 110 you should just shoot yourself now and do everyone a favor

3/28/2007 7:15:34 PM