I had chest surgery a few years ago to correct my sternum, its as good as new now though and I am physically fit otherwise but is the navy picky about past surgeries? I've been reading the disqualifying factors for the military and it seems like you have to have a blemish free medical record to join so can someone tell me if I will run into any problems joining? I plan to enter as an Officer if that has any significance.
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Medical disqualifiers
- Thread starter anters
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Anters,
I had a hip surgery when I was 12-13, including a pin which is still present. This is what the Navy calls retained hardware. Before college, I had an ROTC scholarship, and the Army wanted me for the instant Warrant Officer Program. Both these groups told me I would have to be less than honest about my leg to get in. I was unwilling to start a military career with a lie, so I put myself through college. Just before I graduated, something clicked and I decided I was going into the Navy come hell or high water. That's when I first learned the magic of the waiver. It wasn't easy, but I had a patient recruiter, and I eventually got it. Essentially, the military has an overall idea of what physical performance their people need to be capable of, and they base physical requirements on meeting those capabilities. USUALLY, if you can prove your "defect" won't hinder those needs, a waiver will be recommended. In my case, my surgeon sent in X-rays and wrote a letter stating I had no physical impairment, and that the joint wasn't weakened by the pin. I'm including a link to the Navy Aerospace Medicine Institute waiver guide.
http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/Text/NAMI/WaiverGuideTopics/default.htm
Remember, this is for pilot/NFOs, and is somewhat more strict than many other Navy communities with regard to physical standards. Just be honest when you fill out paperwork, and make sure you have as much documentation about your surgery as possible, they'll want to see it.
Penguin
I had a hip surgery when I was 12-13, including a pin which is still present. This is what the Navy calls retained hardware. Before college, I had an ROTC scholarship, and the Army wanted me for the instant Warrant Officer Program. Both these groups told me I would have to be less than honest about my leg to get in. I was unwilling to start a military career with a lie, so I put myself through college. Just before I graduated, something clicked and I decided I was going into the Navy come hell or high water. That's when I first learned the magic of the waiver. It wasn't easy, but I had a patient recruiter, and I eventually got it. Essentially, the military has an overall idea of what physical performance their people need to be capable of, and they base physical requirements on meeting those capabilities. USUALLY, if you can prove your "defect" won't hinder those needs, a waiver will be recommended. In my case, my surgeon sent in X-rays and wrote a letter stating I had no physical impairment, and that the joint wasn't weakened by the pin. I'm including a link to the Navy Aerospace Medicine Institute waiver guide.
http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/Text/NAMI/WaiverGuideTopics/default.htm
Remember, this is for pilot/NFOs, and is somewhat more strict than many other Navy communities with regard to physical standards. Just be honest when you fill out paperwork, and make sure you have as much documentation about your surgery as possible, they'll want to see it.
Penguin
Don't sweat it. I got an irregular heartbeat this summer about a month before I went to MEPS. I had the irregular heartbeat for about a week until a doc sort of "restarted" my heart. No surgery but it did involve alot of drugs and a garden hose down my throat so they could look at my heart with an ultrasound. Anyways, the docs at MEPS looked over my records and immediately filled out a wavier for me. They knew I was hoping to be an officer and a pilot. It isn't a complicated process, they will take care of everything for you. At the most you may need a letter from your doctor or need to go see a specialist aproved of by the Navy.
You shouldn't worry at all. Just go for it. Sounds like you are no more medically unfit then anyone else because of your surgery. These navy docs aren't trying to stop you from doing anything, they really want to see you suceed.
Good luck.
You shouldn't worry at all. Just go for it. Sounds like you are no more medically unfit then anyone else because of your surgery. These navy docs aren't trying to stop you from doing anything, they really want to see you suceed.
Good luck.
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