Do you want to Enlist but b/c of WLS you can't?
Hi all. I asked a question yesterday about joing the Army and got an array of responses. All of which were GREAT! I DID talk to a recruiter for the Army National Guard Friday Morning and was finally given the news this afternoon about noon. At first I was upset
, then I was MAD
and now I am LIVID!!
!! I know at least 3 of the posters on my previous thread expressed an interest in enlisting in whatever branch. Me the Army because of age. And I researched the Army Medical Standards which were last updated FEB of 2005 and it was thrown in as an afterthought!
I know there are many who believe that I am on some kind of "special" diet and that this would in some way hinder me. BUT I AM NOT! I am 3 yrs post op, at my goal weight and aside from issues with gall bladder in the 1st 30 days out I have had no major issues. One poster on previous thread stated that if you are in and have it its ok, because you are already trained and have all of that under your belt and the military does not want to spend money to train us "IN CASE". Well I am not BUYING that BS. EVERY individual that joins is a risk. EVERY ONE!!! Whether a flight risk, a injury or some one looses it, there are always risks. Every employer including the military goes through this. Spending time and money to train individuals who may or may not make the cut. I am pissed that some entity that has not a clue of what I can do is not at least willing to talk to me and hear what I have to say. Especially when the recruit #'s are so low. When every person willing and able should be given the oppurtunity to serve thier Country!
I am willing to walk away from my job, my husband, my comfortable life and DEFEND this GREAT NATION and I am really ticked that I, because I made a decision to take control of my weight and my life 3 yrs ago, albiet considered drastic, now I can't do WHAT I wanted to do 21 yrs ago but was too Overweight to do! Would they have let me join at 330lbs, well HELL NO! But now I have a smaller damn stomach and I can't. My basic comment is this!
IF YOU COULD GET A WAIVER WOULD YOU JOIN! RIGHT NOW!!??
I ask because, BY GOD I am not taking this laying DOWN! I want to fight beside my Country MEN and WOMEN for my COUNTRY and I am willing to put a little Bee in the Big Militaries Bonnet to do SO! Would you do it too?
On my previous thread a responder stated the increase in militaries medical waivers would cover say an old Knee Surgery! HMMMM! Interestingly enough, my "little" Stomach would not suddenly give out on me if running in BCT or AIT or in the Sand, or mountains or out the door for Gods sake. I am pissed that they can take THAT RISK but not one on ME!
I have this special diet,that is very damn laughable, let's see............................. I ate scrambled eggs and toast this morning with coffee, then for lunch I had Chinese, a little of several items! and for dinner taco salad. Damn I am alot more different then all the non WLS's out there huh! Oh yeah, I had some Ritz crackers, 5 to be exact for a mid afternoon snack. DAMN ME for being so different! Oops I forgot I had Unsweet tea all day too!
If you are interested in stirring up enough of a voice to maybe get the Disqualifier changed, or given a case by case review, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me. I have several friends already on it! I am gonna get a MEPS Dr to review my case and I am gonna get someone to sit up and take notice that just BECAUSE I don't eat as much as they do, that I can STILL FIGHT FOR MY COUNTRY!!!!
I am not a QUITER, never have BEEN and I am not about to START NOW!
If you are serious and want to make the BEE bigger and stronger PLEASE contact me. First I am teased and discriminated on because I was Obese and NOW because I did something about IT I am being discrimated against. Military does not want to spend money to train me in case, well last damn time I checked EVERY working individual was footing the bill and I want my small portion put to work for ME!
I appreciate all responses but please contact me personally if you feel the same. One person can't change much but 2+ can damn sure get them to take notice!
Thanks for listening, reading and supporting!
Angie
ps. I posted this exact post on the main message board but I know not everyone visits there. I am in Meridian. MS
, then I was MAD and now I am LIVID!!!! I know at least 3 of the posters on my previous thread expressed an interest in enlisting in whatever branch. Me the Army because of age. And I researched the Army Medical Standards which were last updated FEB of 2005 and it was thrown in as an afterthought!
I know there are many who believe that I am on some kind of "special" diet and that this would in some way hinder me. BUT I AM NOT! I am 3 yrs post op, at my goal weight and aside from issues with gall bladder in the 1st 30 days out I have had no major issues. One poster on previous thread stated that if you are in and have it its ok, because you are already trained and have all of that under your belt and the military does not want to spend money to train us "IN CASE". Well I am not BUYING that BS. EVERY individual that joins is a risk. EVERY ONE!!! Whether a flight risk, a injury or some one looses it, there are always risks. Every employer including the military goes through this. Spending time and money to train individuals who may or may not make the cut. I am pissed that some entity that has not a clue of what I can do is not at least willing to talk to me and hear what I have to say. Especially when the recruit #'s are so low. When every person willing and able should be given the oppurtunity to serve thier Country!
I am willing to walk away from my job, my husband, my comfortable life and DEFEND this GREAT NATION and I am really ticked that I, because I made a decision to take control of my weight and my life 3 yrs ago, albiet considered drastic, now I can't do WHAT I wanted to do 21 yrs ago but was too Overweight to do! Would they have let me join at 330lbs, well HELL NO! But now I have a smaller damn stomach and I can't. My basic comment is this!
IF YOU COULD GET A WAIVER WOULD YOU JOIN! RIGHT NOW!!??
I ask because, BY GOD I am not taking this laying DOWN! I want to fight beside my Country MEN and WOMEN for my COUNTRY and I am willing to put a little Bee in the Big Militaries Bonnet to do SO! Would you do it too?
On my previous thread a responder stated the increase in militaries medical waivers would cover say an old Knee Surgery! HMMMM! Interestingly enough, my "little" Stomach would not suddenly give out on me if running in BCT or AIT or in the Sand, or mountains or out the door for Gods sake. I am pissed that they can take THAT RISK but not one on ME!
I have this special diet,that is very damn laughable, let's see............................. I ate scrambled eggs and toast this morning with coffee, then for lunch I had Chinese, a little of several items! and for dinner taco salad. Damn I am alot more different then all the non WLS's out there huh! Oh yeah, I had some Ritz crackers, 5 to be exact for a mid afternoon snack. DAMN ME for being so different! Oops I forgot I had Unsweet tea all day too!
If you are interested in stirring up enough of a voice to maybe get the Disqualifier changed, or given a case by case review, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me. I have several friends already on it! I am gonna get a MEPS Dr to review my case and I am gonna get someone to sit up and take notice that just BECAUSE I don't eat as much as they do, that I can STILL FIGHT FOR MY COUNTRY!!!!
I am not a QUITER, never have BEEN and I am not about to START NOW!
If you are serious and want to make the BEE bigger and stronger PLEASE contact me. First I am teased and discriminated on because I was Obese and NOW because I did something about IT I am being discrimated against. Military does not want to spend money to train me in case, well last damn time I checked EVERY working individual was footing the bill and I want my small portion put to work for ME!
I appreciate all responses but please contact me personally if you feel the same. One person can't change much but 2+ can damn sure get them to take notice!
Thanks for listening, reading and supporting!
Angie
ps. I posted this exact post on the main message board but I know not everyone visits there. I am in Meridian. MS 
Hi Angie,
I applaud your conviction, your desire to defend this great nation of ours. Thank you.
There are probably several reasons as to why you are being deferred. I don't know them all. My husband is a veteran of Gulf War I (and very supportive of WLS) and I asked for his take on your post. He simply stated, "She cannot eat MRE's - she can't go to war."
The contents of one MRE meal bag provides an average of 1250 kilocalories (13% protein, 36% fat, and 51% carbohydrates). It provides 1/3 of the Military Recommended Daily Allowance of nutrients determined essential by the Surgeon General of the United States.
The military, out of necessity, discriminates against the aged, the overweight, the underweight, those who abuse drugs or those who have criminal records, those with an IQ below a certain standard, pilots have to have a certain level of eyesight, the list goes on and on. And it is so because mission requirements demand that the military member satisfy basic requirements, mostly based on career field/job. But the primary job of any soldier is to defend. And if you cannot eat a standard MRE, you cannot go to war.
I hope this helps.
Kristen
I applaud your conviction, your desire to defend this great nation of ours. Thank you.
There are probably several reasons as to why you are being deferred. I don't know them all. My husband is a veteran of Gulf War I (and very supportive of WLS) and I asked for his take on your post. He simply stated, "She cannot eat MRE's - she can't go to war."
The contents of one MRE meal bag provides an average of 1250 kilocalories (13% protein, 36% fat, and 51% carbohydrates). It provides 1/3 of the Military Recommended Daily Allowance of nutrients determined essential by the Surgeon General of the United States.
The military, out of necessity, discriminates against the aged, the overweight, the underweight, those who abuse drugs or those who have criminal records, those with an IQ below a certain standard, pilots have to have a certain level of eyesight, the list goes on and on. And it is so because mission requirements demand that the military member satisfy basic requirements, mostly based on career field/job. But the primary job of any soldier is to defend. And if you cannot eat a standard MRE, you cannot go to war.
I hope this helps.
Kristen
As a retired Navy Corpsman, I too applaud your desire to defend our country. However, the military medical community has determined that WLS compromises one's ability to fullfill his/her service obligations. I'm sure they considered the adverse logistical and financial impact WLS related complication could have on military missions. Imagine a soldier having a blocked stoma in the middle of a war zone. Can you even buy calcium supplements in Iraq? There are many ways to defend the American way of life. Ever consider being a teacher?
I conceived it, and I will achieve it! I am a weight loss sucess!
Kristen,
I hate to say this but, I have eaten 2 MRE's, one was a chicken noodle something or another, the other a beef one, when Katrina hit we had some given to us. I was only 1.5 yrs out and was able to eat it. No power, no grocery stores with anything to buy, made us do what we had to do. So when we ran out of what little we had to begin with I was made to eat them. And did not have any ill effects.
I was at the time still pretty strict with myself and my diet as I was still loosing, but now I eat anything I want and maintain my weight just fine. Just not in the same quanities. I would not expect to Serve if I did not already know this was not the case, for me, anyway.
Thanks for the info though.
Angie
I am a veteran. I was a WAC. I do not believe the military is going to risk a mission on anyone who may present with compromised health and or special requirements. Your requirements for fluids and proteins make you a poor risk in a war zone. I understand you ate some MREs, but that is not the same as a steady diet of them. If you want to do something -- volunteer at a Veteran's Hospital or a USO. They always need good quality people. Red
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