Is it time to let post WLS men and women into the military??

For those of you who don't know, if you have had WLS of any type you can not enter or reenter the military.  I think this policy needs to be changed!!  I do see both sides of the issue, but the military is wrong on this one.  The military needs to be very selective in which candidates they choose to join...both physical and mental.  But if someone is in great shape...has skills the military needs (computer or medical), and is say 2 years post WLS, there is no reason these people should be passed up.
The military would say what if that person were left out in the middle of nowhere for 6 months we wouldn't be able to provide for their needs!!  Wrong!!  With todays logistics and computer technologies someone could get their needed vitamins within minutes if it was necessary.  A military field hospital can know within seconds if someone had WLS if necessary...even tatoo it on their chest!!  Also if they have the needed skills, they can be put in the rear lines and still provide a needed service.  Just talking outloud about a barrier that needs to be broken...

Doesn't having WLS severely limit the military's ability to deploy them wherever/whenever.  I am prior military, and I have two nephews currently serving, one is a CPT in the Green Berets and another is a Naval Aviator.  

The Green Beret never would have survived through the Iraqui summers on MRE's and limited water consumption.  He was drinking a half gallon in five minutes.  They would have to prepare special WLS MREs and then supply would have to make sure he always had plenty with him. 

while I value EVERY servicemember, I would hate to build a special class of limited duty military...

I'm thinking of Gulf War II.  I remember the pictures of the Army National Guard soldiers being sent to Iraq.  Many were older than 35 and looked like they were 40 pounds overweight...Oh, and very out of shape.  Not putting down the military...we needed these people and they were sent...and did a good job under the cir****tances.  But couldn't someone who is post WLS who is running marathons be able to keep up with them??  Especially if their skills were needed.  It seems we have different special classes in the military already.  Who would you rather have doing this job: marching up hill 10 miles in the heat and immediately getting into a firefight...a Marine or Green Beret or a 40 year old Army National Guard Reservist??  It just seems that the military can easily adapt to certain people who are well qualified...
Have them carry a 1/2 pound of whey protein powder if necessary to suppliment the MREs.
I think this thead may get interesting...

I could drink a half gallon in 5 minutes.

Bye the way, I cross posted this on the Main Forum...I'm getting hammered over there...

I don't think it's a good idea. Lets face it, if you've had WLS, you have special needs and those needs would be different from a normal person.

Can you imagine a military guy dumping (if he had the RNY)? What if a Lap bander got something stuck? These are "no big deal" in a situation where a person can lay down and let things pass, but in a military situation it might not be possible.

Scott

The only think that I would need that is different than anyone else is the b12 and calcium.  I am assuming that a multi-vitamin is not hard to get.  It is definitely doable, at least for some.

I have to take 20 plus vitamins a day just to maintain. Sorry but I vote no on this one.

20! I take 1 mutli-vit, a B12, a vit D and 2 tbsp of calcium citrate liquid... that's it. It would drive me crazy to have to take 20!

yeah it's a pain at first, but it becomes a habit. 4 with breakfast 5 with lunch 5 with dinner 6 at bedtime. It's worth it though. Just have to stay up on it.