Question:
HAS ANYONE JOINED THE MILITARY AFTER GETTING THE GASTRIC BYPASS?

JUST WONDERING IF THE MILITARY HAVE RESTRICTIONS WITH IF YOU HAVE HAD WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY OR DOES IT MATTER AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS    — JENNIFER S. (posted on July 21, 2004)

July 21, 2004
I have read on the Q and A in the past, that bypass patients are not accepted in the milatary. I can't remember the details. I find it interesting since many military family members have had it with military health insurance.
   — Fixnmyself

July 21, 2004
I tried to get into the military after my gastric bypass. There is a regulation that prohibits anyone who has had abdominal surgery of any kind from joining. HOWEVER, if you have a VERY DETERMINED RECRUITER, and your scores are really good on the ASVAB, you can request a waiver. You have to provide a detailed letter from your surgeon stating that you are fit to join, plus your surgical notes have to be reviewed by the Medical professionals at MEPS during your physical. Plus, my recruiter told me that you are forced to gulp a 2 quart canteen full of water on road marches, etc. He said that a drill sergeant is not going to make any acceptions for you just because you had this surgery. You have to be able to handle basic training and any deployments. My surgeon discouraged me from trying to join, but he did write my letter. My recruiter was also a friend (my husband is military) and he highly discouraged it. I decided it wasn't worth all the effort myself. I think it is a very hard battle to fight, but it is possibly one you could win. I know there are several people listed on this website who have become police officers. They were able to handle the physical strain of entrance agility tests, etc. You'll never know until you try. Best of luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 21, 2004
sorry honey but I recently called and was gived the number to call meps and the said that they would not provide a waiver because there may be times that you would not acces to needed vitamins,specific foods,etc. So rather then have to worry while you are in basic OR being deployed they would rather not take that risk-risking you health and life-- by not having the things you need at all times and having to worry that you have them.Also they make you eat alot of food really quick to prepare you to eat fast and on the run as a survial thing.Soory to disappoint you.I know when I first found out,i was devisted.If you find anything out otherwise please,please email me .Ok ?? thanks and good luck.
   — mistytimc

July 21, 2004
Coast Guard is the only service that will accept Gastric Bypass post ops.
   — ScottieB86

July 22, 2004
I can't answer as to the recruitment requirements, but what other people have said here makes sense. The military system can be a lot more "harsh" than people might think. I'm not dissing the military here, but I have to let you know the truth. When things are pressed, there are a lot of sacrifices on the parts of personnel.There have been situations where my husband was seriously ill or hurt and his deployment situation prevented him from getting the kind of medical attention he needed for days or weeks. This includes a broken foot, an enlarged liver, and a skull fracture... Anyway, my greatest concern would be for your own safety. There are no guarantees of medical attention. At least not in the timeframe and with the specialists you might need. You are their piece of meat and when you have a problem, it's your non-medically educated superiors who get to decide how serious it is, and if you even get to be seen. Furthermore, your access to vitamins, necessary checkups, dietary needs, etc. is likely to be very interrupted, or at times even nil. I admire you for wanting to serve, but in reality, I really wouldn't recommend it for someone who has post-op needs--even several years down the road. If there are enlistment barriers, I'd say they're in good faith, trying to protect themselves, and YOU in case anything should happen to you. It's not a matter of anything being wrong with you or not wanting you! :) Christie, -200
   — christied

July 22, 2004
I was active duty military many years ago. The reason for the exclusion is that all military personnel have to be deployable, which means ready to send to a war zone. On the battlefield, as others have suggested, you may not have access to your vitamins, or be able to eat for a while, and if you fall ill, they would not have the medical specialists available to help. Now with that said, I wish they would make some exceptions depending on your job specialty. Not everyone who joins the military is deployed to the battlefield. I feel the same way about weight. They require everyone to maintain a battlefield ready weight. Overweight soldiers are really given a hard time to get into compliance and if they cannot are booted. All that talent wasted because a soldier was 10 or 20 pounds over the tables.
   — Cindy R.

July 22, 2004
Actually, I have to comment on this subject. I was in the military too for 6 years and ALWAYS trying to diet and never was within standards as far the Navy was concerned. I had the lap rny less than 8 months ago and now would meet there requirements perfectly, not that I want to go back into the miitayr. Anyway, I DO KNOW of a program that is now beginning to do lap rny on active duty personnel as well as spouses and dependents. I know they started accepting active duty this month and did their first active duty surgery this week. The program is very reputable and was only for spouses and retirees until now. I am curious to see what happens to them on 6 month deployments but I wish them all the best. They volunteered to protect and defend our country and the least we can do is help them to remain as healthy as possible. Just my 2 cents but I believe you will see more active duty having the surgery in the near future.
   — KittyKatt

July 28, 2004
Hi all, I know of one exception to joining the service after WLS. You can join as an officer after you get your Bachelors degree. My husband and I are due to finish our Bachelors in Nursing (BSN/RN)in about 3 semesters and plan to join the Army to be able to complete our masters degrees. Nice trade off,we give 4 years of our life, We get a combined 20,000 sign on bonus, our (MSN)Master degree in nursing in our chosen specialty is paid for and: 1. we go in as Officers 2.Skip Basic training, but do have to go to officers school instead. 3. Never see active duty,though hubby might due to 6 years previous experience spent in the Navy. So to answer your question, If you are under 46 years of age, have your BSN/RN(Bachelors of science in Nursing)you can join as long as you meet you meet the weight requirements. You will have to sign a waiver due to the surgery. I plan to get my masters in Midwifery/Ob and Hubby plans to get his masters in Anesthesia. (He knocks 'em out, I pull 'em out.) We have even considered re-enlisting every 4 years until retirement due to the excellent experience and travel. Best of luck!! Christy 4Mo post-op 264/192/-72lb(66 to go)
   — Tiny Pixie