Question:
DOESY ANYONE KNOW OF ANYONE JOINING THE ARMY AFTER SURGERY

Hello everyone I was just wondering has anyone been approved to join the army because I have called several recruiters who said bypass pts are disqualified and I have talked with a few who says as long as your doctor says eveything went well and that your fine you will qualify so I just wanted to hear from people who may know someone who has actually joined thanks everyone    — JENNIFER S. (posted on January 12, 2006)

January 12, 2006
Hi Jennifer, I know of persons that have joined the navy and coastguard after having WLS. For the most part if you can be medically cleared and pass their physical requirements then you should be able to join the military. I would go and speak to someone and get definitive documentation as to whether or not the branch you are considering joining will allow you to do so post-op. Hope this helps Tiffany
   — Tiff's On a Mission

January 12, 2006
The Army specificall disqualifies bypass patients. At least that is what my local recruiter has in his regulations. (My hubby is already in the military, I was considering joining myself.) I tried the Airforce too and they also said that WLS patients are disqualified. HOWEVER, with recruiting and retention problems at an all time high even our local recruiters are trying to put applications in and leaving up the final say to the MEPS station chief doctor to make the final decision. SO all you can do it put together all of your medical records, take it to your local recruiter and ask to have the MEPS doctor look at your file and make a determination. HTH!
   — MagickalMom

January 12, 2006
I was told they dont like the RNY because being different would make surgery in MASH operations harder. Its basically for your safety.
   — bob-haller

January 12, 2006
Hi, I know of no one who has ever been accepted into any branch after WLS. There have been many, many stories shared on here, however, of people being turned away. You might want to look up "military" or something along those lines in the library section. I do know something that may be confusing the issue, though. Once someone is IN the military, and develops a weight issue, they are put on mandatory weight loss/exercise programs sometimes called "fat boy programs" or something of the like. It begins to be an administrative issue. THey usually must either slim down to the acceptable weight, or are "punished" in a way with mandatory daily exercise, job change, etc. I have known a few people who eventually were forced with the decision of losing x pounds within x months or getting kicked out. In THAT case, the military will sometimes approve that service member for surgery, as a retention issue, and keep them in if they go through it and lose. But as far as accepting people who have already gone through surgery, like I said, news I've always heard from friends on here and recruiters I've known has always been no, although they may tell you otherwise while they research the issue. No recruiter wants to lose a possible recruit, and few of them would know the answer to this unusual question off the tops of their heads. It's a "readiness" issue. They do not want to become responsible for someone who may have nutritional or medical issues that would require special attention and possibly interfere with readiness and job assignment. MREs are one size fits all, boot camp would likely dehydrate you, messes will not take special instructions, etc. What's more, if you develop some kind of complication or malnutrition issue from your surgery later on, the military is stuck with your health care costs indefinitely. I wish it were otherwise. It seems like there are lots of folks on here who would like to serve their country once they're fit and fabulous, and I feel that they should be allowed to in whatever capacity they can. I'm sure there are plenty of administrative jobs stateside that could stand filling! But they just won't accept someone who would require special handling from the outset. :( C
   — christied

January 12, 2006
I have not spoken with a recruiter but did get feedback from my brother who was a master machanic for fighter jets. He said the concern is that the special needs that may arise with a WLS patient is that if only rations are available or other inadequte food that a WLS patient could not digest- nutritional deficits may arise swiftly. In combat getting the right type of digestable protien may be impossible. Eating frequently enought etc, etc. It's a point worth considering.
   — ppaige

January 13, 2006
I have a question. How would they know unless you tell them. Not everyone has scars. Not that I would recommend not telling them.
   — smparker2

January 15, 2006
Hi Jennifer My husband is in the Army. There is a girl in his unit that had rny 3 yrs ago. After I saw your question I called her and asked did she have any problems with joining. She said that she just had to get clearence from her surgeon and everything went good after that. She has been in the military now for 18 mts and just loves it. Hope this helps.
   — Mary T.