All Branch Topic (ABT) Medical Waivers

[Doc9213]

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For a long time, I've been aspiring to be a military physician. Unfortunately, I have ulcerative colitis which I found out is a disqualifying condition. It's extremely manageable with anti-inflammatory medication (nothing like heavy immunosuppressants) and is fairly moderate/mild. I haven't had a flare since my diagnosis.

My question is as a physician, is receiving a medical waiver easier? If so, which branches would be more lenient? My ultimate goal was to hopefully join the Navy and serve greenside, but that was shot down when I found out about my colitis. At this point, I would even consider the National Guard or the Reserves as a possible route for military service.

Any information would greatly be appreciated.

 

[Clap MD]

Per the AF waiver guide, for a Initial Flying Class II physical (which is what a new flight doc gets) there is potential to get a waiver--though for untrained assets it is unlikely.

This leads me to think that if you are just talking about making it through MEPS, and you are a board certified physician without a sketchy past, they will waive whatever they need to for you to work for them.

This might also be one of those rare occasions that a call to a recruiter could be helpful.

Hope this helps!

 

[Doc9213]

Per the AF waiver guide, for a Initial Flying Class II physical (which is what a new flight doc gets) there is potential to get a waiver--though for untrained assets it is unlikely.

This leads me to think that if you are just talking about making it through MEPS, and you are a board certified physician without a sketchy past, they will waive whatever they need to for you to work for them.

This might also be one of those rare occasions that a call to a recruiter could be helpful.

Hope this helps!

Would I be barred from deployments in anyway? Or could I be barred from certain billets and assignments?

 

[Clap MD]

Yes, if approved it's likely you'd have an Assignment Limiting Code and would require a waiver for each deployment.

 

[244913]

For a long time, I've been aspiring to be a military physician. Unfortunately, I have ulcerative colitis which I found out is a disqualifying condition. It's extremely manageable with anti-inflammatory medication (nothing like heavy immunosuppressants) and is fairly moderate/mild. I haven't had a flare since my diagnosis.

My question is as a physician, is receiving a medical waiver easier? If so, which branches would be more lenient? My ultimate goal was to hopefully join the Navy and serve greenside, but that was shot down when I found out about my colitis. At this point, I would even consider the National Guard or the Reserves as a possible route for military service.

Any information would greatly be appreciated.

I respect your desire to serve but inflammatory bowel disorders are unpredictable and can become disabling. Your chances of a waiver are almost nil and I certainly wouldn't recommend one if I had any influence over the process.

I saw way too many AD docs get shafted during my time with repeat deployments on short notice because of females getting pregnant (oops!) and folks with limiting profiles like yourself .

Look into the VA or maybe USPHS if you really want to serve

- ex 61N

 

[Doc9213]

I respect your desire to serve but inflammatory bowel disorders are unpredictable and can become disabling. Your chances of a waiver are almost nil and I certainly wouldn't recommend one if I had any influence over the process.

I saw way too many AD docs get shafted during my time with repeat deployments on short notice because of females getting pregnant (oops!) and folks with limiting profiles like yourself .

Look into the VA or maybe USPHS if you really want to serve

- ex 61N

Thank you for your no-nonsense insight. It's something that I completely understand. I have defiantly considered USPHS as a fall back plan. Considering there are folks with limiting profiles, I'd assume there still is a possibility.

 

[act9]

If this was something you were diagnosed with after you were in service, it may be something you could get a waiver for... as someone applying to come in, though, it is less likely (not saying impossible).

 

[jabreal00]

I was previously an AD gastroenterologist. Now a civilian. I wouldn't give a waiver for anyone with IBD (UC or Crohn's) even if well controlled to join the military. There are just too many variables with IBD. Remember deployment setting is very different. Getting access to medication sometimes can be an issue. Environmental antigens, sleep deprivation, stress, viral infections while deployed can always trigger a flare even if one were in remission and taking medications. The worse thing that can happen overseas is the doc flaring and having to medavac and replace them with another provider on short notice. Now if one were to develop UC while in service, this is not disqualifying and they can deploy in the future as long as they aren't on immuno-suppressive therapy and they are in remission. All services currently can afford to be picky with new recruits. I don't see you getting a waiver, though I cannot say never. Being an AD physician may not be in your cards. Look into US Public Health Service or working for the VA.

 

[jabreal00]

If this was something you were diagnosed with after you were in service, it may be something you could get a waiver for... as someone applying to come in, though, it is less likely (not saying impossible).

I think they are trying to join with UC. It doesn't sound like they are or were previously in the military.

 

[Doc9213]

I was previously an AD gastroenterologist. Now a civilian. I wouldn't give a waiver for anyone with IBD (UC or Crohn's) even if well controlled to join the military. There are just too many variables with IBD. Remember deployment setting is very different. Getting access to medication sometimes can be an issue. Environmental antigens, sleep deprivation, stress, viral infections while deployed can always trigger a flare even if one were in remission and taking medications. The worse thing that can happen overseas is the doc flaring and having to medavac and replace them with another provider on short notice. Now if one were to develop UC while in service, this is not disqualifying and they can deploy in the future as long as they aren't on immuno-suppressive therapy and they are in remission. All services currently can afford to be picky with new recruits. I don't see you getting a waiver, though I cannot say never. Being an AD physician may not be in your cards. Look into US Public Health Service or working for the VA.

USPHS seems more and more of an option now.

I don't see the difference of someone who has developed UC while in the service, aren't on immuno-suppresive therapy and are in remission. Such is life, I can't complain. I have heard completely different experiences from health care professionals in the military. Nothing like sleep deprivation. But I assume everyone has had different experiences. I'd also assume some people receive non-deploy-able status. But your right, it is risky.

You mentioned being an AD physician not being in my cards, what about the reserves or National Guard?

 

[Gastrapathy]

The difference is that the .mil has invested in them and a medical discharge is expensive.

 

[Doc9213]

The difference is that the .mil has invested in them and a medical discharge is expensive.

tragic

 

[Gastrapathy]

tragic

I don't follow.

 

[Vandalia]

I don't follow.

Agree. It is a pretty clear difference that works in all aspects of life.

There is a difference between buying a house and then a year later discovering it has a bad foundation, versus buying a house that you know has a bad foundation. In the former, you are already stuck with it so you make the best of a bad situation. In the later, you would never knowingly make that purchase. Same thing with waivers. You are never going to make an investment of time and money with a known risk. But if that risk develops after you make the investment, then you deal with it the best you can.

Waivers always balance risk versus investment. Toward the end of my career there was a pilot up for a third star and NAF commander. If he was going into pilot training there was no way he would have received a flying waiver. But as a three star, he was only on flying status for show, so he could "lead from the front", and the only time he would every fly was with an instructor crew who actually did the flying.

The other consideration for waivers is long term risk. There are conditions that really don't present a risk for service or deployment, but there is an actuarial risk that it will result in medical retirement and the gov being stuck paying them for the rest of their life.

Bottom line: your chance of getting a waiver is directly proportional to the amount of money the military has invested in you.

 

[pgg]

tragic

Keep in mind that the military isn't "just another employer" that happens to have some doctors.

Despite the commercials touting the GI Bill, it's not a jobs program, out to help people lead rewarding and fulfilling lives. We go to faraway places in order to kill people and break things. Every dollar that is spent on the medical corps is a dollar that can't be spent on the warfighters, jet fuel, ammunition, ships, tanks, trucks, etc.

What would be tragic is hiring, training, and retaining a person who is likely to be undeployable.

 

[Doc9213]

Keep in mind that the military isn't "just another employer" that happens to have some doctors.

Despite the commercials touting the GI Bill, it's not a jobs program, out to help people lead rewarding and fulfilling lives. We go to faraway places in order to kill people and break things. Every dollar that is spent on the medical corps is a dollar that can't be spent on the warfighters, jet fuel, ammunition, ships, tanks, trucks, etc.

What would be tragic is hiring, training, and retaining a person who is likely to be undeployable.

hooyah. but what if one of DARPA's military robots breaks, enter the military physician.

 

[SirGecko]

hooyah. but what if one of DARPA's military robots breaks, enter the military physician.

Not sure you are following what people are saying as your responses seem weirdly out of sync with the conversation. (or maybe that's just me) The point they are trying to make is that the military doesn't need a physician that can't deploy unless they've already paid for them. (thus the waiver being harder to come by for a new accession than for someone already in the military) Not really sure where military robots come into the conversation.

 

[backrow]

hooyah. but what if one of DARPA's military robots breaks, enter the military physician.

And now it's time for you to move along to a different forum. You're going deeper into troll territory at this point.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[Doc9213]

Not sure you are following what people are saying as your responses seem weirdly out of sync with the conversation. (or maybe that's just me) The point they are trying to make is that the military doesn't need a physician that can't deploy unless they've already paid for them. (thus the waiver being harder to come by for a new accession than for someone already in the military) Not really sure where military robots come into the conversation.

And now it's time for you to move along to a different forum. You're going deeper into troll territory at this point.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

just trying to make a joke to brighten the mood. my bad.

 

[jabreal00]

USPHS seems more and more of an option now.

I don't see the difference of someone who has developed UC while in the service, aren't on immuno-suppresive therapy and are in remission. Such is life, I can't complain. I have heard completely different experiences from health care professionals in the military. Nothing like sleep deprivation. But I assume everyone has had different experiences. I'd also assume some people receive non-deploy-able status. But your right, it is risky.

You mentioned being an AD physician not being in my cards, what about the reserves or National Guard?

You've never deployed so you won't get it. Both my wife and I were AD physicians. When she deployed to Afghanistan she shared a room with 4 other people. Her bunk mate snored so loudly that it prevented her from getting any kind of reasonable sleep. Not to mention the constant indirect fire mortar rounds fired in and around the base that would require everyone to get in their battle rattle and hunker down until given the clear. She was chronically sleep deprived during deployment. Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on one's immune system by release of stress hormones. I had a better housing situation when I deployed. I had my own hooch. However I still did not get very good sleep. There is always something going on ambiently on base.

Possibly. I don't know the rules for getting into reserve or NG regarding pre-existing conditions. You'd have to talk to a reserve or NG recruiter.

 

[pgg]

hooyah. but what if one of DARPA's military robots breaks, enter the military physician.

Yes, enter a deployed military physician. Not a military physician who is stuck in the continental United States near a hospital because he had a health condition that everyone knew about before letting him join on an ill-advised waiver, occupy a training spot, soak up funds for med school tuition (+stipend) ...

Chronically ill and non-deployable personnel are a huge burden on the military (from the Marine 0311 infantryman to the wine
-sippin' Air Force Chaplain corps), and it's not just the direct costs associated with their care and their inability to do their job. It's the need for other people with the same job to pick up the slack and work more, deploy more, risk more.

It may seem like no big deal to you from a pre-med perspective, to think that if you get ill that you'll just take some sick time or miss a bit of work. After all the military is huge and has lots of people to fill in, right? But it's a big deal for the person who's going to have to deploy in your place.