ASTHMA and LAZY/WEAK Eye

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Blue1970

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Mar 28, 2015
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My child has had asthma as a child, never had an attack since 9 but as a preventative (overly protective mother) we have always had a nebulizer and inhaler as a precaution. Our Doctor has said that he will perform a spirometers test and if passed will explain that he has not had or needed medication but has had them as a precaution only. Child runs track and has not needed the inhaler but had the prescription. Hope a letter works!! Any past experience or lessons learned that I should know or ensure happens before he sees the DR and meets the DODMEDB to complete his AFROTC scholarship that he has accepted for the fall. FYI he is not looking to be a rated officer...looking at research science or engineer.

with 25 years in USAF myself-knowing that he does not need the inhaler and he is in great shape I would be very displeased with the USAF! I even think I would put Integrity aside and tell him to forget he ever had asthma!

Second he also has a lazy/Weak eye he sees 20/20 but one eye is uncorrectable to 20/60 I think!

Does Anyone think he will have a chance????
 
I am not a DoDMERB expert, but I think asthma is only a certain DQ if it occurs after age 13. It sounds to me like your DS hasn't had asthma per se since he was 9. I am guessing it won't be a huge deal. However, if it were me, I would explain the situation anyway because it would be an instant DQ (probably with no waiver) if it seemed as though you/he were trying to hide something.

I'm not sure about the eye, to be honest. According to the AFA website, vision must be "correctable to 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other" for an applicant to be qualified for admission. My interpretation of your post was that his one eye is uncorrectable to 20/20 and is currently 20/60. If his other eye is 20/20, than the 20/60 shouldn't be an issue. What I would be a little more concerned about is the lazy eye issue. I am not sure if that is considered a DQ; I assume it depends on the severity.

Good luck to your son, and thank you very much for your service to our nation!
 
Blue1970 said:
with 25 years in USAF myself-knowing that he does not need the inhaler and he is in great shape I would be very displeased with the USAF! I even think I would put Integrity aside and tell him to forget he ever had asthma!
Click to expand...

Please don't go down this path for many reasons.

1. As an AFROTC cadet this will be only 1 of 3 exams he will take during AFROTC.
A. He will do a short physical again if selected for SFT as a sophomore, think sports physical.
~~ If he forgets that he stated on this intake exam that he answered No to ever having asthma, and answers Yes, a big RED flag will be thrown up. HQ will not only have the right to disenroll him for lying, but come after him for the cost of the scholarship for the two years they paid. That means tuition, books and stipend. They want it in lump sum, but will be willing to work out a payment plan, however, unlike a Stafford loan where repayment is 10 years, they usually want 4 years, and may or may not allow him to wait until graduation.

B.Prior to commissioning he will take another exam, rated or not. This means lets hope again that he remembers he said NO on the intake exams.
~ See above for what might happen if that occurs.

2. He hopefully will attend SFT.
~ What happens if he has some breathing issues at Maxwell during training requiring a medic. They ask him do you have any medical history to be aware of?
~~ In that split second moment he answers YES, I was diagnosed with asthma as a child?
~~ Last time you were prescribed or used an inhaler? High School.
~~~~ Rut Ro Reorge. This will of course be reported, and now at Maxwell, they pull his medical records for the SFT exam and see he said NO.

See above for what may come down from upon high.

3. ADAF.
~~ Same as above, if not worse if found out during the 4 years required.

I get wanting to be a parent, protecting your child. I believe you believe that this is about your integrity, but I think you need to remember how the AF sees it if he is 18. He is at the age of consent as an adult. You have no voice in his medical aspects from HIPPA.
~ If he is still a minor now, than I guess we are in the shade of gray, but that is a secret he will bear the weight of carrying on his shoulders knowing that they will drill into their craniums Integrity and honesty.

I really hope that instead of having this weight hanging around him until 2023/24 you find a doc in your area that has a military background like Wilco and EXT. did. Or maybe pay for a DoDMERB consultant before going down the path of hiding it.

Internet forums are hard to understand intonation, and please believe me, I truly am saying this as a concerned parent, and stating the faults in your knee jerk reaction (MPO), to save you any potentional heart break in his future, it is not to be Jainie Raincloud or an arse.
 
Thank You PIMA for your input!! Much appreciated - I am going to look into the DODMERB consultant!
 
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