Exercise Induced Asthma?

USacademyhopeful

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
6
When I was 12 I was diagnosed with Exercise Induced Asthma. However, in the past 5 years I have never had my inhaler prescription refilled even once. I've done High School football and lacrosse with no problems, the thought of using an inhaler never even popped into my head! I can honestly say that I do not wheeze after I run and that I have not used it since I was 12.
Would any of this hold any weight at all at MEPS? I understand that asthma is suicide to a military career but I want this more than anything. If a waiver is declined, is there anything at all I could do about it? Thank you all very much in advance for your time!
 
Asthma is a red flag, but you may well be qualified nonetheless. The following is from the "Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services." (link to full doc below) Paragraph d is listing asthma as a disqualifier, but you may not be caught in the snare given the way it's framed relative to your own history. I bolded a couple parts for emphasis.

d. Airway hyper responsiveness including asthma (493.xx), reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm (519.11) or asthmatic bronchitis (493.90), reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday.
(1) Reliable diagnostic criteria may include any of the following elements: substantiated history of cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and/or dyspnea which persists or recurs over a prolonged period of time, generally more than 12 months.

(2) Individuals DO MEET the standard if within the past 3 years they meet ALL of the criteria in subparagraphs 11.d.(2)(a)-(d).
(a) No use of controller or rescue medications (including, but not limited to inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, or short-acting beta agonists).
(b) No exacerbations requiring acute medical treatment.
(c) No use of oral steroids.
(d) A current normal spirometry (within the past 90 days), performed in accordance with American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines and as defined by current National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) standards.

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/613003p.pdf
 
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