Military Recruitment Standards

Day-Tripper

Day-Tripper

5-Year Member
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May 16, 2014
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Much has been written about efforts of the US Armed Forces to recurit sufficient numbers in recent years. I read somewhere today that, if the John F Kennedy or Audie Murphy, in their physical conditions of 1942, tried to enlist today they would have be rejected for health reasons.

From my understandsing of WW2 history, both JFK & Audi Murphy did a fair amount of good during their war service.

Are we being too picky in recuitment efforts?
 
Due to his Addison's disease, JFK was medically ineligible to serve, but due to his father's connections, he was able to gain a commission to the Navy. Not sure that's the example you want to promote, though I do agree he was a credit to the service.
 
According to this opinion piece, it appears so: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...TS&cvid=272c43961efd40e6bafea0c077614ba8&ei=9

Recent experience took over 2 years to obtain a waiver. Lost an appointment and consideration from 2 academies. Also lost 3 ROTC scholarships in the process before enlisting - Process took 2.5 years. Culture has changed from wanting to serve to building a medical case for 100% disability and have 2 pensions.
 
GENESIS isn't just a system for recruits, it's for the entire force. The computer system isn't ruining the process--recruiters are just upset they can't make paper disappear from a medical evaluation anymore, and they need a qualified medical professional to look at it instead.

Magically losing medical paperwork goes both ways. You can't want a system where your medical conditions are well documented for veterans benefits but also have the same system overlook medical issues when it is convenient for recruiters.

I would rather be teaching ASVAB waivers how to read on the mess decks than deal with the nightmare of a medevac while underway.
 
VelveteenR said:
Due to his Addison's disease, JFK was medically ineligible to serve, but due to his father's connections, he was able to gain a commission to the Navy. Not sure that's the example you want to promote, though I do agree he was a credit to the service.
Click to expand...

JFK wasn't diagnosed with Addison's until after WW2 but he was a physical mess at the time of his joining the Navy in 1942. Scarlet fever survivor, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, severe back & spinal problems (worsened greatly by playing football at Harvard), colitis, etc.

Joe Kennedy Sr really didn't have a problem with his son going into the Navy, but never imagined he'd actually see combat. Joe Kennedy Jr was supposed to be the primary heir to the Kennedy Family and, thus, seeing combat was essential to his future political role. His combat death pushed JFK into that role. His Pacific experiences filled out that resume handsomely. Joe Sr played that up in his son's political campaigns but JFK never did.

By-the-by, just read today that British General Miles Dempsey, commander of the 2nd Brit Army in 1944-1945, lost a LUNG in World War One due to poison gassing, yet remained in the Army for another 30 years. Wow. Imagine that today?
 
Excellent examples above...one of my personal favorites though is Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart.

Check him out.
 
Well, the Navy already takes at 10, so maybe the military just need to go with ASVAB optional like those colleges accepting this kid. :)

And to the original question on this thread, Captain America wouldn't have made it today. Not with all his medical history.
 
I had rheumatic fever when I was about five-ish and had to go for penicillin shots every day for what seemed like eternity but was probably a week.

I joined the USN post-Vietnam and the military was taking anybody with a pulse and at least a right hand to raise. I filled out the medical history questionnaire in the recruiter's office and only had a couple of "YES" checks. The old BMC said, "What the blank is this?"

I told him about the shots and the rash and he said, that sounds serious. Fill out another form, check "NO" and never tell anybody about this again.

I did, and never told anybody else. Until now.
 
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