Could wearing arch supporters in your shoes get you disqualified from ROTC?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I heard a story about some kid having inserts in his shoes which caused him to get kicked out of AROTC. I have no idea if that story is actually true or not, but could wearing inserts for flat feet make you disqualified for some medical reason?

blackhawks26 said:

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I heard a story about some kid having inserts in his shoes which caused him to get kicked out of AROTC. I have no idea if that story is actually true or not, but could wearing inserts for flat feet make you disqualified for some medical reason?

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I think a lot will have to do with medical history, if the cadet had been to a doctor and diagnosed with Flat Feet and perscribed supports that would be different then a cadet that wears them for simple arch support.

My older son was a runner in middle school and part of high school. During track one year his kness started hurting, we visited the Sports Medicine Clinic, the foot doctor looked at his feet and said the wearing inserts would help take the stress off his knees, there was no diagnosis of any defect just a recommendation for the inserts. They made a mold and made inserts for him, he wore them in his workout and running shoes.

To be honest I'm not even sure he mentioned this on his Dodmerb, he wore these inserts all through college and ROTC whenever he ran. He passed his final Dodmerb and passed his Flight Physical and it was never an issue.

Again, I think it has to do with what the original diagnosis was, if the cadet you spoke of actually had flat feet that were beyond what was accepted then that is probably why he was dismissed from ROTC. I don't think they dismiss you for simply wearing supports for comfort or added foot support.

blackhawks26 said:

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I heard a story about some kid having inserts in his shoes which caused him to get kicked out of AROTC. I have no idea if that story is actually true or not, but could wearing inserts for flat feet make you disqualified for some medical reason?

Click to expand...

Not a dumb question. "Current symptomatic pes planus (acquired (734) or congenital (754.6)) or history of pes planus corrected by
prescription or custom orthotics does not meet the standard."

Pes planus is commonly known as flat feet or fallen arches. This would likely trigger a DQ, though it may be waiverable, depending on the degree or duration.

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf

EDelahanty said:

Not a dumb question.

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+1

A perfectly valid question -the only "dumb" questions are the one left unasked.

But I guess I can somewhat quell your fears (PLEASE NOTE: medical conditions are a case by case basis; what was okay for me, may not be for you).

I have a case of flat feet. Found out from cross country last fall (Fall 2012)--> gave me tendinitis and prevented me from doing winter track that year

And for a while, I was looking into getting a prescribed set of orthodics (which are ridiculously priced BTW). Any ways, my XC coach recommended me a set, that he personally wears. It's a non-prescribed insert (from Footsmart; model is Iso Arch) that costed me about $25 - and it did the trick, tendinitis went away -- along with my shin splints.

Anyways, point is, is that I went to do my DoDMERB physical and I told them about this, and it was fine. Now, please keep in mind - my case is NOT a medically recorded case, it may be different for those with a history. The doctor who I had was even a former Army DoDMERB board member and he said I'd be fine (which I am - officially medically qualified).

Also, I know you mentioned AROTC, but for others reading this post, please keep in mind that my DoDMERB file was for AROTC as well. Had I done DoDMERB for the other branches - results may have been different.

Hope this helps!

I have, by most accounts, flat feet, but it wasn't an issue at MEPS (for the Marine Corps) in the physical. The doctor just asked me if I had pain or difficulty running, I said no, and there were no problems. I don't wear inserts, though, but from what I've seen they're not an issue unless you've got some sort of debilitating foot condition.