Desire to serve

H

Hopeful future cadet

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Feb 3, 2022
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Hello, I really want to serve but have a very low chance of getting a medical waiver. I have a genetic mutation and, though I have been fine so far, there is no guarantee I will not have complications in the future. Does anyone know of any military or civilian military careers that do not require medical qualification? I really want to serve/work in a way very similar to the military (regimented schedule, lots of physical challenges, and in a job that serves the country). If you know of a good career that has millitary traits but does not require medical qualifications, please let me know. I am still in high school and am physically fit, do leadership opportunities, and have a 4.0 GPA, and have been looking for service academy admissions but will likely be disqualified medically and really want to still strive for a service based career.
 
If you have already contacted me, I'll defer to others to reply:wiggle:
 
USUHS requires the same DoDMERB process/qualification:wiggle:
 

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MullenLE said:
USUHS requires the same DoDMERB process/qualification:wiggle:
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Thanks.

There must be an extensive waver process with the PHS.

We often saw PHS officers in their 40s and 50s and 60s (and maybe 70s or very close) who received commissions but never looked like they would have been accepted into the military as AD officers.
 
There are many opportunities to work for the military as a civilian in either specific branches or the DoD. Check out USAJobs.gov.
 
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Anonymous1211 said:
There are many opportunities to work for the military as a civilian in either specific branches or the DoD. Check out USAJobs.gov.
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Anonymous1211 said:
There are many opportunities to work for the military as a civilian in either specific branches or the DoD. Check out USAJobs.gov.
Click to expand...
I originally wanted to be an army physical therapist (correct me if I’m wrong) but I believe that still requires medical clearance. I wish medical was modified a bit to determine if you were eligible for your intended career rather than having a one size fits all process.
 
Hopeful future cadet said:
I originally wanted to be an army physical therapist (correct me if I’m wrong) but I believe that still requires medical clearance. I wish medical was modified a bit to determine if you were eligible for your intended career rather than having a one size fits all process.
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Yes just like MDs these are commissioned military officers no different than any other officer except for the job they do.

You seem to be under the misconception that military doctors and nurses and physical therapists etc don’t make combat deployments. They do quite often.

You could no doubt become a PT and then apply to the VA for a job. Those are civilians working in VA hospitals not those on AD.

Good Luck
 
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Hopeful future cadet said:
I originally wanted to be an army physical therapist (correct me if I’m wrong) but I believe that still requires medical clearance. I wish medical was modified a bit to determine if you were eligible for your intended career rather than having a one size fits all process.
Click to expand...

The Army follows the same medical standards no matter what your skillset/profession is. However, if you're a highly trained asset to the Army, AMEDD (Army Medical Department) is far more lenient on those physical standards. Mr. Mullen has direct contact with the people who make those determinations. He contacted them for me, and I'm sure he may be willing to contact them for you as well.
 
Anonymous1211 said:
The Army follows the same medical standards no matter what your skillset/profession is. However, if you're a highly trained asset to the Army, AMEDD (Army Medical Department) is far more lenient on those physical standards. Mr. Mullen has direct contact with the people who make those determinations. He contacted them for me, and I'm sure he may be willing to contact them for you as well.
Click to expand...
Anonymous1211 said:
The Army follows the same medical standards no matter what your skillset/profession is. However, if you're a highly trained asset to the Army, AMEDD (Army Medical Department) is far more lenient on those physical standards. Mr. Mullen has direct contact with the people who make those determinations. He contacted them for me, and I'm sure he may be willing to contact them for you as well.
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My physical standards are fine in terms of fitness, but my medical is iffy. Not sure if a physical therapist qualified as a highly needed asset, unfortunately
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
Yes just like MDs these are commissioned military officers no different than any other officer except for the job they do.

You seem to be under the misconception that military doctors and nurses and physical therapists etc don’t make combat deployments. They do quite often.

You could no doubt become a PT and then apply to the VA for a job. Those are civilians working in VA hospitals not those on AD.

Good Luck
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I understand that; it’s actually part of the appeal to me. I want to be in a real millitary environment, not a doctors office
 
Hopeful future cadet said:
My physical standards are fine in terms of fitness, but my medical is iffy. Not sure if a physical therapist qualified as a highly needed asset, unfortunately
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I have one in the family who is talking about a PT degree. So I did a bit of checking as far as the US military for schooling and or for after school.

Its just an impression from reading but it looked like getting into the military as a PT was quite competitive. Even for fully healthy and qualified folks.

And “if I remember correctly” a PT who went thru regular civilian training needed to have several years of work under their belt post degree just to be considered entry into the military as a PT.

Unless you are in the military-army PT program at Baylor. Those grads can go in right after their degree.

Its not a hard to fill career field for the military,
 
My daughter had started the process for USAFA but had an unwaiverable medical issue. She wanted to be an AF physical therapist. She went to State U for her undergrad and then a top program for grad school and got her DPT. She snagged a physical therapy clinical rotation one summer at USAFA working with the doolies for BCT and made a lot of connections. She applied again for Air Force physical therapist but was again denied for the physical issue. She is now a civilian DPT working for the Navy, but at MacDill AFB. As everyone has said, there are ways to serve after waiver denial if you look.

Stealth_81
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
I have one in the family who is talking about a PT degree. So I did a bit of checking as far as the US military for schooling and or for after school.

Its just an impression from reading but it looked like getting into the military as a PT was quite competitive. Even for fully healthy and qualified folks.

And “if I remember correctly” a PT who went thru regular civilian training needed to have several years of work under their belt post degree just to be considered entry into the military as a PT.

Unless you are in the military-army PT program at Baylor. Those grads can go in right after their degree.

Its not a hard to fill career field for the military,
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If I were to be accepted into Baylor for the program, would I have to go through DoDMERB? Would hate to do the program and then be dqed later
 
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