Medical requirements

[Bryan C]

Hi,
I am graduating high school this year and have planned on joining the Coast Guard for the last few years. Now I find out because I had asthma when I was a kid I will be disqualified from joining.

Can anyone tell me if the requirements for joining the merchant marines is as strict as joining the US military? Is asthma less of an issue?

I desperately want to do something maritime related and really need some help on this.

Thank You
Bryan

 

[Luigi59]

I believe the medical standards for accession to a Service Academy (USCGA, USMMA, USAFA, USMA, and USNA) are different from the enlistment standards for each respective service.

My advice would be to contact a recruiter.

 

[kpmom2011]

When you say you had asthma as a "kid" does that mean recently? If you had it as a small child and grew out of it then it should not pose a problem. It depends on when you were last treated and if you still have symptoms. If you still have symptoms then you probably will be disqualified.

If you truly want to serve, I believe the Army has slightly lower medical requirements and tend to grant waivers for medical conditions that are not current than does Coast Guard as far as enlisted.

The Merchant Marine is part of the Navy Reserve, so you must meet Navy requirements for health.