ROTC and Asthma

dannyr031

New Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2018
Messages
2
Hi

I am a sophomore in high school and I am wanting to do army rotc in college. If i receive a scholarship, I have a question:

I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 4. I have not experienced symptoms since the age of 9 and my doctor has confirmed this on my medical records. Looking at the army regulation, at this point I would qualify. But my problem is that I have had an inhaler that has been on my prescription list. The thing is, i haven’t used my inhaler ONCE since I was 10. And the only reason we still have it on the prescription was because we were kind of like “sure, he doesn’t use it but it doesn’t hurt to keep it on the prescription.”

My doctor and I didn’t realize that this would disqualify until i was 15 and a freshman and then he took it off my prescription list. Is there anything I could do to explain to the medical team about the situation that I was in and that we were just unaware of th regulation? My doctor has written that I haven’t had symptoms since I was 9 and that I haven’t USED the inhaler since I was 10 also.

Please help I’m freaking out. All I want to do is serve my country, and I felt literally crushed when I found out the no prescription past 13 reg.

My parents and doctor feel so bad for me because they didn’t realize that a prescription that I never used and didn’t need would ruin my military rotc hopes.

Thanks
 
Apply. The best way to find out if you get past a DQ, or get a waiver, is to apply. Personally, I think your explanation seems reasonable. You have no chance if you don't apply. If you do apply and are DQed the worst you have done is lose some time spent applying.... big deal.

Oh yeah, don't freak out over things you cannot control. Don't waste your energy on that. Only freak out over the things you can control and then get them done.
 
Its ironic how these kind of things come bit us in the butt. I dont know her particular case, but I would assume that the doctor wouldnt have prescribed the inhaler on his own but probably the mom or dad (my wife does the exact same thing) asked the doctor to prescribe an inhaler 'just in case." You see these kind of post regarding inhalers and epi pens. The thing about inhalers is that the doctor will prescribe it if you get sick and start wheezing. Has nothing to do with asthema, but its there to help with breathing due to a flu type sickness.
 
I guess I’m kind of guessing here because i don’t exactly understand the regulation but I read that you would be disqualified unless you 1: Had been diagnosed before age 13 (check), and 2: didn’t display any symptoms past 13 (also check); and the I read that you “can’t have been treated past age 13) and that’s where I was scared. What would justify as a treatment past 13? Just a prescription alone? Or the actual use of a medicine? And then do they take into account my explanation? I feel like my explanation is valid, but I’ve heard they are very strict on this.
 
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Not exactly sure what kind of questions they are going to ask. However, answer honestly. You were diagnosed at 4 and have never had an attack or needed the use an inhaler after the age of 12. I dont know if they ask for list of prescriptions since you were 12. I highly doubt it. If they disqualify you for any medical reason, they will then ask for medical records which of course will have a list of your prescriptions. I would talk to your doctor and assuming it is the same doc since you were child, have him put in the record assuming its legal and ethical, that while the perscription has been active all this time, that you have no need for it and was only there as a precaution.
 
If your lungs are okay, this shouldn't be a deal killer. You may be required to take a pulmonary function exam known as a methacholine challenge test.

My son had childhood asthma and had to take this test, which was not pleasant. He got the scholarship and is now on active duty.
 
DS was DQ'd (pending waiver) for having inhaler prescribed for respiratory illness, not asthma. It seems just having it, whether actively used or not, will DQ.
 
You seem to have a positive attitude towards it and I am impressed with the fact that you want to serve. This was the same feeling that my DS went through. He applied for and was awarded scholarship, then DQ'd on a variant of Asthma, got a waiver, was denied, appealed and was successful and is now contracted under NROTC with Marine Corps option. It was a long process and ultimately my DS had to take a MCCT test (Methacholine Challenge test) to prove that he did not have asthma. As stated above, You will need to go through the application process. Just make sure you have all your records in order. Good Luck and stay positive with it.
 
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