Posted on 12/20/2011 6:08:52 AM PST by TSgt
FRiends,
Is there any way to enlist and serve in the military and have Vaccines/Immunizations waived?
This isnt about me, my shot record is a mile long, but for my nephew who desperately wants to serve. He enlisted two years ago with the Marines and was halfway through bootcamp at Paris Island when he had an autoimmune response, similar to Guillain-Barre, to some of the vaccinations he received. This response put him in the Navy hospital and actually paralyzed him for a few weeks. He is a tough kid and did not want to separate but was sent home to recover and listed by the VA as partially disabled. The VA is now stating that he is fit for duty however Im afraid that is in the context of them no longer paying for his healthcare and not that he can reenlist.
My nephew feels terrible about the situation since his step-brother, father, uncle, grandfathers and great grandfathers have all served. Hes a good kid, no trouble, etc., physically strong, works out often and wants nothing more than to serve in any branch of the military that will take him.
Is there any way he can enlist and serve his country considering the situation?
Many thanks,
TSgt
Yes - sorry I conflated those who selfishly don’t get standard vaccines with a recruit who has to get extra vaccines.
Tsgt’s boy may be the latter.
It is unfortunate that some people have health issues that prevent military service.
But it is very good that we don’t make exceptions.
While everything I said is true, I apologize for dumping frustration at the direction this nation has taken onto your shoukders.
Maybe you need someone literate to actually read my post.
I’m not advocating anything nor am I whining about his benefits ending.
He simply wants to serve.
GFY
Well said TSst.
Ask Rick Perry - he knows which vaccines should be mandatory!
TSgt,
I understand the pain. I was getting a PHA (I’m Army National Guard) the weekend after Hassan’s terrorist rampage at Ft. Hood and was in a (somewhat loud) conversation with one of my buddies about how Muslims get a pass on everything in the army, when a full bird col. opened his door to give me my PHA. He was a Paki. He wrote on my PHA that I had scoliosis and couldn’t walk, handed it to me and told me to get out of his office. It took me three months to fix it and I got it fixed because my readiness NCO informed my CoC that if I had magically developed scoliosis in the Army it had to have been duty related and I was entitled to a full retirement. I got a new PHA and my PULHES score after two more PHAs and another complete physical is and has been 111111.
First, your nephew should go see a *civilian* doctor to find out what is really going on with his body. Was he the only one who reacted, or did he get some bad $hi+? I find it very suspicious that a kid who has probably received plenty of inoculations before the Marines and has never reacted now, all of a sudden, developed a reaction. Go to a doctor and document, document document. Take those documents to a recruiter and/or MEPS doctor to get the records corrected.
If he *really* has a problem (i.e., one not manufactured by the Marines to cover up the fact they screwed something up that caused the reaction, which is always my first suspicion), then . . .
He could try the Army, but, frankly, we are cutting back and booting perfectly healthy soldiers with multiple deployments under their belts. Ten years ago there may have been a way.
These days we’re under a Demorat who, with the help of many RINOs, is raping the military and forcing out normal Americans to be replaced by left-wing ideologues.
Your nephew can and should find a way to serve. One way could be border patrol or another law enforcement type position. Another way is through a State Guard, if your state has one.
In a few years we will find ourselves in another war and in a panic to rebuild our decimated military. That’s not me looking into a crystal ball or make a WAG, it’s a historical inevitability. Once that happens, I would strongly suggest going through an Army or Navy recruiter, as the Air Force and Marines have always been more restrictive.
That is my understanding also. If a a highly renowned plastic surgeon wants to sign up, and spend a few years in a state side hospital, using his or her skills to help service members maimed in action, then all kinds of things can be waived. The armed forces are happy to have such a highly skilled O3 or O4, even if he/she is not deployable world wide. They are not happy to have an E2, with no special training or skills, who is not deployable.
“But it is very good that we dont make exceptions.”
What a load of crap. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you sleep better. A lot of guys with good connections who shouldn’t be in are there so they can get their service time listed before they run for political office. We have fat bodies all over the place that should be booted out for people who actually want to be in.
The kid magically has a reaction after he’s been getting these things his whole life. Yeah, it sounds like something is radically wrong with *him*. The military is full of cake-eating fat bodies looking to make sure their little checklists are marked off their clipboards. If one of these little checklisters jacks something up that causes a soldier or marine to get sick, I can guarantee the cake-eater won’t take the blame. They control the records, they control your destiny.
Thanks for your reply.
After lots of heartache and research my sister found a support group for military veterans who had autoimmune reactions to vaccinations.
It’s not common but autoimmune reactions do happen and the DOD/VA does a piss poor job of taking care of veterans after they are maimed.
I’m a strong believer in vaccinations, like I said my shot record is a mile long, however there are cases when the body has serious reactions to them.
“There are many Marines who couldnt make it as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.”
Excellent point! I wonder if he could go Coast Guard. If they allow him in, that would be a great option to serve.
Dunno. I know a few *older* Navy Seals who compete in Ironmen competitions and still manage to amaze the *young 'uns.*
Your nephew sounds like a wonderful young man. Best wishes to him.
Nope. Get it or else.
“That’s a really crappy thing to say.”
Not really. If he cannot do the things Marines need to do then he is not fit to be a Marine. The Marines are not a little girls club for all to join.
GFY
If he can’t join the military and still wants to serve, we’d be glad to have in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. You make a difference there and there are no restrictions on membership except being an American citizen.
I see you’re too thin skinned to be a Marine.
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