Asthma in the Military

[Jamarr/G\]

One of my life long dreams was to be an soldier in the army. Since I was kid up to high school graduation. Due to having a respiratory disease called "asthma" I'll never be able to fulfill my dream.
My question is, is there absolutely NO PLACE in the military for a man/woman with mild asthma?
Now before the answers start rolling I do fully understand the danger in having an asthmatic in the heat of battle due to some asthmatics having symptoms of short of breath,wheezing, tightness in chest as this alone can cost many lives. I know that it's a liability to be on active duty with that kind of condition. But what about for us asthmatics that are active in sports and outdoor environments and we show no symptoms at all?
I do carry an inhaler for emergency purposes but I've never had to use it but because I have filled a prescription for it I'm not eligible to enlist in the military. .

To all my vets and military brethren how do you feel about this subject? And this is not speaking about me in particular but people with mild asthma in general.


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[DJGurkins]

I had childhood Asthma Growing up. I was a total sports nut played football, basketball, baseball, wrestled one year, and used to run a lot. I grew up in Colorado. Joined the Air Force in 1981 kept my mouth shut and hoped for the best. I would not recommend this but it worked for me. I went into Security Police Security Specialist as a specialty cant remember MOS. I was also on the Emergency Services Team E.S.T. for Kelly AFB San Antonio Texas. This was a specially trained Hostage rescue team. The school was at Lackland AFB and trained everyone frome FBI Local PD to S.E.A.L.S AND Rangers in urban warfare and hostage rescue.

I know my case of Asthma was not as bad as many people suffer today. I did not ever have a rescue inhaler and never did but as a very young boy I did have some very scary times were I couldn't breath. When I showed up at Bootcamp that was a huge difference in altitude Craig Co 6300 ft San Antonio tx 750 ft or so. I never had issues again. My recommendation is to see about a DOD job or even volunteer org. as the new soldier is in the best shape they have ever been in and the job has never been tougher. Before you ever put on a pack you put on close to 60 lbs of gear. So pack and gear can easily top out at 100Lbs or more. That plays havoc on the repertory system.
If your condition is like mine you might check and see if there is a waver available for someone who has outgrown the Asthma conditions like I did.

 

[Brother JC]

The Navy was far more worried about my "locking" knee than my asthma.

These days, I didn't think the Army was saying no to anyone...

 

[NativeSteel]

I have asthma and did very well in the army . I am an infantry soldier, and am also a designated marksman if your not familiar with that term google it. It is basically a urban fast paced sniper, who is attached to a squad. Compared to the traditional sniper who sits and destroys targets. Well they both have alot to do with breathing correctly and heart rate. having asthma i had to train harder to train diaphram muscles to perform properly for the job. A lot famous atheletes have asthma. Why not operational atheletes.

" SEMPER ANTICUS "

 

[morpheus19770]

I'm an officer of the nurses corps in the Italian Navy: I know of many sailors, soldiers and special forces personnel who have mild asthmatic disease, well managed with the proper therapy. For being not admitted into the Army, this problem has to be a little more than "mild" as you say. I truly believe you, dear brother, but the chances are two:
The first is the one I already wrote, a "more than mild disease", or you were really unlucky with the medics during the selection.
"NUNQUAM NON PARATUS"
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