Canadian Forces

[williamsb]

** Mods please move this if in wrong section! **

 

Before testing positive for celiac through blood work. I was in the process of joining the Canadian Forces. After talking to my recruiter about this, he told me there is nothing stopping me from continuing the application process, but because of celiac, there is a high chance of be being deemed medically unfit.

 

Does anybody know of anybody know of anyone who has joined the Canadian Forces with confirmed celiac?

 

Is there anyone on here who is currently serving in the Canadian Forces as a celiac? 

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Thanks! 

[LauraTX]

The only way to know for sure would be to get ahold of some contact information for those who do the medical determination, and pose the question to them.  Sometimes they will have rigid criteria that would give a certain disqualification for certain health issues.  That way you don't waste your effort if it is futile. 

[nvsmom]

I wrote to a recruiter after you brought this up (my kids also have some interest in the forces). I wrote: 

 

If one has celiac disease, are they restricted from joining the force? Can a gluten (wheat, barley, rye,etc) intolerance be accommodated?

 

Thank you.

 

 

I have so far received this reply:

 

Good day,

 

Thank you for your interest in the Canadian Armed Forces.

 

I have forwarded your questions to our medical staff.

 

Thank you

 

 

Master Corporal | Caporal Chef

Recruiter | Recruiteur

Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Detachment Calgary |

Centre de recruitement des Forces Canadiennes, Calgary

National Defence | Défense nationale

Bantrel Tower 100, 700 6th Ave S.W.

Calgary AB, T2P 0T8

Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

 

 

 I'll let you know what the medical staff says

[williamsb]

I wrote to a recruiter after you brought this up (my kids also have some interest in the forces). I wrote: 

 

If one has celiac disease, are they restricted from joining the force? Can a gluten (wheat, barley, rye,etc) intolerance be accommodated?

 

Thank you.

 

 

I have so far received this reply:

 

Good day,

 

Thank you for your interest in the Canadian Armed Forces.

 

I have forwarded your questions to our medical staff.

 

Thank you

 

 

Master Corporal | Caporal Chef

Recruiter | Recruiteur

Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Detachment Calgary |

Centre de recruitement des Forces Canadiennes, Calgary

National Defence | Défense nationale

Bantrel Tower 100, 700 6th Ave S.W.

Calgary AB, T2P 0T8

Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

 

 

 I'll let you know what the medical staff says

Im actually going to speak with my recruiter tomorrow, along with an email to another recruiting center. 

 

It will be interesting to see if we get the same answer from all 3 places.

 

Either way ill let you know what i am told tomorrow!

[nvsmom]

Good luck with it!

 

If you think of it, perhaps ask if the reserves are treated a bit differently.... or if there is any difference in policy for NCO versus commissioned - I'm curious too.

 

I hope you get good news.

[nvsmom]

I just received this response (I edited out the name again): 

 

Good Afternoon, any diagnosis of celiac disease generally results in a category of unfit. As often times we cannot accommodate specific dietary needs when deployed overseas or on taskings. I am not, however, in the position to tell potential applicants that they will or will not be medically fit for the military without actually performing an entire history and examination. Please feel free to apply to receive an official response.

 

Sergeant | Sergent
Senior Medical Technician / Technicien Medical Senior
Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Prairies and the North | Centre de recrutement des Forces canadiennes Prairies et du Nord
100, 700 - 6th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0T8
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

 

It sounds like going down there and talking to them is a good idea. If you are very serious about joining, you may want to join before you get a firm diagnosis BUT you will have to disclose your past test so that could make you unfit.  Getting through basic could be tough if you are doing it while sick (eating gluten).

 

I know this was not the hoped for response. I hope you have better luck. This info came from inquiring to the regular forces. Other areas could possibly be different.

[williamsb]

So basically, waste your time with all the processing, so at the end they can call you medically unfit

[nvsmom]

Probably. Possibly... I saw this post where they were discussing how if once you are in the military you find out that you have celiac disease, they will accommodate you but if you know you have it coming in they say no thanks.  https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/69335-celiac-in-the-military/

 

If it is important to you, you could look into it further. You might not be far enough along in your diagnosis to be unfit yet.