Military Career Not Posisble With Careerillness

[Candy]

Can a person be admitted into the Military and have Celiac disease? Celiacs have good souls ,indeed,but with weak bones, shrunk bones,dizziness, weak muscles,and chronic fatigue, amongst other things,I would suspect that they would not be admitted into the military for medical reasons.Isn't thas true?

But you'd have to tell medical examiners that because genetic conditions never show up during regular medical exams and you could feel like hell.

Not that I intend to join-I'm too old ,but Celiacs wouldn't be able to either,would they?

[Ursa Major]

I don't believe people with celiac disease are allowed in the military. It isn't possible to feed them gluten-free in the field, and why would they want people who get violently ill from rations?

[pinkscooby6]

I don't believe people with celiac disease are allowed in the military. It isn't possible to feed them gluten-free in the field, and why would they want people who get violently ill from rations?

I have Celiac and I am still in the Military. This is what my doctor told me. He said that I have to have a Medical Evaluation Board, where they will probably say that I will be medically discharged since I cannot deploy. However, I can appeal it, and the chances are pretty high that I would win and be allowed to stay in, I just would not be able to be deployed, so I would stay stateside and continue to benefit the military on one of the many bases here. Plus, I can be deployed to places like Italy, Japan, Spain, and others. You just wouldn't be able to be deployed on a boat, or to the field, but there are many other places a person with Celiac can be, and still be able to benefit the military. I am going through this process right now, and will keep you guys posted on what actually happens.

[Ursa Major]

But were you already in the military before you were diagnosed with celiac disease? Would they actually hire somebody who they know beforehand has it? That is what I was really thinking, that they wouldn't hire a known celiac. To fire somebody who is diagnosed while already in the military is a different story and in that case I can see your point.

[Tim-n-VA]

There are two concepts. Assession standards (to join) and retention standards (to stay in). The situation will be different based on when you are diagnosed.

[Vanquish]

Hmm i've been wondering this too. If you have a college degree and would like to try to be admitted to OCS for say air force and are physically fit and fully capable of passing all physical and mental assessments just that you suffer from mild consitpation and skin rash from gluten do you think there is a slim chance you could be admitted? Being your in good physical health and mental health and really have no problems outside you do not prefer to eat gluten from the stated side effects (possible for vegetarians in the military)?

[Ursa Major]

Hmm i've been wondering this too. If you have a college degree and would like to try to be admitted to OCS for say air force and are physically fit and fully capable of passing all physical and mental assessments just that you suffer from mild consitpation and skin rash from gluten do you think there is a slim chance you could be admitted? Being your in good physical health and mental health and really have no problems outside you do not prefer to eat gluten from the stated side effects (possible for vegetarians in the military)?

Why would they want somebody who is a pain in the butt when it comes to food? Unless you can offer them something amazing (like being an outstanding physicist or mechanic, for instance) I can't imagine they'd want you.

I don't quite understand your reasoning. You say you 'prefer' not to eat gluten because of 'side effects' like skin rash and constipation.

Are you gluten intolerant/have celiac disease or not? If you get symptoms from eating gluten, you appear to be at least gluten intolerant. In which case being gluten-free is more than a preference, as eating gluten could (and likely would) lead to more severe health consequences in the future.

If you would be employed to the field, your so-called preference of eating gluten-free won't matter any more, as rations are not gluten-free. If you truly are gluten intolerant, you would then suffer the health consequences of eating gluten.

The military does not sound like a good choice to me, unless you joined before you discovered you couldn't tolerate gluten and would lose benefits, or would have to stop your education, if you would leave/be kicked out.

[Vanquish]

Why would they want somebody who is a pain in the butt when it comes to food? Unless you can offer them something amazing (like being an outstanding physicist or mechanic, for instance) I can't imagine they'd want you.

I don't quite understand your reasoning. You say you 'prefer' not to eat gluten because of 'side effects' like skin rash and constipation.

Are you gluten intolerant/have celiac disease or not? If you get symptoms from eating gluten, you appear to be at least gluten intolerant. In which case being gluten-free is more than a preference, as eating gluten could (and likely would) lead to more severe health consequences in the future.

If you would be employed to the field, your so-called preference of eating gluten-free won't matter any more, as rations are not gluten-free. If you truly are gluten intolerant, you would then suffer the health consequences of eating gluten.

The military does not sound like a good choice to me, unless you joined before you discovered you couldn't tolerate gluten and would lose benefits, or would have to stop your education, if you would leave/be kicked out.

Well why wouldn't they consider wanting someone that could pass their tests and physical exams with flying colors all at the expense of not eating breaded products? I say i prefer not to because im still waiting my official diagnosis. It doesn't look good so i thought it couldn't hurt to ask, especially if someone is battling it while already serving. I guess my wording was off while saying preferring not to, but i only react sometimes to gluten, and lately i haven't been reacting. So i dunno, just figured i'd throw the question out there in hopes someone got a waiver for it. But it doesn't sound like they even consider people with any food allergy now.

[home-based-mom]

Well why wouldn't they consider wanting someone that could pass their tests and physical exams with flying colors all at the expense of not eating breaded products? I say i prefer not to because im still waiting my official diagnosis. It doesn't look good so i thought it couldn't hurt to ask, especially if someone is battling it while already serving. I guess my wording was off while saying preferring not to, but i only react sometimes to gluten, and lately i haven't been reacting. So i dunno, just figured i'd throw the question out there in hopes someone got a waiver for it. But it doesn't sound like they even consider people with any food allergy now.

Employers of all kinds reject applicants based on criteria the employer knows from experience makes the applicant unsuitable for that kind of work. The applicant may not realize it because the applicant doesn't have the experience, but the employer has seen it far too often and knows better than to take on the great expense of training someone doomed to failure before they begin.

It has *NOTHING* to do with the moral character qualities or work ethic of the applicant.

The post office rejects people with bad backs, bad knees and recent bad driving records, because they know what's going to happen after the person gets hired. Like Ursa, I just can't imagine the military accepting anyone with any type of food allergy or intolerance. They are not set up to provide "special" for such people, and in the mountains of Afghanistan or the middle of the jungle or ocean is no place to discover that you have unpleasant consequences from eating regular chow.

There are many ways you can still serve your country, including becoming a civilian employee of the military.

[ravenwoodglass]

Well why wouldn't they consider wanting someone that could pass their tests and physical exams with flying colors all at the expense of not eating breaded products?

Having had the misfortune of having a son who when he went in was only having the sort of off and on issues you speak of I think I perhaps can answer this. The nature of celiac disease causes something called excaberations. These occur as a result of physical or mental stresses. When they happen they can impact multiple body systems including the brain, joints, gallbladder, liver, lymph and endocrine system etc. If you are celiac or gluten intolerant there is no way to tell what will set this process off.

One thing you will have is a lot of gluten ingestion. There is going to be no way around that. You stated you get a rash. Your command is not going to be happy to see that in boot camp. It wil impact your ability to carry a rucksack and preform manuvers. That alone may lead to the long, frustrating, boring, seemingly never ending process of having them discharge you.

There are so many ways to serve your country and be a valuable person to society that I am sure you will find one that can better allow you to keep you healthy.

[pinkscooby6]

Well, I am in the military and I have celiac disease which was diagnosed when I was 2 and a half years in. I went through the whole medical board process, and they found me "Fit to Continue". My only restriction is shore duty only, but with my job, I can go through a whole career with celiac, because my job is in high demand. So when it all comes down to it, if you are diagnosed while in the military you have a chance of being able to stay in, it just depends on your job and what branch you are in. I am in the Navy and they are letting me finish my duty.

[Daxin]

I too am in the military. I was dx'd after i was in, and after much searching, it turns otu I can stay. There may be a small restriction on where I can get posted, but that's about it.

I agree about medical standards to join and to stay, but rules are rules. Does it suck, yes. Is it fair, I suppose that depends on which side of the ruling you fall on. But I've seen people released for less.

[Juliebove]

Not likely that a person with any health problems would be accepted into the military. I have seen cases where they would not accept a person with a food allergy into the military. Now if you are diagnosed with something once you are in, that's a different matter.

[home-based-mom]

Not likely that a person with any health problems would be accepted into the military. I have seen cases where they would not accept a person with a food allergy into the military. Now if you are diagnosed with something once you are in, that's a different matter.

I think this is the key here. Once you are in and have passed basic training, they have invested a lot of time, effort, and money in you and if they can accommodate something that happens after all that has been done by giving you shore duty or the equivalent for the duration of your tour, it is in everyone's best interests that they do so.

On the other hand, taking in a new recruit with known "issues" that might even jeopardize completing basic training is not a wise use of resources. Remember that military funding comes straight out of your pocket and mine. I think it has been already stated that it is not possible to meet dietary restrictions in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or in the mountains of Afghanistan. Not meeting dietary restrictions means said recruit would be sick and jeopardize the health and safety of the entire crew or unit. That can't happen.

As has been said, there are many other ways to serve your country and thank you for wanting to do so.