disqualified for a heart murmur

[Darnell Chan]

I'm a 19 year old college student right now. Two years ago when I was
17 and a senior in high school, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. I
took the ASVAB and had my physical done only to find out I had a heart
murmur which was never previously diagnosed. I had an echocardiogram
done, and the results were reviewed by some military doctors. They
concluded that I could not join enter the Marines and suggested I go
see a cardiologist. I went to see my primary care doctor and he
checked me out, but said it wasn't a big deal. I've very physically
active and I have never had any problems with my heart. Is there any
way I can still enter the military?

[Tank Fixer]

And lo Darnell Chan on this day 25 Nov 2002 12:02:38 -0800 wrote
<f11f76a7.02112...@posting.google.com>,

You most likely have a hard one here. For some funny reason the service
doesn't like heart problems.

Recruiters Up.

--
--
Remember, Friendly fire, Isn't :

[Onetree]

You would need a waiver. Talk to a local recruiter and tell him your story.
You would then need to retake the ASVAB and physical. Once you are
disqualified, you need to repeat the echo and get it read by a cardiologist.
Once all of that is done, the recruiter would send it all, including any
supporting documentation as to you physical conditioning, (i.e. letter from
you, al letter from the coach of any sports you play, etc.) to the surgeon
general who would make a decision. If he overrides the decision of the MEPS
doctor, you would be allowed to enlist. No guarantees, but if you want to
enlist, that is what you have to do.
"Darnell Chan" <dann...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f11f76a7.02112...@posting.google.com...

[Army Man 1988]

"Onetree" <ar...@1tree.deleteme.net> wrote in message
news:8JIE9.121017$%m4.5...@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...

You need to provide excellent letters and medical documents. A letter from
a sports coach that describes how intense your workouts are and how you
never seem to have a problem would be great. Your letter should be similiar
and include a paragraph about how you want to be in the military real, real,
real bad.

Medical documents are super important. A letter from your doctor along with
his echo findings and any other testing he does will be required.

Otherwise, I'd say the same as OneTree.

Good luck.

TN

[Sunrise Border]

I can't comment on the medical condition, but perhaps more importantly
I think I can provide a different kind of insight here --

From my own experience: we had a guy who had asthma and needed his
asthma thinggy and another who was PSYCHOTICALLY (breaks down to tears
-- Freudian/childhood stuff) afraid of heights over 10 feet -- and
this is/was Army infantry! Myself, I've developed flat feet somehow,
and had to get a waiver by getting forms filled out, pictures taken,
statements signed.... During BCT, a "battle buddy" had some kind of
disc problem with his back but stayed on anyway; AFAIK, he was
"recycled" and later went on to service with his MN NG unit.

The Marines had a case back when I myself was in high school of a
Staff Sergeant who turned out to be an illegal immigrant from Haiti,
SSG Sammy Lightfoot! I've also read stories of how physical fuck-ups
in boot camp would so impress their DIs with their stick-to-it-iveness
that they were graduated after three tries...a few famous Marines were
like that, but I can't remember the names...so what I'm trying to say
here is that there's a way around EVERYTHING in the military. I was
only a PFC for two years but I believe I saw enough shenannigans to
justify that opinion. Hey, $70 screwdrivers and all, 'member?

If you want to join reeeeal bad, they WILL take you and pull what
strings they need to...but you have to really impress 'em first with
your determination and doggedness somehow!

Good luck!

"Onetree" <ar...@1tree.deleteme.net> wrote in message news:<8JIE9.121017$%m4.5...@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net>...