Quote Originally Posted by k1nk0s View Post
Okay so not to derail this thread or anything, but is lying okay in order to get in ?
I have asthma, only when I get sick, and bipolar disorder. If I were to lie about these to get in (something i've always dreamed of doing) would that be a bad thing? I'm doing it for all the right causes and everything. How close do they look at your medical history?
Quote Originally Posted by srsinternets View Post
Thats up to you. If you collapse in the middle of boot camp having an asthma attack, guess what? You're out. If you think you can control it well enough, then its your choice. But if attacks are commonplace for you, you could be putting your life and the lives of fellow servicemen and women at risk if something were to happen in the field.

But this isn't me telling you to lie. Just giving a tip.
srsinternets is correct, you could jeopardize the lives of others in some jobs, and would risk getting slapped with a fraudulent enlistment and shown the door if you were to neglect to mention these things. There are ways to receive a waiver if you can prove that your asthma is no longer a concern; but bipolar disorder may be a disqualification as well. Here is a thread where a similar question is asked: Bipolar Disorder - Army.com Forums
Damn, check out the post dates...


That said, I have known many Soldiers who have served with a wide array of medical and other conditions that would have disqualified them. Recruiters know only what you tell them, MEPS knows nothing more, and the physical is in-depth but will not catch many things unless you admit to it. If you were to make it past these obstacles without disclosing all of your medical history you would spend your initial enlistment having to continue to hide your afflictions. Should you make it through and decide to reenlist you would have to keep a low profile, though if something came to light after a few years of service you might be able to "prove" it was not pre-existing and you might even receive disability along with full veterans benefits.

Do what your conscience will allow you. Not all jobs are balls to the wall 24/7, and after nine weeks (or less for Navy or Air Force) of basic training you might sit behind a desk doing nothing more physically strenuous than a PT test every six months. In my experience, many leaders attempt to help good Soldiers who have something come to light after proving themselves in their unit. My philosophy is that where there is a will there is a way, and though I could type all day telling you not to lie you will end up doing what you feel you must to meet your goals.