I lied about asthma to get into the AF, what should I do?

Question

When I was first thinking of joining the military I set up an appointment with a recruiter from the Navy, AF, and Army. I told each of them that I have mild asthma and and have been prescribed medication for it in the past although I really never used it. Each one of them told me to enlist and say that I do not have asthma even when asked when taking the physical. I did not feel good about the whole thing but I ended up listening to them. I am now sworn into the AF and have a shipment date. I have been running 2-3 miles daily in preparation and notice that occasionally it becomes hard to breathe but I do not use a inhaler because I have not had one for 5 years. I will be able to breathe normally again after I sit for about 40mins. As that date comes nearer I am getting more concerned about the situation. I know that there are people that join the military and find out that they have mild asthma. Could I maybe just take this aproach if I do have any problems? Or are they going to check my medical history. What should I do?

Answer 1

Just keep on lying--those in charge probably won't even notice--they just want "bodies".  

Answer 2

Again, there's a reason asthmatics are ineligible for service in the military as you are finding out.  But if you've already gone this far, don't bother turning back now.  Follow through and just play dumb.

Answer 3

Look dude....here is the real.  If you have been clinically diagnosed by a doctor as having Asthma, and that diagnosis was after age 12, you don't qualify!  On the flip of that, Asthma is one of the most misdiagnosed illnesses among children.  IF you have not had to use an inhaler for the duration of your life...you likely don't have asthma.  EVERYONE gets short of breath when they work out.  There is a difference between a dipshit doctor at one point in your life saying "you might have asthma, try this" and you being given a pulmonary function test, and other tests and being clinically diagnosed.

Only you know what category you actually fall in.  

If you actually have asthma, you do nto qualify and should not be in the service!  

Answer 4

I completely disagree with Recon...the Air Force has completely changed their attitude towards physical fitness.  When I joined in 2003 they started re-vamping the whole program.  You will be required to run every single day for the 8 weeks your at basic.  You will also not be allowed 40 minutes of rest to recover!  I would highly encourage you to go talk to the MEPS recruiter and request to be discharged from the DEP program.  If you go to basic and can't make it, you'll be put into the 319th Medical Flight and put on a waiting list to go home.  It will not be fun.  

Answer 5

You've been running 3-miles a day, I don't see any airmen running that much anyway.  Your PFT will likely consist of a stationary bicycle at the USAF's gym.  I spent 8-months on a Chair Force base, yet I seen their PT of the daily seven consists of anything harder than an asthma attack.  You should have no worries about being a 'civilian-in-military-uniform'.

Answer 6

i agree with what rekon dog said if your already running 2-3 miles daily well you already ahead of the game in the air force. you should not have a problem with your asthma just stick it out till atleast your perm station then start going to the dr for it and make sure its documented everytime

Answer 7

Heavy breathing is part of running and getting into shape. As long as you can talk, you are fine. As the recruiter said, asthma is often misdiagnosed and children that had mild cases in the past often grow out of it.

As for the lie, first .. NEVER lie. Never be that person because this is exactly what you have to go through. If you always tell the truth, bad or good .. you can live a lot easier with yourself.

You are in a tough spot now. If you reveal you have been diagnosed with asthma, you're done. If you reveal it while you're in basic training, you will be given a fraudulent enlistment discharge and that isn't good at all. If you have an attack and are diagnosed by the military, there is the chance they can find out you were previously diagnosed and there is the chance that they won't. There is also the chance that you don't have asthma at all and you're simply overreacting to what is common for those when they first start getting into a fitness routine.

I can't and won't tell you what to do, that's up to you .. but you need to understand the potential consequences of what you decide.

Good luck and whatever you do or happens, use this as a learning experience.

Answer 8

My cousin did the same thing.  You might get lucky like him and they'll discharge you in boot camp when they figure out that you can't meet the physical requirements and they won't figure out that you lied.  Because if they do figure that out you'll be in worse trouble.  Or you can come clean now and get out of DEP with fewer problems.

Answer 9

What you describe are exercise-induced bronchospasms. But, they are in the same category as asthma and they are disqualifying. When the symptoms manifest themselves on active duty you will be given a general discharge under honorable conditions and sent home. If your recruiter told you to lie about the condition on item #10 of your Report of Medical History he did you no favor. If you haven't taken your oath of enlistment, then tell the recruiter to forget about your enlistment and report him to his superiors.

The source below is the medical standard.