Military soldiers...can they have the gastric bypass or lap band done?

Question

it amazes how military spouses are able to receive gastric bypass surgery like candy...yet, there are soldiers who are passing their PT tests constantly, but are still having difficulty maintianing their weight..I wonder why not give them some time to receive help through gastric bypass surgery or lapband? I am married to a fantastic soldier who bust his tail constantly to maintain weight by every method that's out there and no he does not eat like a pig or sit his butt on the couch alll the time! He's full of life and everyone who meets him or works with him...loves him to death! He's a hard working soldier that anyone would want to have him watch their back. Yet, I'm tired of seeing him struggle so hard. So, is it possible? thank you for your input.

Answer 1

mustangs answer is all the way correct.  

Answer 2

I'm enlisted in the Air Force and it amazes me what some spouses can get.  Some military wives can get boob jobs and yet the military wont pay for laser eye surgery for it's members or their spouses or pay for abortions.  Also I see the over weight Master Sgts and no ones cares because its the young Airmen that judge the PT tests.

certain thins about the military I will never understand

Answer 3

No, it is not possible.  In order to have Gastric Bypass surgery, the candidate must be at least 100 pounds overweight with a BMI of at least 40.  Any soldier would be discharged before they reached this weight.  The lap band requires the person to be at lest 60 pounds overweight, again the person would be discharged before this point.  

The lapband and gastric bypass changes the way a person eats.  If a member is deployed, his diet cannot be catered to in the way a gastric patient must eat. We are talking NO sugar, low carb, 80 grams of protein per day and more.   Gastric bypass surgery causes malnutrition.  If the soldier can't eat what is given to him and become weak, he becomes a detriment to his team.

Sorry but neither of these surgeries is available to military members and I doubt they ever will be.  Having the surgery is even a disqualifying condition for joining the service.

I am one of those spouses that was given a gastric bypass.  I was not handed it and they are not passed out like candy.  I had to qualify for it after struggling with my weight for 20 years.  Many spouses are turned down. I know only ONE other spouse that has had the surgery done.  I go to a civilian support group because not enough spouse have had it to have a group and this is one of the largest bases in the US!!  

I can now be the wife my husband needs me to be and the mother my son deserves.  Please do not bash spouses who have had the surgery.  We have feelings too. I've been made fun of my whole life and when I took steps to better myself I'm still bashed because I had surgery.  

The miltiary does offer Laser eye surgery for military members.  We have a laser eye clinic here on our base. Members must qualify for it. The waiting list in long (around 2 years the last time my husband checked).  Spouses are not eligible for laser eye surgery.   Tricare will not pay for abortions unless the mother is in danger of dying.