The military and asthma?

Question

I've seen a lot of stuff like "asthma after age 13 = permanent disqualifier". However, most of the time this seems to pertain to people who actually have asthma attacks and wheeze due to exercise, that sort of thing.

I get asthma around cats, and aside from that I had childhood asthma, but I don't ever wheeze or anything unless I'm around cats. Since sometimes I visit friends with cats, I have some asthma medication, but I rarely use it. Last summer I was given more than just a rescue inhaler (in addition to Albuterol, I was prescribed Asthmanex) because I visited friends with cats on a consistent basis, but since then I've not needed it. Would I really be disqualified from the military because sometimes I wheeze around cats?

Additionally, I'm interested in doing intelligence work, which seems to me wouldn't be too physically aggravating.

Answer 1

Seems like you have allergies instead of asthma.

It all the other physically aggravating training that you have to do with the intelligence work. Like running, hiking, camping out in the woods, carrying guns, jumping out of airplanes.

That might be a problem.

Answer 2

honestly,that sounds more like an allergy.  

Answer 3

Tell you what go tell them you want to see where you stand in induction testing and then proceed to make perfect on the test.

Now if you have a score in the top 2% they will ask you to take some more tests, like another weeks worth, ace that battery and if they offer to pay you to take more tests, figure; You have the intelligence for intelligence.

Answer 4

Yeah, that would be an allergy not asthma. Allergies don't affect chances unless it was something pertinent to the job.

Answer 5

Go see a recruiter.  

I'm not a doctor, but it seems like you have an allergy, not asthma.

"Additionally, I'm interested in doing intelligence work, which seems to me wouldn't be too physically aggravating."

Everyone has to pass the same Phyiscal Fitness Test.  So you better be in pretty good shape or working to get that way.

Answer 6

You have a reactive airway disease. That's why you have to resort to the use of an inhaler because your pulmonary system is reacting to the allergens from the cat. And that is disqualifying as well, because (along with asthma after age 13) it is included in the same medical standard as asthma along with asthmatic bronchitis and exercise-induced bronchospasms. The source below is that medical standard.

Answer 7

Military Medical Standards for Enlistment & Commission

Lungs, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum