How safe is it for soldiers with medical conditions go to NTC?

The thing people don't understand about NTC and other CTCs is that one of the metrics the commander is graded on is how many Soldiers they deploy with. If memory serves me correctly, the Commander must deploy with about 85% of their authorized force to pass that part of certification. They don't have to be ambulatory, or capable. My last rotation we had over 200 people on White Cell who didn't go into the box because they weren't medically capable. People with broken legs, crutches, people trying to kill themselves, people with brain tumors, people in med boards, people who should be on ETS leave. It's all a Commanders call, but the commander is required to meet that check box. Some people we brought down and put on a plane home several days later.

When a unit deppoys everyone tries to get out. We had to set up a separate person whose sole job was taking red cross messages. We got a message that a Soldiers uncle is sick, had been sick for years and wasn't expected to die soon, please come home. We got messages like that every day. Almost every day someone threatened to kill themselves. We had to drive them hours away to inpatient mental hospitals... Every... Single... Day.

Who goes and stays to NTC is the Commander call, but they have a mark they have to meet. With every single remotely sick person trying to get out, Commanders are stuck making pretty draconian policies. I think it's wrong too, the Soldiers who got dragged along. But with every Soldier taking advantage of any slight advantage they can to get out, it's what Cammander are left with. In the end, if you have a Soldier who really should be left back, your beat option is to take it to the CSM, who really can talk to the CDR to grant an exception

SSG Dennis Mendoza Dubious about going to NTC vs a active U S Army, gtg, Deployable unit? Sounds strange to have that many Soldiers with medical issues.

Everything is a case by case basis. Some things are safer than others.

As a guy with sleep apnea, who deployed real-world with a CPAP, I will say the overwhelming majority of those are perfectly safe. Even when I couldn't use my CPAP, I could still sleep. It wasn't as restful or productive, but there was still sleep. And sure, after a few day of this, I was dragging ass. But I learned to find times for cat naps, give up "recreation" time for extra sleep, and knew when to say when regarding hazardous things like driving. Don't get me wrong, sleep apnea is a real thing, and not something to be ignored. But it *can* be managed, even at NTC.

The heart monitor is a little more worrying, but assuming the heart monitor is a MONITOR and not a regulator, that, too, should be manageable in a white cell. White cells generally have power full time and if he has to unplug to go from A to B, he should be OK for a short span here or there. Not sure how useful or effective he will be, but safety should be acceptable.

Really, honestly, most injuries can be accommodated in the white cell. Illnesses, less so. The key is that a physical profile is not suddenly voided by NTC. Follow the profile, and things should be fine. Is it wise? Is it productive? Maybe, maybe not. But is it safe? Mostly.