Is a waiver possible for someone born without one hand?

2019-08-24T17:52:57-04:00

Hi all, I know this is shooting for the stars but I'm curious to hear if anyone has seen a situation like this first hand. I've never served but have always wanted to. Fit, intelligent, extremely motivated, no bullshit personality.

I was born with one hand and a little more than half of my right arm. Right arm is strong, same mobility as left arm, and with a prosthetic I can't imagine any part of training I'd be incapable of passing with flying colors including push ups (educate me if I'm missing something, please).

You think a branch would be open to giving me a conditional waiver of some sort, barring I can pass the tests and training? Or a big no way in hell?

Response by Cailee Rye made Aug 24 at 2019 5:54 PM

2019-08-24T17:54:58-04:00

Additional info - My husband is a veteran looking to get back in. He lights up like I've never seen when speaking of serving.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2019 5:59 PM

2019-08-24T17:59:55-04:00

You will not be able to enlist. Your profile lists you as a Marine Corporal. Please edit your profile to list yourseld as a civilian.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/disqualifiers-medical-conditions.html

Medical Conditions That Can Keep You From Joining the Military

These standards generally apply to all branches of the military. None of them are automatic disqualifiers, just red flags.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2019 6:28 PM

2019-08-24T18:28:25-04:00

I'd say it's extremely unlikely, but you'll never know for sure until you go through the process.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:22 PM

2019-08-24T19:22:47-04:00

http://www.usphs.gov

I completely perceive the gravity of what you're asking, and obviously have no idea, honest...that being said, it'd obviously help to know more about what specific type of work you'd want, so far as possible, just a thought...also, if you could possibly elaborate on school aspects, associates, bachelors, grad level, grades, GPAs, specific coursework taken with actual titles, so far as possible, that'd also help all of us to judge...what you're asking is clearly an extremely complex, albeit highly interesting question...I entirely fathom your ambition, and, would merely suggest some possibilities, that might not have occurred to you, though I have zero clue if they'd at all work, and/or be allowed, or even be considered...if you'd want a clinical field, or already be trained for one, you might try USPHS Commissioned Corps...they have their own toll-free phone line on their site, their analogue to ROTCs is called Jr and Sr COSTEP, they also use engineers, health admin, comp sci (CS) and IT for medical informatics...lemme send this, then I'll suggest a couple of other thoughts, as your question really got my mental gears spinning, OK?

www.usphs.gov

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:31 PM

2019-08-24T19:31:05-04:00

http://www.sgaus.org

Not all states, though a good many states, have their own militaries, the state defense forces (SDFs)...I'm total perm disabled, I'd wanted to do NY Guard (NYG), the NY SDF that helps the ARNG and ANG in NY...the site here is their main professional group...that being said, I wasn't allowed as NY State insurance rules forbade my doing it, though I did run it up the flagpole a good way to find out...however, you might try if your state has an SDF, I clearly have no idea if you'd be allowed, you can't be deployed, also, normally, you can't be sent out of state, I've read, I think, of volunteering to help with disaster relief in other states, however, that was rarely when I'd ever seen that, and always as a volunteer, honest, at least from what I can tell...these are real militaries, as your husband can doubtless explain to you, with contracts, enlistments, boot camps, all of it...our dentist had wanted to join a friend of his, another dentist, in the NY ARNG...he wasn't sure if it'd be for him, so I, for my part, mentioned about the NYG to him, which, of course, he'd never heard of...however, he did actually join it, found it was for him, SDFs aren't always an ideal substitute, as I've understood, for the Federal side, however, they have, I've gathered, let many "test drive the Audi" if you will, to see if the life is at all for them, potentially...that being said, our dentist applied to NY ARNG, got in, and NYG then let him go, which I've gathered most SDFs typically do, if a member gets in on the Federal side...so, having said all that, you might possibly try that route, if only to see if you "might" possibly be allowed to submit, as I'd said, I have zero clue if it'd actually be allowed, I just figured you might care to know about the possibility, that's all, honest....

SGAUS – State Guard Association of the United States

State Guard Association of the United States

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:36 PM

2019-08-24T19:36:17-04:00

http://www.cgaux.org

Then, too, you could also try this...it's classed under the Geneva Convention as what's termed an "instrumentality", which is different from Civil Air Patrol (CAP), which isn't classed that way, as I've understood, as a matter of law...they allow for a good deal of diversity in their recruiting, though you'd need to ask them...they have the normal waterborne flotillas, as well as aviation flotillas, the aviation flotillas also have aviation observer training, I've wanted to join them for some time, I'm gonna be trying through VA voc rehab, due to my total perm disability...they also have an AUXOPS option, where you can help with food-related stuff, helping stand guard, standing radio watches for real to assist the active duty staff at an installation...you might also try them, honest...they have a health-related thing where if you're clinically trained, you can ask to be involved helping to treat patients with them for real, I was doctoral allied health before my disability, I've wanted to get involved with them myself for a fair while now, honest....

Welcome to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Official Web Portal

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:38 PM

2019-08-24T19:38:07-04:00

http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com

This is the CAP site...they have senior, cadet, and composite squadrons, a drone program that's just starting now, I'm trying to go with them, they're somewhat different than CGAUX, however, I'd spent time with them while I'd been on active, you might also see where there are units by you, as well...just another idea, honest....

United States Air Force Auxiliary | Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters

CAP is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force and a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization. CAP supports America’s communities with emergency/disaster response, aviation and ground team services; youth development; and promotion of air and space power.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:39 PM

2019-08-24T19:39:50-04:00

https://mrc.hhs.gov/homepage

Our dentist was in this for a fair while, he suggested it for me, it's under HHS through USPHS, they help with disaster relief, they were used for Hurricane Sandy in NY where we are, they may hae also helped with 9/11, though I'm not entirely sure, I did see stuff on them for the hurricane though, I think they also helped with Hurricane Katrina....

homepage

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:41 PM

2019-08-24T19:41:03-04:00

https://www.myarmyonesource.com/FamilyProgramsandServices/Volunteering/ArmyVolunteerCorps/ArmyVolunteerCorpsResources.aspx

I tried going this route as well, they're at Ft. Sam Houston in TX, I didn't get anywhere yet, though, just a suggestion....

ArmyVolunteerCorpsResources.aspx

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:41 PM

2019-08-24T19:41:40-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=guard%20technician&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Read these, on the Guard Technician programs....

guard%20technician - AOL Search Results

Arkansas National Guard Human Resources Office Army National Guard National Guard (NG) Title 32 (T32) Excepted Service Positions and National Guard (NG) Title 5 (T5)

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:42 PM

2019-08-24T19:42:19-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=reserve%20technician&s_it=loki-tb-sb

And these, on the Reserve Technician programs....

reserve%20technician - AOL Search Results

Find your family a perfect new home at Graystone Reserve in Suffolk, VA! New homes offer security, energy efficiency, and peace of mind. Skip the remodel, Buy New!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 24 at 2019 7:43 PM

2019-08-24T19:43:21-04:00

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/continue-serving/army-reserve-prior-service/active-guard-reserve.html

And this, on the AGR program...ask your husband about all these, he can obv explain them to you in far greater depth, of course....

Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Reserve Jobs

Learn what it takes to be an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) soldier and find information about Active Guard Reserve (AGR) jobs on goarmy.com.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2019 9:33 PM

2019-08-24T21:33:02-04:00

As you’re a no BS personality, please appreciate the candor. While absolutely anything is waiverable if the right person signs off, unless WW3 breaks out, your condition most likely won’t be waivered. Please refer to AR 40–501, ch 2-9.

I’m leaning towards a ‘big no way in hell’.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2019 11:38 AM

2019-08-25T11:38:03-04:00

Sorry, it's just not waiverable. The amputees you see are people who were injured on active duty and received waiver to continue on active duty.
There are other ways to serve your community though. There are veteran run volunteer groups like Team Rubicon. There is the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. There are civilian jobs supporting the military, such as Department of the Army civilians.

Response by SN Richard Spain made Dec 2 at 2020 11:02 PM

2020-12-02T23:02:33-05:00

Perhaps, you could file an ADA compliant.