Posted on Aug 24, 2019
Cailee Rye
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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?
Posted in these groups: Train2 Training98226061 Waivers
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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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.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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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....
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Cailee Rye
Cailee Rye
5 y
Great information - I actually did read up on state militias a few days ago. I've seen that they have accepted a few upper extremity amputees, but I'm not sure I'd want to go state militia. If the military ends up being a no-go, I'm considering CIA - I want to be a part of a much larger mission. I want to help protect our country. Will do more research.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
5 y
I follow, ask your husband, as I'd suggested, let him go over the whole thing with you...I perceive why you want what you raised as ideas, I wasn't sure if you'd known of SDFs, I realize, as you'd said, you were apparently aware of them, lemme give thought to other things you might find equally interesting...it'd just help to know more about all the elaboration aspects I'd mentioned, if you can explain any of those things, it'd help all of us suggest various other possibilities for you, obviously, that's my sole reason for bringing up that, if you can explain more about schools and training, as well as generalities of work types you've done, nothing specific, just enough to give a general idea, supervisory level, type of work generally, such things, I've observed, the more you can give, the more all of us can tend to be able to suggest, that's my sole point, honest, no rush, I realize there might obviously be limits, of course, to how much you'd care to go into here, certainly, just an idea, honest....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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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?
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
5 y
https://www.usuhs.edu/graded/doctoral

These allow civilian applicants, as opposed to the MD and nursing PhD programs, which don't...look at them, OK?
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
5 y
http://a13002.uscgaux.info/masters.html

I'd seen this through the USCG Auxiliary, though I expect it'd be pretty hard to get it, you could obviously ask about it, though you'd have to do a good deal of training with them to stand a chance, clearly....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
5 y
https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/fellows/

I can of course suggest a good deal more...you could always try on the civil service side as well, for all of the other numerous organizations like those you'd mentioned, obviously...given what you'd explained of your background and ambitions, I should certainly think you'd be quite suited, possibly also for the State Dept, I know they have a separate exam, which I've read is quite rough, I've gathered, however, you might possibly care to try it...look also at this, as well, this was what Gen Colin Powell had done, as she'd explained in her autobiography, which is quite good reading, if you'd ever care to look at it at all, honest....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
5 y
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Is a waiver possible for someone born without one hand?
Sgt Field Radio Operator
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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
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Cailee Rye
Cailee Rye
5 y
That is my husband's rank. We sift through RP together and I didnt have the option to select civilian when I signed up via mobile. Though I will adjust in a moment if I can. Thank you for your response - I've read soldiers wounded in war are being granted waivers to continue serving, including upper extremity loss... I will hold on to hopes that the military will extend that consideration in the future to individuals in my case who'd make an excellent addition.
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Cailee Rye
Cailee Rye
5 y
Also, thank you for the link. I've reviewed it and see many that I've also seen waivers granted for.
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SN Richard Spain
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Perhaps, you could file an ADA compliant.
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SGT Retired
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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’.
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Cailee Rye
Cailee Rye
5 y
Candor appreciated, thank you for your response. I've assumed it's a "no way in hell" since I had interest in grade school, but after seeing some cases today of waivers being granted, curiosity sparked. If the right time comes, after my babies are older and my husband completes his contract, I may give it a go anyway. See where it goes, if anywhere. But I am very aware, it may go nowhere at all. Here's to dreaming.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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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....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=reserve%20technician&s_it=loki-tb-sb

And these, on the Reserve Technician programs....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=guard%20technician&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Read these, on the Guard Technician programs....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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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....
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