My son joining the Marines. Passed ASAB, but said he could not hear some tones in one ear. DQ'ed. Sent in waiver denied. What can we do?

2016-01-22T21:02:31-05:00

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jan 22 at 2016 9:05 PM

2016-01-22T21:05:40-05:00

Have your family doctor get him a referral to an audiologist and get his hearing tested, and see if their results put him in the military's requirements. Also have him try other services (Army, Air Force, and my beloved Navy). Whoever at MEPS administered his audiogram may not know WTF they're doing (wouldn't be the first time something like that happened).

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jan 22 at 2016 9:20 PM

2016-01-22T21:20:38-05:00

Get a second opinion on his hearing. Try other branches. Those are the best options .

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Jan 22 at 2016 9:31 PM

2016-01-22T21:31:32-05:00

Deal with it and find another career.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 22 at 2016 11:22 PM

2016-01-22T23:22:00-05:00

Looking at the source:
HEARING
The cause for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction is a hearing threshold level greater than that described in paragraph c below.
a. Audiometers, calibrated to standards of the International Standards Organization (ISO 1964) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI 1996), will be used to test the hearing of all applicants.
b. All audiometric tracings or audiometric readings recorded on reports of medical examination or other medical records will be clearly identified.
c. Acceptable audiometric hearing levels (both ears) are:
(1) Pure tone at 500, 1000, and 2000 cycles per second of not more than 30 decibels (dB) on the average (each ear), with no individual level greater than 35dB at these frequencies.
(2) Pure tone level not more than 45 dB at 3000 cycles per second each ear, and 55 dB at 4000 cycles per second each ear.

So if I read your post right, your son went over 35db in one ear on one of the first 3 tones. I'd suggest if a retest shows the same thing, get a referral to an ENT Doc to find out why the selective gap. Hearing can be damaged by a virus, sometimes permanently. Other things can cause it. If the ENT can resolve it, then passing the test at the intake location is advised. They get a lot of gundecked stuff from outside providers and the system (aka taxpayer) isn't happy about having to hand away VA points later because of it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 1:43 AM

2016-01-23T01:43:02-05:00

As others have said, I would definitely get him tested at a civilain audiologist. I don't know what the state of the art is at MEPS stations today, but every hearing test I took in the Army years ago was getting put in a booth while a bunch of noisey stuff is going on outside and wearing a really crappy quality headset. Once the unit put the mobile hearing truck in the Motor Pool, and so you had 5 tons coming and going all during the testing.

I recently got fitted for hearing aids at the VA and was amazed at how sophisticated the equipment is now. So I think it's definitely worth a shot. It's sort of the difference between reading in eye chart at school versus going to an eye doctor to test your vision.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 4:12 AM

2016-01-23T04:12:36-05:00

Based on the thread topic, and if I am understanding it......military classified your son to be (basically) deaf on one ear. Your son is done. No military service (more than likely) is going to happen

Response by Sgt Jim H. made Jan 23 at 2016 9:07 AM

2016-01-23T09:07:47-05:00

A1C Private RallyPoint Member Maybe it was not meant to be. It's not the end of the world. You mentioned that your son is applying to the Austin Police Dept. I'm curious, why APD? Has your son considered Texas DPS? They train in Austin; but, can work all over the state, including in and around Austin.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 23 at 2016 10:22 AM

2016-01-23T10:22:10-05:00

That is a Horrible way to find out that you are Partially Deaf in one ear. Damn. Sounds like he is still exploring options and good for him. I know his Heart may be set on the Marines but could he consider one of the other Armed Forces. When I went to join I Initially approached the Army but my Weight was an Issue that they wouldn't waiver (I was real skinny), I next went to the Navy Recruiter "No Problem" and I couldn't have asked for better dumb luck. 21 years as a Navy Cryptologic Technician, I rather like how that turned out.

Response by CWO3 William Hanrahan made Jan 23 at 2016 12:47 PM

2016-01-23T12:47:10-05:00

Was it a BUMED waiver? If so, very little. Some times an ear lavage, plugging the ears and getting a new audiogram helps; then doing a re-submittal to BUMED. Ears are one of those weird disqualifiers.

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Jan 23 at 2016 12:59 PM

2016-01-23T12:59:53-05:00

At this point in the cycle the military can afford to be selective in who they take in, so they will enforce standards more closely. A few years ago, that hearing test might have given a marginal and passed on. With a BUMED waiver denied, your son's dream of being a Marine - or being in any of the armed forces is probably dead. That is life, unfair as it may be - time to move on. You indicated he has a back up plan of being a police officer, that is a good calling and worthy of respect.

He isn't less of a person for not serving on active duty, as a police officer he will be supporting and defending his community, a worthy endeavor for any person.

You mentioned getting your Senator involved - are you seeking some special favor? Your son was disqualified for good and valid reasons - I couldn't fly because my vision wasn't good enough, I dealt with it. Is your son's dream so important that you'd force a special favor for someone who is physically disqualified and potentially put others at risk? That is the height of egocentric behavior - not the willingness to be a team player needed in the military.

I sympathize with your son's broken dream, but move on and let him use his talents where it will benefit.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 1:35 PM

2016-01-23T13:35:50-05:00

Join the Army!

Response by CW2 Michael Mullikin made Jan 23 at 2016 5:28 PM

2016-01-23T17:28:18-05:00

When I enlisted in the army in 1967, they tried to DQ me because I had flat feet. I wrote a letter to my senator and within a week I received a call from the recruiter telling me they'd reconsidered and I was good-to-go. Not only that, when I got to the induction center I was met by a major with my file. The file had a r3ed cover-sheet labelled "Senate Inquiry." The major accompanied me to each processing station and within two hours I found myself taking the oath of enlistment. As they say on TV, "individual results may vary," You should know that Senate or Congressional inquiries are a VERY big deal in the military and units will literally set aside everything else until the issue is resolved.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2016 1:09 AM

2016-01-24T01:09:17-05:00

Does the Coast Guard use the same meps standards as well? He could also try border patrol, or customs perhaps?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 25 at 2016 6:53 PM

2016-01-25T18:53:33-05:00

If subordinate fails I want to know why? Did they fail because he lacked training, coordination, and general support? Real leaders prepare subordinates for success and not allow them to flap in the wind. This aint rocket science.

Response by LCpl Steve Smith made Jan 27 at 2016 7:21 PM

2016-01-27T19:21:15-05:00

What you may want to try is before he goes up for a med review again is see his personal doctor have his ears and hearing checked by him/her to see if their results come out different (Better) if they do then you have something to show them that would justify a retested at M.E.P.S. I think it's worth a shot. OR have him try another branch and if he still wants to go into the Marine Corps he can try a Lat move later. But keep in mind he will still have to go through Marine Corps Boot Camp if accepted.

Response by 1stLt Douglas Marresse made Jan 28 at 2016 12:58 PM

2016-01-28T12:58:46-05:00

Hello Sir sorry it's taken me so long to reply! I would take your son to a hearing specialist ! There might be factors why your son can only hear certain tones wax build up fluid behind ear drum the inner ear bones that àct as for example a tuning fork might be just a bit off center all of the above may be fixed by a simple procedure & that should clear him & he will be good to go. As a side note young men such as your son tend to listen to loud music alone or with ear buds . This should be stopped ASAP as it might interfere with being able to hear certain tones as well
Good luck & all my best to you & your family ! Douglas J Marresse USMC RETIRED

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 2:14 PM

2016-02-10T14:14:01-05:00

Try another branch of service. It's worth a shot. The Marine Corps is the pickiest out them all I think.

Response by SPC Carlos R. made Feb 12 at 2017 7:18 PM

2017-02-12T19:18:20-05:00

Did your son ever get the waiver granted?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2018 4:39 AM

2018-02-16T04:39:00-05:00

Find out exactly what his score was. Refer him to an audiologist and ENT physician. See if it can be improved and what is the cause then check the standards in the other branches.