Why does being half deaf disqualify my service in the Navy if I want to be a doctor and won’t be placed in combat?

Caleb Henson — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 23:29:47 -0500

My left ear is completely deaf but I have a BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) that I wear to compensate and I want to be an otolaryngologist. I have been told that my hearing is a disqualification but I don’t understand as to why this is the case.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Mar 3 at 2018 11:39 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 23:39:35 -0500

Nobody is completely safe from ever being in combat. And, if you're medically unable to deploy, you will be separated.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 3 at 2018 11:57 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 23:57:37 -0500

What is your definition of "placed in combat?"

If you serve a board a Navy Ship, that ship may be deployed in theater. You may be in combat at any moment. Furthermore shipboard life is loud and dangerous in peacetime or war. If you cannot hear an in extremis warning, you may become a casualty. If you are non-deployable, then someone else has to pick up your slack.

If you serve in the Fleet Marine Force, Doctors are assigned down to the battalion level. You may be in combat at any moment. Furthermore field life is loud and dangerous in peacetime or war. If you cannot hear an in extremis warning, you may become a casualty. If you are non-deployable, then someone else has to pick up your slack.

Notice a trend.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 4 at 2018 12:41 AM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:41:28 -0500

Sailors at sea on ships are ALWAYS in combat. It's simply a matter of with whom. The greatest, and the most constant enemy is Mother Nature herself. She is an unforgiving, uncaring bitch, and will make you pay for any tiny mishap. Followed closely by Mr. Murphy. This is what pisses me off when sister service members laugh at Sailors from some imaginary high horse where they think Sailors don't face danger, or that we're somehow lesser because they're in a desert somewhere and we're not. Some of them, reading this, are going to roll their eyes and think to themselves 'this guy is nuts'. That's okay. Life at sea is outside their frame of reference. Then, of course, throw in ACTUAL combat....there's lots of ways to die at sea. When I was in, a shipmate lost his arm because he walked past a steam pipe that burst right when he was there, severing it.

You simply MUST be able to respond to any and all contingencies. I'm a Merchant Mariner. I broke my thumb once when a winch brake snapped it's lock and slammed it. They sent me home and didn't let me go back to work until it was fully healed. Why? You gotta be able to respond to any emergency. I could not have fought fires or flooding with a broken digit. Long story short, any impediment to becoming an instant firefighter, damage controlman, de-waterer or ancillary medical assistance is plenty of reason to stop you from going to sea. I know that sucks, and I hope you find some satisfactory outcome. That is, however, the cold, hard reality of it. That said, your decision to serve is admirable. Thank you.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 4 at 2018 12:48 AM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:48:09 -0500

So I gave you the tough love in my one response. Now let me try to bolster you some.

Your decision to put yourself on the line for the rest of us is both humbling and admirable. Young men and women like you are what's going to keep America alive going forward. It may be that you can't ever go to sea in the Navy (which I'm not 100% sure of), but I am POSITIVE there are positions available for you across the 7 (Yes, there ARE 7) uniformed services. So my suggestion is that you look into them all, and don't let a let down or two discourage you. NOAA and NHS are NOT combat services, and likely have much less stringent requirements. But even then, I would still talk to USCG, USAF, USA, USMC recruiters. I firmly believe you can find a place for yourself if you want to.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2018 3:20 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 03:20:40 -0500

Caleb Henson As mentioned by SN Greg Wright, talk to the recruiters to get the best information. Everyone in the military can be involved in combat no matter what your MOS.

http://navy.army.com/info/join/medical

Medical Disqualifications | navy.army.com

This is a list of medical conditions that disqualify someone from enlisting in the US Navy.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 6:49 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:49:54 -0500

http://www.sgaus.org

This might not ne what you want, however, I just figured you might not have known of it, SGAIS is the main professional group for the state defense forces (SDFs), the supplement to the Natl Guard, Army and Air, I'll send you Kore as well, near with me, other options you might find of interest, and trust me, I've tried to go where you want to go, been there, done that (BTDT), I think imcam give you some useful advice, I was doctoral allied health, I'd wanted to go back into the USPHS Commissioned Corps, as well as found out the USCG Auxiliary actually pets licensed clinicians treat patients for the!, I'll show you the sites, then try to explain more, !meanwhile, elaborate, degrees, hobbies, interests, reading why Navy, other services, etc, do a detailed bio sketch, the more you give the more we can all suggest, OK?

SGAUS – State Guard Association of the United States

State Guard Association of the United States

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 6:52 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:52:29 -0500

https://www.usphs.gov/student/

Look at this, I'll also send more on Jr and Sr COSTEP, the USPHS functional equiv of ROTC....

Student Opportunities at USPHS Commissioned Corps

USPHS Commissioned Corps: internships, financial assistance, loan repayments, externships, other student opportunies.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 6:56 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:56:46 -0500

https://www.usphs.gov/student/jrcostep.aspx

The links are all on this page, call their took free and see if you could submit a packet to ne wqiverablez, however, you'd need to ne done first, with the training, I think you might have a chance for a waiver, though you'd need to ask, !maybe apget attached to, say, Indian Health Svc (IHS), also you'd need to look at going MD (allopathic) vs DO (osteopath), or tryingnfor Carribean or other countries, that's why a detailed bio sketch could help us maybe try to help you, honest, OK?

JRCOSTEP at USPHS Commissioned Corps

PHS internships and externships: JRCOSTEP. USPHS Commissioned Corps.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 6:59 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:59:59 -0500

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=h-dept&category=auxiliary-health-services

Read this, I think you'll fathom what I'm referring to, OK? I'm here if you wamma chat, anytime, just trust me, and do the detailed bio, OK? Ne as detailed and specific as possible, degrees, coirseowkr, GPA, flexibility about other clinical areas, etc, and ioomtry to suggest more, OK?

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - Human Resources

Public and Members Website for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Human Resources

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 7:01 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 07:01:22 -0500

https://www.usphs.gov/aboutus/dod-hhs/job-opportunities.aspx

Read this also....

DoD-HHS Job Opportunities (3 YEAR OBLIGATION)

Current Army Job Opportunities

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 7:02 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 07:02:24 -0500

https://www.usphs.gov/aboutus/dod-hhs.aspx

And this....

Military mental health services at USPHS Commissioned Corps

Military behavioral health, mental health services. USPHS Commissioned Corps

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 7:03 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 07:03:33 -0500

https://www.usuhs.edu/graded/doctoral

You'll want this...

Uniformed Services University

The mission of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences is to educate, train, and comprehensively prepare uniformed services health professionals, scientists, and leaders to support the Military and Public Health Systems, the National Security and National Defense Strategies of the United States, and the readiness of our Uniformed Services.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 7:04 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 07:04:03 -0500

Those PhD programsmcan ne dine as a civil servants also, food for thohght....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 7:08 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 07:08:02 -0500

https://www.usuhs.edu/mps/

I know you want otolaryngology, I realize why, obvioisly, howecer, my point of s, if you'd be flexible as to your goal, there are other ways to achieve itz that's my point, lookmalp this over, give me your thoughts, show them to your family, I gather from what you'd said they were or are in, so I think they might perceive why I'm showing you all those things, OK? As I said, I'm here if you want to chat, anytime, and I assure you, I've been where you want to go, why I couldn't get it was for different reasons, though similar in many regards, benefit from what I can try to give you, OK?

Uniformed Services University

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2018 10:07 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:07:49 -0500

MEPCOM establishes the minimum standards with advice from the services. Every requirement has a reason, but many things may be considered as eligible to submit for waiver. If you think about it, you may figure out the hearing standard. Think in terms of outside the clinic, in the field or afloat. Diminished hearing has the potential to become a liability or weakness for the overall unit(s).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2018 10:13 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:13:51 -0500

The military has medical standards for a reason. Try the national helth service corps instead. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Health_Service_Corps

National Health Service Corps - Wikipedia

The National Health Service Corps is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, division of Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service.[1]

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Mar 4 at 2018 10:30 AM

LT Brad McInnis — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:30:42 -0500

Thank you for wanting to serve, that is admirable. What everyone here had told you is absolutely spot on advice. The Navy is tough, the sea is unforgiving. Even being overseas at a med base, it can be shelled or attacked. There are a bunch of different services as SN Greg Wright listed. I would also think about becoming a VA doctor. Best of luck to you and keep charging hard!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 4 at 2018 10:31 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:31:39 -0500

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 4 at 2018 10:36 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:36:22 -0500

Gee- Imagine on ship and the damn thing fails, someone your left is moaning/screaming for aid, and dies because you can't hear them. Also how dos hat thing react to submersion in salt water. There are a multitude of things they have to consider, they you probably haven't- like on a carrier and getting run over by planes cause you didn't hear them

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 4 at 2018 11:21 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:21:41 -0500

Ask Hal Kushner how being a Doctor protected him from combat, or any of the medical people on Bataan. Google them. I admire your desire to serve but SN Greg Wright said so eloquently, it’s unforgiving. in a more practical sense you’ll routinely be thousands of miles away from any support. Google DoD no deployable in under news.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 4 at 2018 11:25 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:25:50 -0500

Did you get any chance love OK atmapp that stuff I'd sent at all? Just wondered, no rush....

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 4 at 2018 3:42 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 15:42:25 -0500

Have you asked for a waiver?

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Mar 4 at 2018 4:11 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 16:11:45 -0500

Who says that you won't be in combat as a doctor? This is a stupid question just because you think that a particular job means that you will never have to see combat... Doctors work in combat just like medics kiddo.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Mar 4 at 2018 8:10 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 20:10:03 -0500

Because that is what the qualifications are. If you don't meet them you can't get in. Get over it. Ya, tough love SN Greg Wright

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 4 at 2018 11:58 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:58:31 -0500

Son you are missing the entire point. It is not what you think/believe- but what the regulations and the Navy Doctors say. You can try to appeal it or get a waiver- but it will take awhile and I doubt they will grant it. Further more, you don't know where you would get assigned nor what could happen done the road.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Mar 5 at 2018 11:24 AM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 11:24:20 -0500

Navy docs go to sea. All alarms on a ship are auditory. If you're sleeping on your "good" ear and don't hear a fire alarm, GQ, or man overboard...you or someone else could die. SN Greg Wright gave you some good advice. While I don't know the req'ts or disqualifiers, the USPHS is a good option. Good luck.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Mar 11 at 2018 8:20 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 20:20:53 -0400

i realize that it may be difficult to understand, but the regs and qualifications are there for your protection and those that you work with. I was turned down in the early '70's for the Marine Platoon Leaders Program due to my eyesight. Later on the the USAF, I had to rethink a career path since the rules changed regarding the Flight Nurse Course regarding eyesight. It happens, we deal with it and move forward.