Trying to enlist- Airborne stamp with Med waiver

MutherRucker · 08-11-2009, 11:19

Hello All.

This will be a long post, but I have been trying hard to get enlisted since April of 2009. I need some experienced persons to advise me on this final leg of my process.

I have decided to enlist in the Active Duty Army. Being very interested in SF, I am seeking an 18X contract.

The first time I arrived at the MEPS, I disclosed that I had a kidney stone in 2007. They sent me to a lab to have x-rays taken to ensure that I don't have any remaining stones. The radiologist found what he thought were more kidney stones. Reoccurring stones are a disqualifying condition, so I was sent home from the MEPS without signing.

As a last ditch effort to salvage my dreams of being in the Army, I went to an urologist to confirm what the lab found. I explained to my doctor how they diagnosed me and he concluded that the type of imaging they used was 2-dimensional and was incapable of correctly diagnosing kidney stones. The lab at his hospital gave me a KUB (3D imaging) and found no stones.

I submitted a letter from the doctor of his findings and all records pertaining to the visit to my recruiter. My recruiter called me 4 weeks later informing me that “My waiver was approved.”

Question 1: Why did my recruiter apply for a waiver for a condition that I didn’t actually have?

I went back to the MEPS this Monday morning to get signed up. When I sat in front of the Army counselor, he informed me that I cannot receive an 18X contract because I cannot obtain an “Airborne Stamp” on my physical due to the waiver. He offered me 11X. I promptly left the office and did not sign.

During my research, I discovered a few relevant threads on this board describing similar situations.

In this thread, the recruit had a similar problem in that he was told his waiver for PRK prevented him from obtaining an Airborne stamp. The members (QPs as well) generally thought the Army Counselor was lying and that he should stick to his guns and press for the 18X contract. They also recommended that he find a new recruiter that will get the job done.

Question 2: My recruiter was about as surprised as I was when I didn’t get the stamp. I do not believe that she is preventing me from the contract; the Army counselor at the MEPS is. Should I still consider a different recruiter?

In that same thread, user .45ACP personally attests that you can get an Airborne stamp with a medical waiver at the MEPS because he had gotten one. His waiver was also for a PRK.

Also in that same thread, The Reaper notes that “[they] are getting quite a few guys with waivers into 18X” which implies that it is possible to get an Airborne stamp with a waiver.

Question 3: Am I being lied to? Can I get the Airborne stamp (and then 18X) with a waiver?

Currently my recruiter thinks I will go 18X or nothing. I will end up enlisting as 11X and going the long route if I have to, but I don’t want to abandon the 18X just yet. The 18X has that special word (Guarantee) that tells me no matter what happens, at least I’ll get a shot a SFAS.

Thank you for investing your time to read this. Please advise.

**Surgicalcric** · 08-11-2009, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by MutherRucker

...Question 1: Why did my recruiter apply for a waiver for a condition that I didn’t actually have?

Question 2: My recruiter was about as surprised as I was when I didn’t get the stamp. I do not believe that she is preventing me from the contract; the Army counselor at the MEPS is. Should I still consider a different recruiter?

Question 3: Am I being lied to? Can I get the Airborne stamp (and then 18X) with a waiver?

1- Because the MD at MEPS denied your enlistment due to a disqualifying condition. Your physician's diagnosis can be taken into consideration (on advisement) but the MEPS MD is the final authority at that level.

2- Technically speaking regardless of what the medical waiver is for the waiver in itself is a disqualifier for receiving the stamp. That said, it is possible to get an ABN stamp with a waiver (I got one.) It isnt your recruiter thats causing the issue here its someone wanting to put their neck out there and risk you packet being audited, after which the counselor would get his/her ass in trouble.

3- See #2.

Crip

MutherRucker · 08-11-2009, 12:10

Excellent. Thank you for that information. That makes perfect sense of it all! In your experience, how rare is it to have a counselor "stick there neck out" and allow someone with a med waiver to get the stamp? Any advise on how I can go about convincing the counselor to do this for me?

Thanks again!

**Surgicalcric** · 08-11-2009, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by MutherRucker

...In your experience, how rare is it to have a counselor "stick there neck out..."

I dont have any experience in that area so I wont comment on it.

Mind what TR said about holding out for an 18X contract. If you dont get "the stamp," time in the Infantry will not be wasted, providing you suck up the knowledge of those around you, like a sponge...

Best of luck.

Crip

MutherRucker · 08-11-2009, 13:21

Thank you both for your input.

Scimitar · 08-11-2009, 16:56

To add to this,

I too was able to get an Airborne waiver. The MEPS counsellor was probably just trying to see if you'd take 11B; you say no; and then he does the extra work to get the Airborne Stamp, which I believe he has to go through the Airborne School CO to get. Not knocking the counsellor, just the way the system works.

Another possibility / option. As TR pointed out there has been a clamp down on waivers being accepted etc. But things are very likely to open up 1 Oct onwards. There is an intake around 11 Nov if you are willing to wait that long. If you plan to resubmit your packet just after 1 Oct there will likely still be contracts available for that intake. Be warned though, I understand that there is a 3 month wait after that class intake, I believe they are not running SFAS during the 2 summer months, which causes a gap in 18X intakes during Dec-Feb. I have heard this second hand, so not from the horses mouth, but if you are trying to plan around a ship date, it is worth investigating.

Another option…many individuals have enlisted 11B, and then approached SF internal recruiters once at Benning. The internal SF recruiters have the power to bring you over to an 18X contract during Basic, and possibly can work around Med Regs a little easier then MEPS. I know of a few who have done this successfully, but again no guarantees. Contact the Benning SF recruiting unit and talk with them directly and see what they can do. I can provide POC if needed

HTH

Scimitar

**The Reaper** · 08-11-2009, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by MutherRucker

Hello All.

This will be a long post, but I have been trying hard to get enlisted since April of 2009. I need some experienced persons to advise me on this final leg of my process.

I have decided to enlist in the Active Duty Army. Being very interested in SF, I am seeking an 18X contract.

The first time I arrived at the MEPS, I disclosed that I had a kidney stone in 2007. They sent me to a lab to have x-rays taken to ensure that I don't have any remaining stones. The radiologist found what he thought were more kidney stones. Reoccurring stones are a disqualifying condition, so I was sent home from the MEPS without signing.

As a last ditch effort to salvage my dreams of being in the Army, I went to an urologist to confirm what the lab found. I explained to my doctor how they diagnosed me and he concluded that the type of imaging they used was 2-dimensional and was incapable of correctly diagnosing kidney stones. The lab at his hospital gave me a KUB (3D imaging) and found no stones.

I submitted a letter from the doctor of his findings and all records pertaining to the visit to my recruiter. My recruiter called me 4 weeks later informing me that “My waiver was approved.”

Question 1: Why did my recruiter apply for a waiver for a condition that I didn’t actually have?

I went back to the MEPS this Monday morning to get signed up. When I sat in front of the Army counselor, he informed me that I cannot receive an 18X contract because I cannot obtain an “Airborne Stamp” on my physical due to the waiver. He offered me 11X. I promptly left the office and did not sign.

During my research, I discovered a few relevant threads on this board describing similar situations.

In this thread, the recruit had a similar problem in that he was told his waiver for PRK prevented him from obtaining an Airborne stamp. The members (QPs as well) generally thought the Army Counselor was lying and that he should stick to his guns and press for the 18X contract. They also recommended that he find a new recruiter that will get the job done.

Question 2: My recruiter was about as surprised as I was when I didn’t get the stamp. I do not believe that she is preventing me from the contract; the Army counselor at the MEPS is. Should I still consider a different recruiter?

In that same thread, user .45ACP personally attests that you can get an Airborne stamp with a medical waiver at the MEPS because he had gotten one. His waiver was also for a PRK.

Also in that same thread, The Reaper notes that “[they] are getting quite a few guys with waivers into 18X” which implies that it is possible to get an Airborne stamp with a waiver.

Question 3: Am I being lied to? Can I get the Airborne stamp (and then 18X) with a waiver?

Currently my recruiter thinks I will go 18X or nothing. I will end up enlisting as 11X and going the long route if I have to, but I don’t want to abandon the 18X just yet. The 18X has that special word (Guarantee) that tells me no matter what happens, at least I’ll get a shot a SFAS.

Thank you for investing your time to read this. Please advise.

I would hold out for the 18X, but the word "guarantee" is of little value.

Most 18Xs never make it to a team, and wind up as 11Bs.

OTOH, you can enlist as an 11B, and unless you still have a DQ or fail to make the standards, IIRC, you can sign up for SFAS as soon as you are an E-4.

Either route will get you there, if you have what it takes.

Things should change on 1 October. New year, new quota.

TR