I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight. I'm looking to join the Army and I meet the weight requirment and passing the ASVAB won't be an issue. I'm able to do the physical requirements of the PFT's, my issue is I had a gastric bypass sometime ago and I read that this surgery would disqualify me. I've also read about the waiver's. Others have told me not to disclose it but the more I read that's not good advise to take... Any thoughts???

Be up front with the recruiter and MEPS, do not hide anything. Good Luck!

http://forums.military.com/eve.../a/cfrm/f/6801982206

quote:

Others have told me not to disclose it but the more I read that's not good advise to take... Any thoughts???

Welcome to military.com

Not disclosing anything and everything is a big NO! NO!

#1 NO - It would be falsifying an official document.
#2 NO - It would lead to fraudulent enlistment.

Let me assure you the US government will discover it sooner or later. When they do it will lead to a less-than-honorable discharge and could lead to a felony conviction. In any case it would follow you throughout your lifetime.

Please keep us posted.

Do Not Lie, whoever told you that is a liar or don't know what they are talking about. If you did lie then got in, when they find out and they will, find out,you will be in a heap of trouble!

Gastric Bypass Surgery is a permanent disqualifer, for all branches, no waivers.

As stated above, you need to disclose everthing. MEPS physicans will note your surgical scars and disqulify you on the spot.

There are other ways to serve your country.

Good luck

Xrays will show the staples - -

www.usajobs.gov. Check it out.

I am looking into is myself. I'm prior serve Army, now civilain employee for the Gov't Marine Corps Camp Pendleton. I had Gastric Bypass three years ago, no health issues before or after surgery. Had the surgery done at a VA Hospital. I'm working on all my Dr. paperwork now and getting all my medical records together. My husband is active duty Marine and will retire in a couple years. Ive always wanted to go back in and now is the time to make some changes. I also found out that the ARMY has preformed gastric bypass on ACTIVE duty members. I called that hospital and they confimed it as well. So, i'm going to start working on all my stuff because I know it's going to be a LONG process but feel that I have the right people helping me as well as my supervisor a Ret Col USMC. Wish me luck and I wish you luck on yours my friend :-)

RETENTION standards are not the same as ENLISTMENT standards - and even prior-service folks have to meet ENLISTMENT standards if they try to re-join ... meaning that sometimes service-connected medical issues can disqualify them for service.

Gastric bypass surgery (aka bariatric surgery) is a PERMANENT DISQUALIFIER for ALL branches of the military, NO WAIVERS. This is the enlistment/entrance standard, not the retention standard.

I wish you luck, s40, but be realistic in your future plans. With all service branches easily meeting recruiting requirements, even those with relatively minor minor medical issues needing a waiver are being turned away. This is not minor.

Since we are discussing medical conditions and the military, I was wondering about my condition.

When I was diagnosed with a Glioma tumor on the brainstem, mid brain in 1987. The drs. think it had been there all my life. There were no symptoms prior to the accident, the Drs. believed that a fall I took acerbated the condition!

I had no symptoms before enlisting, I was in the Navy 1963-1967. By chance the tumor was discovered while I was in the Navy, I would be discharged due to a medical condition.

Provided I had not been aware of the tumor...no punitive action would be taken! Is that correct?

quote:

Provided I had not been aware of the tumor...no punitive action would be taken! Is that correct?

That should be correct.

Not a tumor but as an example;

A used to be neighbor of mine was in the Army, served 4 years an got out, honorable discharge.
Two years later decided to reenlist and did so for a 4 year period.

Year and half later started having troubles.
After all the testing etc., was found to have MS.
Honorable medical discharge with 30% disability.

Over the last few years has steady gotten worse and is now 100% VA disability and in a nursing home completely paid for by the VA.

So twice got in with something they nor the Army knew they had.

quote:

Originally posted by greywolfghost:
Xrays will show the staples - -

If someone is going through a metal dectector at the airport...would the detector sound the alarm?

Staples are rarely used for gastric bypass surgery any more. Gastric bypass removes about 2/3 of the stomach, and the remaining pieces are sutures together, not stapled.

In gastric banding, synthetic bands are used.

Nothing to set off buzzers at the airport.