I know that a perfect score for PULHES is required for the PJs, but I'm not sure if I'll make it. I know that in the more severe cases heart problems can occur, but my case is fairly minor, and I've never had a problem. However, I've never done anything as strenuous as this training will be.

Ease my worry or make it worse, thanks.

Found this...

" AR 40-501 Standards of Medical Fitness

2-23. Lungs, chest walk, pleura, and mediastinum
...

i. Current chest wall malformation (754), including but not limited to pectus exacatum (754.81), or pectus crinatum (754.82), if these conditions interfere with vigorous physical exertion, is disqualifying..."


It's never been a problem during "vigorous physical exertions."


"'P' Position - Physical capacity (First number in the profile series) - Organic defects, strength, stamina, agility, energy, muscular coordination, function, and similar factors.

* 1 - Good muscular development with ability to perform maximum effort for indefinite periods.
* 2 - Able to perform maximum effort over long periods. "

How do you know if you can "perform maximum effort for indefinite periods?" Is this all the legalities to it, or would I find a problem somewhere else?

The standard identifies what is needed to classify the presence of medical condition as disqualifying for military entrance into an enlistment or a commission. It is not describing the between the severe condition and the mild condition.

The PULHES standards also do not identify the Flying class medical examination standards or the special duty medical examination for perform pararescue and combat control duties. To my knowledge there are no allowable flying class and special duty medical waivers for this condition.

So I'm out before I'm in, then.

Started wanting to go for the army medic position, but think I'd like to try for something a little harder.

You don't know about the medical requirements for other branches, do you?

I talked to a recruiter a few days ago, SF in the army had an open slot. They have a medic option in there if I'm lucky enough to get it.

The entry medical qual/disqual standards apply to all the services. Everything else is job specific.

You've confused me, johca.

Say I get an appointment with a doctor, and the verdict is little to no physical restrictions. Would that prove enough to end my worries?

I know the final judgment comes down to the doctors at MEPS, but there's an enormous amount of paperwork to sign before I can get sent there, right? I also don't want to spend several months getting excited for something that I'll be turned down for.

According to the standard, I should be able to get into most jobs, but this pararescue thing isn't most jobs. I've done a ton of searching and haven't really found anything giving a clear yes or no on the subject.

Thanks for your replies, I'll check back again tomorrow.

The United States Military Processing Command (USMEPCOM) is an Army owned organization mandated by the US Congress. Nobody enlists, gets a military commission, or gets conscripted (drafted) without getting a medical examination at one of the many Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) it has open for business of ensures the quality of military accessions during peacetime and mobilization.

All that is needed to enlist or get a commission is not to get medically disqualified (a 4 classification) in one of the six PULHES categories. Medical qualification to perform duties of specific military occupation (AFSC/MOS/RATE) is a bit more complicated as each military occupation has a must meet minimum PULHES profile connected to it. A person can have a the best PULHES profile of 111111 and still not meet other specific job medical qualifications such as Flying class medical and/or special duty medical qualifications. Pararescue has both Flying class III and special duty medical qualification requirements. Performing Pararescue duties is also one of the most physically demanding duties the Air Force has on the books and has been since July 1, 1947. No other Air Force Specialty had a PAST requirement or required screening process of an indoc/selection course until about 1989. They have them now not because of the higher fitness needed but rather because of the poor quality of recruits the military in general is getting these days pertinent to being obese and physically unfit to run and do the BMT fitness regimes.

A casual browsing of military newspapers and magazines will reveal many articles on concern of lack of physical, mental, and emotional fitness of too many recruits these days to perform basic military duties.

quote:

Started wanting to go for the army medic position

To begin with pararescue is not a medical carrier field. If it was it would be in violation of international law. They just "happen" to be required to be civilian certified as a NEMT-P.
Being a medic is just the tip of the iceberg in the medical fields in the military. If you want difficult, join the Navy with the intent of becoming an IDC (that's the hardest medic school to get through), or the AF with the intent of becomming an IDMT. You can also advance to being a PA if you want to. So don't just give up if the PJ job isn't in your future.

oh-oh, John is going to be mad at me now

This message has been edited. Last edited by: blunder1,

So this is what I need, correct?
Flying class medical III
Special duty medical qualifications
PULHES of 111111

Would it be possible to get a doctor at MEPS to look over this one problem for me without having to go through much trouble?

If not, I guess if I ask a civilian doctor about flying class III, he'll know what I'm talking about. What about Special duty qualifications?

To blunder1, I have no interest in working in the medical field when I get out of the military. If I'm in the military or not, if I see someone get hurt, for whatever reason, I want to be the one to help them. The reason I'm looking so hard at the pararescue is because I like to push myself. But thanks for that suggestion, I'll probably consider it if I'm turned down.

quote:

Originally posted by blunder1:
oh-oh, John is going to be mad at me now

Why?

quote:

Originally posted by 14805576:
So this is what I need, correct?
Flying class medical III
Special duty medical qualifications
PULHES of 111111

yes

quote:

Originally posted by 14805576:
Would it be possible to get a doctor at MEPS to look over this one problem for me without having to go through much trouble?

Depends if you consider signing on the doted line to enlist being much trouble or not.

quote:

Originally posted by 14805576:
If not, I guess if I ask a civilian doctor about flying class III, he'll know what I'm talking about. What about Special duty qualifications?

Wasting your time and money.

So how do I find out if this is going to get me declined or not? My question isn't a confusing one, johca.. why the run-around?

Pectus Excavatum, in and of itself is NOT disqualifying, as the reg you quoted clearly states. It is only disqualifying if it will "interfere with vigorous physical exertion."

I have a mild case of Pectus Excavatum and was cleared to fly. I know a couple other people who have mild cases that got into Combat Control and PJs. It does not automatically DQ you.

quote:

Originally posted by RogerOT:
Pectus Excavatum, in and of itself is NOT disqualifying

I straight answer! Thank you. Then I just need to make sure that I don't have some of the potential bad effects that come with certain cases of it.

EDIT: Have a awesome video on racism as thanks. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/...ivided/etc/view.html

Even mild Pectus Excavatum is a congenital defect that compromises cardiac and respiratory function. Pectus Excavatum alters alignment and function of upper body muscles which has potential of increasing succumbing to upper-extremity fatigue and impairing Aerobic stamina and endurance.

The limiting medical examination is not flying class III standards but actually the standards to perform combat diver duties and military freefall duties. Obtaining and sustaining combat diver qualification has been required to hold AFSC, perform duties of AFSC, and has been a required course to obtain 3-skill level since 1962. Obtaining and sustaining Military Free Fall qualification became a mandatory award and retention of AFSC requirement in 1984.

The examination standard in effect for PJs is:

quote:

6.48.4.4. Pulmonary. Note: Inspiratory and expiratory Chest X-ray is accomplished within 1 year of entering training.
6.48.4.4.1. Congenital and acquired defects which may restrict pulmonary function, cause air-trapping, or affect the ventilation-perfusion balance.
6.48.4.4.2. Chronic obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease of any type.

The presence Pectus Excavatum would require a waiver. I have no knowledge of such a waiver being given to anybody who has performed pararescue duties.

CCT had slightly different standards prior to 1986 than is in place now. I'll let a CCT member address thier speciality and if it is waiverable.

quote:

CCT had slightly different standards prior to 1986

Wonders how many prior to's I have to go
Back when, I was just an ordenary 304x4 that got sent to Hurlburt for "a little training". There wasn't much fancy about the PT back then, they just ran the crap out of us until we were able to do the work. If there was anyone DQed going through the physical exam, I didn't see it. 'Course I wouldn't have known what a Pectus Excavatum was back then. I remember that they took back x-rays, but the rest just seemed like a normal exam. No one ever mentioned that one side of my chest is slightly larger than the other.
It wasn't until years later that ROMAD became an actual AFSC with it's specific requirements.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: blunder1,

quote:

Originally posted by johca:
Even mild Pectus Excavatum is a congenital defect that compromises cardiac and respiratory function. Pectus Excavatum alters alignment and function of upper body muscles which has potential of increasing succumbing to upper-extremity fatigue and impairing Aerobic stamina and endurance.

BS. I have Pectus Excavatum. Mild and moderate cases usually have zero impact on cardiac/respiratory function, aerobic capacity, upper body alignment, etc. It is only extreme cases of Pectus Excavatum that are likely to have a limiting affect on physical performance.

As a matter of fact everyone at my current job is required to have a Pulmonary Function Test to get hired, and every year at our annual physical. Despite my PE I am well above average in all categories.

quote:

6.48.4.4. Pulmonary. Note: Inspiratory and expiratory Chest X-ray is accomplished within 1 year of entering training.
6.48.4.4.1. Congenital and acquired defects which may restrict pulmonary function, cause air-trapping, or affect the ventilation-perfusion balance.
6.48.4.4.2. Chronic obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease of any type.

PE especially mild and moderate cases is unlikely to create any of the problems described above.

quote:

The presence Pectus Excavatum would require a waiver. I have no knowledge of such a waiver being given to anybody who has performed pararescue duties.

Unless you've personally examined every PJ for the last several decades, the fact that you are unaware of PJs with PE is meaningless to this discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by johca:
To my knowledge there are no allowable flying class and special duty medical waivers for this condition.

As I said, your knowledge of it is meaningless. I have PE, and did not even require a waiver for my flight physical.

Back and forth, back and forth, hahah. Well your story is enough to keep me trying, Roger. I'll probably try to give them my signature sometime in January, when I'm in better shape and mind for the training.

I'd imagine this program stays filled up, though. Probably going to have to wait a while for a slot to open up. Need to send out college applications now, I guess, in case that happens. Troublesome.

This job seems like a dream almost. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

quote:

Originally posted by RogerOT:

quote:

Originally posted by johca:
To my knowledge there are no allowable flying class and special duty medical waivers for this condition.

As I said, your knowledge of it is meaningless. I have PE, and did not even require a waiver for my flight physical.

Whoppee and I clearly stated the initial Class III flyer examination wasn't the deciding factor.