disqualification

[zen]

I recieved a spiral fracture down my femur while skiing a triple black diamond run . I have a Steele rod in my leg with pins. Would this disqualify me from Special Forces? i'v asked recruiters and gotten mixed ansewers. If anyone can ansewer this easily it would be apreciated

Thanks
ZeN

[Stoner68]

Unfortunately you would more than likely be disqualified as the parts could breakdown at any time and you probably could be picked up easily by some snoopy equipment no doubt. I do not think you have much of a chance.
Your first thought must be the safety of your teammates and you can't guarantee that.

Stoner

[Miguel_Aus]

Stoner,

Is it though possible that depending on where the limb has been broken, but repaired. May have its diferent effects. I had broken my Shoulder, steel with pins mounted onto my fracture limb. I had no trouble with strength and no fatigue at all. Though, I would agree with detectors may take advantage over this. But, if the person is seriously interested in taking a career in SF. They have the chance to remove the steel device. I don’t know much how the system works in US DForce. In Australia, a colleague I had spoken to, broken his wrist with steel secured to it. With the steel still mounted on his wrist, he has passed his specialist course in the SASR with no problems.
I’d appreciate the feed back.

[Mac679]

I found the following in the latest and greatest version of AR 40-501 "Standards Of Medical Fitness":

5–3. Medical fitness standards for initial selection for Airborne training, Ranger training, and Special
Forces training
The causes of medical unfitness for initial selection for Airborne training, Ranger training, and Special Forces training
are all the causes listed in chapter 2, plus all the causes listed in this paragraph and paragraphs 5–4 and 5–6.
-
f. Extremities.
(1) Paragraphs 2–9 through 2–11.
(2) Less than full strength and range of motion of all joints.
(3) Loss of any digit from either hand.
(4) Deformity or pain from an old fracture.
(5) Instability of any degree of major joints.
(6) Poor grasping power in either hand.
(7) Locking of a knee joint at any time.
(8) Pain in a weight–bearing joint.
(9) Retained hardware that is integral to maintaining fixation or stability, or presents a risk to mobility or a risk of
further injury by its presence.

It's not an easy answer but the best folks to answer it for you would be either Army Docs and medics or MEPS docs ( personally I'd try to find one of the former ;) )

[PlasticArmyMen]

You might be able to get a waiver from a Doc to go and play regular soldier. But as far as going SF, I'm willing to be you don't have a chance unless you can remove those pins. And even then, they look at surgeury and shudder. I had an apendix removed and they gave me a hard time about that. MEPS is a b!tch. They are extremely selective. I've seen plenty of cases where friends wanted to join the military, but they had some type of hardware that kept them DQ'd. Unless you can remove it, don't count on it. As far as foreign nations, I wouldn't bother to compare if they allow it or not. You want to be THE BEST and SF is it. What other countries allow and don't allow isn't of any concern to them.

[JonnyR]

Detectors?? You don't think that you will be carrying in more hardware(gear) than in a knee or shoulder.... ? Knives, ammo, weapons....etc..

[Sailor2be]

i myself tried to join the u.S Marines about a year ago, but was turned down at the meps because of a hearing loss and surgery in my right ear that took place when i was a little kid. i went through a waiver but things just didn't go well that time around. about 3 months ago, i was able to join the U.S Navy which was complicated because i had to go through the whole waiver thing again, but i was finally accepted. i was like to get in the Navy seal, but i know that i may have a problem getting a contract because of the whole hearing thing. what i am trying to say is that the military is very selective even though i am sure you already know this, but waivers can be done and their is the possibilty that you can make it in the SF's, because their was once a time when i was told that i would not be allowed in the military because of my hearing but now i am apart of the military. so as well as i was accepted in the military, you may beable to get accepted into the special forces.

[blackjack26]

Hi. I am a 26 yr old healthy female who was recently disqualified at MEPS for severe hearing loss in my left ear. I can hear just fine; my right ear has always compensated for this loss. If no one ever told me about the loss, I would've never known. I was trying to get into the Army. I even applied for a waiver, and heard that the Army is one of the most lenient branches of service to get a hearing waiver. Even the waiver was denied. It still upsets me to think about it. I was told after the declining of the waiver that there was no way I would be able to get in. Is this true? There's NO other options? I'm so frustrated. I was born in the Air Force, and thought it would be great to go in the military myself, but I guess it just won't happen. It's so frustruating to be disqualified for something you didn't cause yourself in the first place. I'm glad to hear you were able to get into the Marines. I just can't figure out why they didn't at least give me a "conditional" waiver, stating I could only go into certain positions. Oh well. Any suggestions or words of advice are appreciated. Good luck in the Marines! : )