Thinking of joining, but not sure if I qualify.

[Dpollack]

I'm 18 and I'm thinking about joining up with the National Guard. It's mainly to pay for college tuition, but I'm sure I could really benefit from the training.

The only thing is, I'm not sure if I'd be disqualified. I have a mild version of a skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa which makes me get blisters pretty easily. However, it's mostly only effected me when I was younger. I haven't had a problem with it recently, and as long as I'm able to shower and change my socks everyday I think I could keep it under control.

The other problem is my eye sight. I've had bad vision since I was 5. It's correctable with glasses, but it's pretty terrible without them.

Would I be rejected for these reasons? In every other area I think I'm fine.

[houstonrecruiter]

You probably will not qualify to join the National Guard but contact you local recruiter to find out all the details and if you have a copy of your medical records for your illness, take them with you.

[Dpollack]

I don't have a medical record of it that I know of. I'm also pretty sure you can't test for it. It doesn't really hinder me that much. Why wouldn't I qualify?

[AbnMtn]

The reason you may be disqualified is that doctors evaluating you during the initial exam have to take into consideration that service with any of the armed forces implies the possibility of deployment to some of the most unforgiving environments in the world. Not only will they be doing you a disservice by allowing you to come in with a condition that in combination with the hazards of combat can be fatal, but they'll be also putting at risk those who may be counting on you during a deployment. Your best bet is to talk to your local recruiter and have him check with MEPS doctors on your condition. They may not consider it serious enough to disqualify you, but you won't know until you get checked by them.