Hard Case - Any interested recruiters?

[saltfish]

Hi, I have a difficult although not an impossible situation. If I can give a little background on myself. I'm a 31 year old federal agent with a current TS/SCI. I have my bachelors degree in Criminal Justice / Public Safety Administration and I'm nearing completion of my associates degree in Nursing to become a RN (side project not quiting my job). I have taken several Army courses to include CMAST (combat medic advanced skills training), and The Protective Service Training Program and Anti-Terrorism Driving Course. I'm also a current EMT-Paramedic and I have taken the OEMS (Operational and Emergency Medical Skills) which is one of the courses that the SOF medics take.

My current medical condition is deemed excellent but for type 1 diabetes that I have had for the past 11 years. I know there have been numerous discussions about diabetics in the military and the blanket discrimination bans against them but I also know that the National Guard has slightly more leeway than the traditional Army does. I'm fit and if I didn't tell people I was diabetic they would never know (doesn't pick up on lab tests). I actually had one recruiter tell me to lie about it and then "discover" it after I was in. Obviously this is ridiculous, I don't want to lie and I'm insulin depenedent.

I'm interested in becoming an Officer and would prefer to be in the 35 series MOS but would entertain other MOS opportunities. If anybody thinks their State would consider me as a candidate please contact me. I'm willing to travel within 4 hours of the Pentagon (a former employer).

[QuantumRN]

Wow. Tough situation.

I wish you the best of luck!

[SPC Ski]

[QUOTE=saltfish]Hi, I have a difficult although not an impossible situation. If I can give a little background on myself. I'm a 31 year old federal agent with a current TS/SCI. I have my bachelors degree in Criminal Justice / Public Safety Administration and I'm nearing completion of my associates degree in Nursing to become a RN (side project not quiting my job). I have taken several Army courses to include CMAST (combat medic advanced skills training), and The Protective Service Training Program and Anti-Terrorism Driving Course. I'm also a current EMT-Paramedic and I have taken the OEMS (Operational and Emergency Medical Skills) which is one of the courses that the SOF medics take.

My current medical condition is deemed excellent but for type 1 diabetes that I have had for the past 11 years. I know there have been numerous discussions about diabetics in the military and the blanket discrimination bans against them but I also know that the National Guard has slightly more leeway than the traditional Army does. I'm fit and if I didn't tell people I was diabetic they would never know (doesn't pick up on lab tests). I actually had one recruiter tell me to lie about it and then "discover" it after I was in. Obviously this is ridiculous, I don't want to lie and I'm insulin depenedent.

I'm interested in becoming an Officer and would prefer to be in the 35 series MOS but would entertain other MOS opportunities. If anybody thinks their State would consider me as a candidate please contact me. I'm willing to travel within 4 hours of the Pentagon (a former employer).[/QUOTE]

Well I will always be willing to submit a 2807 to meps, but giveth the medical conditional, I would hev to tell you, I think you would be DQed. PM me if you would like.
BTW 1 hour from pentagon in good traffic;)

[California Major]

In my experience, this is one of those issues where you can have a condition [B]while in [/B]the Guard, but you can't [B]join[/B] with it...

I know of a field grade with diabetes, and the command went to great lengths to get him the appropriate waivers to remain in service...But a new person attempting to join would have been DQ'd immediately.

Best of luck.

[Recruiter yosis]

[QUOTE=California Captain]In my experience, this is one of those issues where you can have a condition [B]while in [/B]the Guard, but you can't [B]join[/B] with it...

I know of a field grade with diabetes, and the command went to great lengths to get him the appropriate waivers to remain in service...But a new person attempting to join would have been DQ'd immediately.

Best of luck.[/QUOTE]

Sir, everyone follows the same reg for enlistment and re-enlistment.The person that you may know, may have a lesser form of diabetes that doesn't require medical drugs as of yet.

[QuantumRN]

[QUOTE=Recruiter yosis]Sir, everyone follows the same reg for enlistment and re-enlistment.The person that you may know, may have a lesser form of diabetes that doesn't require medical drugs as of yet.[/QUOTE]

That may be true but I see it here in my state as well....
Diabetics, High cholesterol, ADD meds, ortho surgery with permanent pins and rods..... all these things would have DQed them at MEPs but they are much more tolerant with these medical conditions once you're in. It may not be right, and it may not be fair, but it's what happens.

[saltfish]

Yeah, here is an article that make pique some interest on the topic..

[URL="http://www.diabetes.org/backfromiraq.jsp"]http://www.diabetes.org/backfromiraq.jsp[/URL]
[I][B]
here is some more related reading...and for what it's worth my HbA1c was 6.3% as of 2/26/2009[/B][/I]

ISSUE AND GUIDANCE MEMORANDUM NO. 9
8 August 2005

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: DC 7913 (DIABETES MELLITUS)

Issue: Whether a diabetic Soldier can be found physically UNFIT to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating solely because the Soldier’s Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is greater than 8.0%.

Discussion: Diabetic Soldiers requiring insulin or oral medications must be referred to a Medical Evaluation Board per AR 40-501, para 3-11. These Soldiers are then evaluated by the PEBs for a fitness determination.

Diabetes mellitus is a condition manifested by elevated blood sugar. It often leads to microvascular, macrovascular, and nonvascular complications. Microvascular complications include: eye disease (retinopathy, macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma); neuropathy (sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathy); and nephropathy. Macrovascular complications include: coronary artery disease; peripheral vascular disease; and cerebrovascular disease. Nonvascular complications include: gastrointestinal conditions (gastroparesis and diarrhea); genitourinary conditions (uropathy and ***ual dysfunction); infections and lower extremity complications.

Diabetics with poorly controlled blood sugar are at increased risk for complications. HbA1c is a laboratory test that reflects a person’s average blood sugar levels over the preceding two to three months. An HbA1c of 8.0% means the patient’s blood sugar is poorly controlled and has averaged around 200 mg/dl. HbA1c levels are used to make treatment decisions. The goal of treatment is to bring the HbA1c down to 7.0% or lower.

DODI 1332.39 E2.A1.3.2.23 (1-4) provides guidance for rating diabetes. 23.1 reads, in part, as follows: “Response to specific therapy, diet, activity, compliance, and time are all important. With adequate compliance, many diabetics are FIT with minimum restrictions” (italics added). 23.2 provides, in part, “If unfitness derives, in part, from documented non-compliance with prescribed treatment, including diet and weight control, the assigned rating should not be higher than the disease would warrant if under prescribed treatment” (italics added). This guidance could be misinterpreted as implying that having poorly controlled diabetes renders a Soldier UNFIT.

All relevant evidence must be considered in a fitness determination (AR 635-40, para 3-1c). PEBs make a fitness determination by relating the nature and degree of physical disability of the Soldier to the requirements and duties that the Soldier may reasonably be expected to perform in his or her primary MOS (AR 635-40, para 4-19 (d)(2)). Fitness determinations will consider whether continued service would be harmful to the Soldier’s health or would prejudice the best interests of the Army (AR 635-40, para 3-1c).

Even with an HbA1c greater than 8.0%, a diabetic could be expected to perform in his or her primary MOS. However, if a Soldier has several HbA1c’s greater than 8.0% the examiner should realize that the Soldier is at an increased risk for diabetic complications. As such, the examiner should very carefully assess the Soldier for diabetic complications. These complications may, wholly or in part, lead a PEB to conclude that the diabetic Soldier is UNFIT.

While a persistently high HbA1c will likely lead to diabetic complications, continued service is not intrinsically harmful to diabetics. Further, it may be in the Army’s best interest (i.e., would not prejudice the best interests of the Army) to retain (and deploy) diabetics even though they have a history of elevated HbA1c.

Guidance: In and of its self, an HbA1c greater than 8.0% does not preclude a Soldier from being able to perform the physical requirements of the Soldier’s particular office, grade, rank or rating. Therefore, a PEB may not make a determination of UNFIT solely on the basis of an HbA1c greater than 8.0%.

References:

DODI 1332.39,November 14, 1996

E2.A1.3.2.23. 7913. Diabetes Mellitus

E2.A1.3.2.23.1.The format published by the National Diabetes Group shall serve as the basis for classifying diabetes mellitus (DM). The severity of each case should be individualized taking into consideration the expected natural course of the disease variants. Insulin dosage is not a good indicator of severity and is only one factor to consider in the overall evaluation of the disease. Response to specific therapy, diet, activity, compliance, and time are all important. With adequate compliance, many diabetics are FIT with minimum restrictions. That is particularly true of type II DM (noninsulin dependent), even though insulin is prescribed for optimum control. Young adults with type I DM (insulin dependent) are not a good risk for retention.

E2.A1.3.2.23.2. If unfitness derives, in part, from documented non-compliance with prescribed treatment, including diet and weight control, the assigned rating should not be higher than the disease would warrant if under prescribed treatment.

E2.A1.3.2.23.3. DM controlled by diet and oral medication, without a need for daily insulin, and that does not impair health or vigor, or cause significant limitation of activity, is considered to be mild, if unfitting.

E2.A1.3.2.23.4. Ratings must reflect the severity of the DM, as such. Undue importance should not be given to early or questionable complications. That is particularly true in considering ratings of 60 percent or above. In most instances, a lower rating should be given. Complications such as vascular insufficiency, visual defects, pruritus, and neuropathies should be rated separately. The presence of early or questionable complications in otherwise less than severe DM does not automatically warrant a higher rating.

[QuantumRN]

[QUOTE=saltfish]Yeah, here is an article that make pique some interest on the topic..

[URL="http://www.diabetes.org/backfromiraq.jsp"]http://www.diabetes.org/backfromiraq.jsp[/URL]
[I][B]
here is some more related reading...and for what it's worth my HbA1c was 6.3% as of 2/26/2009[/B][/I]
[/QUOTE]

Great article and a fabulous example of how someone with diabetes can NOT let it affect his life. He was proactive, motivated beyond motivated, and clearly paved his own path and accepting the consequences all along the way.

It looks to me that you are just as motivated, and would make a great soldier. Your HbA1c levels show that you are well controlled, and I hope that you can find the right person that can give you that chance to serve.

Unfortunately, most diabetics are not well controlled and have many comorbid conditions. These are the people that drive the Army's perception of a diabetic. The soldier in the article had to gain the trust of his COC in order to make it happen. I would imagine that you would need to do the same, but with more difficulty, since you are not yet in a position to do so.

I encourage you to continue your research and push forward. It will be a very tough road ahead to change perceptions and policies, but if not you, then who? There are always exceptions to every rule, and as much as I am against medical waivers, it is only because they were given out like candy and not necessarily to the most deserved.

Best of luck to you. Good things never come easy.