Medical waiver for food allergies

[BigDenny]

I'm planning on going through ROTC to serve in the Marine Corps as soon as I've finished HS. I'm moderately allergic to dairy and peanuts, but my doctor (who's a former Navy physician) assured me that I can probably get a medical waiver and that he'll talk to my MEPs physican. I possess a critical foreign language skill (Russian) so in your opinion, will my request for a waiver be granted? I want to work either in CID or in intelligence so my waiver probaby wouldn't cover overseas deployments.

[Joeyd6]

Can't answer your original question, but get some treatment from decent/expereince allergy doctor.

I recently tested positive (5+ (on a scale of 0 to 5) for an allergy to: nuts (especially hazel nuts), green peas, egg whites, chocolate, dogs, cats, oak, pine, 4 different grasses, and pollen. Mind you I eat all those food, lived with dogs since I was kid, have a house full of oak/pine (and do woodwork), and have a huge lot filled with grass and pollen I maintain. I have had reactions for years (mild coughing/difficulty breathing, rashes, sinus clogging, etc...) when exposed. But after a little more than a year of allergy treatments and a pill eveyr so often during certain times of the year.....I am pretty much a different person and enjoy all of that stuff. You would never know I have an allergy to anything.

[retdetsgt]

It probably depends on how badly they need people. Minimum requirements go up and down over the years based on that.

I can't speak for medical issues, but I've seen them reject people with a one time criminal conviction for something minor during peace time to taking people with low grade felonies during war.

[mcsap]

It isn't so much " what you have " , it's rather how well YOU can control it ( without prescription meds) and while it is controlled ...how normally do you function ? These type of things are on a case by case basis. They may allow you more of a leeway if you have a skill that they NEED.

[BigDenny]

Thanks for the replies, I've sought some treatment and I've been prescribed an epipen when I was much younger although I regulate my diet to the point that I've never had to use it. I tried googling my question and it seems like all of the food allergy specific forums I went on said that there was no way I could get a waiver while most of the military sites said it was hit or miss. I've had one or two reactions in my lifetime and while I'd be pretty uncomfortable for a few hours, I doubt it would put me out of action.

[retdetsgt]

I seriously doubt you will get reliable information off any forum. The only people who can objectively tell you are the Navy doctors when you apply.

[TSOC357]

I seriously doubt you will get reliable information off any forum. The only people who can objectively tell you are the Navy doctors when you apply.

Exactly. As there is usually a waiver for a waiver. If he's got critical skills needed, I would suspect they will allow him to join. He needs to get with the Navy Med people and talk to them.

[BigDenny]

On a slightly different track, will my allergies be an issue if I decide to go into law enforcement?

[retdetsgt]

On a slightly different track, will my allergies be an issue if I decide to go into law enforcement?

Probably not. As a cop, you can eat whatever you want. We don't serve food so there are no problems making sure you have a proper diet.

[Trip]

Big Denny, when I was in AF ROTC, I was amazed at the waivers some of my buddies would get for pilot slots....usually having to do with eyesight since you were supposed to have perfect vision to be a pilot...and it all depended on finding someone who would "help" them out on the waiver. So I had some friends with worse vision getting waivers and those with better vision than them not getting waivers. Perseverance and desire seemed to be key. If you really wanna up your chances though, start taking Farsi, Arabic, or Urdu.