Alright guys so for about a year now, I've been seriously considering joining the U.S Army, I'm only 14, gonna turn 15 really soon, but this is all I've been thinking about. I know I have a lot of time to think and all that, everyone tells me that and it gets annoying but I know this is what I want to do,but theres one problem, I have asthma, its manageable and I never really need my inhaler, it only flares up if its cold out or if I sprint as fast as I can, I want to know if theres any way I can join with this? I might even grow out of it before I actually go and sign papers, and another thing, I originally wanted to join the Marines because i've heard better things about the marines than the army, but I heard asthma is an instant DQ? This has really been bothering me, I don't want this stupid condition stopping me from living a dream, are there any guys on here who have had this problem or have actually gotten into the military with asthma? Please respond guys, I need help. OH AND ALSO, Will that gas chamber they put you in at basic flare my asthma up?

It's a DQ after your 13th birthday. You might try to get a waiver after passing a function test, but waivers are now hard to come by.

Is that the only way around it? A waiver? How would I get one and if by that time it doesen't flare up anymore can't I just tell them I dont have it?

If you have asthma, going into the gas chamber could be life threatening.
Being stuck in a combat zone without an inhaler would make you useless and a strain on the others.

Originally Posted by zaccs2005

Is that the only way around it? A waiver? How would I get one and if by that time it doesen't flare up anymore can't I just tell them I dont have it?

The last thing you want to do is lie on your application, and say that you don't have it, regardless of how long it's been under control. The best you can do is be honest, and try to get a waiver. As for getting ahold of one...ask a recruiter how.

I've heard that some people have joined the army with asthma though..There had to be a way that they got in and went through basic and that gas chamber.

And to 42RM, I don't really need my inhaler, I haven't used it in years. I'm sure if there is ever a time where i'm in combat it wont bother me because like I said, if it does flare up, it just makes me wheeze a little and only happens when I run in cold weather or sprint full speed.

Originally Posted by zaccs2005

And to 42RM, I don't really need my inhaler, I haven't used it in years. I'm sure if there is ever a time where i'm in combat it wont bother me because like I said, if it does flare up, it just makes me wheeze a little and only happens when I run in cold weather or sprint full speed.

Your body has never been exposed to the enormous pressure that occur during combat, so you don´t know how you will react.

It is a chance that you should not take - you can get your mates killed at that expense.

Thats the last thing I would want to happen but hear me out, My asthma [B]does not[B]bother me any more. Like I haven't had an attack since I was like I think 6 years old. There has to be a way around it because I'm not gonna let a stupid condition like this stop me from doing something I want to do, I'm gonna goto a recruiter soon and ask about one of those waivers, my uncle made it through bt with asthma during vietnam so if he can do it I should be able to.

Originally Posted by zaccs2005

Is that the only way around it? A waiver? How would I get one and if by that time it doesen't flare up anymore can't I just tell them I dont have it?

If you tell them you don't have it and then you have an attack, it's called fraudulent enlistment.