Joining the National Guard

**wellman** · 09 Jan 10, 19:27

well being that im 17 now i am old enough to join with parent permission. moms not to happy about it even though i switched MOS once just to make her at least think about it.(even though it was more about being able to have exp. so i chould work as civilian). but there is also a problem that im not sure i can control enough to get in. i have asthma. do you think i chould get in as a gun smith(or the closest thing to it) in the guard and not have a issue?

**Gun Grape** · 09 Jan 10, 19:34

Originally Posted by wellman

well being that im 17 now i am old enough to join with parent permission. moms not to happy about it even though i switched MOS once just to make her at least think about it.(even though it was more about being able to have exp. so i chould work as civilian). but there is also a problem that im not sure i can control enough to get in. i have asthma. do you think i chould get in as a gun smith(or the closest thing to it) in the guard and not have a issue?

Chances are, probibly not. Talk to your recruiter. Childhood asthma didn't use to be a problem as lonk as you had not suffered an attack after a certain age.

If its a condition you are still having, I doubt they will grant a medical waiver.

People that develop asthma after they join are discharged.

**dave lukins** · 09 Jan 10, 19:40

Originally Posted by wellman

well being that im 17 now i am old enough to join with parent permission. moms not to happy about it even though i switched MOS once just to make her at least think about it.(even though it was more about being able to have exp. so i chould work as civilian). but there is also a problem that im not sure i can control enough to get in. i have asthma. do you think i chould get in as a gun smith(or the closest thing to it) in the guard and not have a issue?

Not too sure as a gun-smith, perhaps as an armorer. If you have chronic asthma you are unlikely to be able to join at all. The best thing you can do is to contact your recruitment office and speak to the experts. They will guide you on your route, either way

**wellman** · 09 Jan 10, 20:01

i did talk to the recruter in my area and he basicly told me to fake it. i have induced asthma whitch means i have to be doing something in order to start weezing. its very hideable since most people can never tell i have it untill i start running where as at a easy pace i can keep going for about a 1 1/2 of a mile before i start to need my inhaler and even with that i can control it as long as i stay calm and dont push myself. this is why i dont understand why they dont screen people for asthma types instead of not letting them join. i have glasses to and i can tell you if they broke in combat i whould be just as screwd as if i had lost my inhaler in combat.

**Gun Grape** · 09 Jan 10, 20:21

Originally Posted by wellman

i did talk to the recruter in my area and he basicly told me to fake it.

Walk away from a recruiter that tells you to lie.

i have induced asthma whitch means i have to be doing something in order to start weezing. its very hideable since most people can never tell i have it untill i start running where as at a easy pace i can keep going for about a 1 1/2 of a mile before i start to need my inhaler and even with that i can control it as long as i stay calm and dont push myself.

Then you will never make it through basic. You will run longer and harder. They will push you.

Now imagine that you are on a run, they are pushing you to the point that you have a major attack. You don't have an inhaler. Your not going to sneak one into boot camp. And the combat lifesaver or medic (if you are lucky to have one present) doesn't have one either. Because there are no asthmatics present as far as they know.

You are setting yourself up to die. Is the National Guard worth that?

this is why i dont understand why they dont screen people for asthma types instead of not letting them join. i have glasses to and i can tell you if they broke in combat i whould be just as screwd as if i had lost my inhaler in combat.

Losing/breaking your glasses isn't going to kill you. And you get issued 2 pair, so you have a spare and the issued ones are extremely hard to break, so you wear your spare pair.

Lose your inhaler at 7 thousand feet, have an attack, chances are its a show stopper.

**RustyBattleship** · 09 Jan 10, 21:32

Originally Posted by wellman
i did talk to the recruter in my area and he basicly told me to fake it.

Posted by Gun Grape: Walk away from a recruiter that tells you to lie.

Well said. I was thinking up a similar answer to NOT GO TO A RECRUITER. His job is to get as many people to sign up as he can and if they are just able to walk in the door, they're his quota for the day.

Also, with the down-sizing of the standing Army, National Guardsmen and Army Reservists are being called up for active duty at a very rapid rate. And I don't think the mountain air in Afghanistan is very sympathetic to asthmatics.

**silentsam** · 09 Jan 10, 21:46

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

Run away from a recruiter that tells you to lie.

I know a Marine who took that advice when enlisting (different problem), which kept him from re-enlisting four years later. It is always best to tell the truth and roll the dice. Not everyone is meant to serve in the military. A lie will follow you forever.

**wellman** · 09 Jan 10, 22:35

you really think its going to be that bad if im aiming to be a armorer?

S2 · 09 Jan 10, 23:10

You've gotten superb advice from those who've truly been there and done that...to include leading troops in combat. You should listen to what's been said as it is absolutely spot on.

Nonetheless, if it's your bent to become an armorer come hell or high water, you'd best tell the whole truth when you enlist and assure that it's on your record as well as signed off by everybody that might be remotely involved.

You are misrepresenting yourself otherwise and I'm certain that's a crime.

Moreover, you have no say as to your specific duties. However, even as an armorer you could well find yourself in a forward operating base of 4,000 feet or higher and under both mortar attack and direct assault.

You MIGHT be fixing weapons during such but my guess is that you'll be needed at your assigned defense position. Failing to immediately do so because of an asthma attack, even if you've an inhaler handy, will endanger the lives of your fellow soldiers.

May that rest on your conscience should it go so far. I don't think you're worth the trouble myself and pray that you wash out of initial entry processing.

Thanks.

**dave lukins** · 10 Jan 10, 00:19

Originally Posted by wellman

you really think its going to be that bad if im aiming to be a armorer?

Yes..An armorer is a Soldier first then an expert. You are 17, you have lots of time to look beyond serving in the Military. Not wishing to sound the death knell on your dreams, but there comes a time in life when if the experts here tell you to re-direct your life in another life direction they are doing so with the best intentions.

**tankie** · 10 Jan 10, 17:11

Originally Posted by wellman

i did talk to the recruter in my area and he basicly told me to fake it. i have induced asthma whitch means i have to be doing something in order to start weezing. its very hideable since most people can never tell i have it untill i start running where as at a easy pace i can keep going for about a 1 1/2 of a mile before i start to need my inhaler and even with that i can control it as long as i stay calm and dont push myself. this is why i dont understand why they dont screen people for asthma types instead of not letting them join. i have glasses to and i can tell you if they broke in combat i whould be just as screwd as if i had lost my inhaler in combat.

Your recruiter in asshole , scenario, you are on patrol , the enemy are close by , you start an attack , your patrol gets wiped out because they found you during your wheezing fit ,dont even go there mate , try other work .

**wellman** · 10 Jan 10, 20:36

well im not going to join anyway now but i think you guys think that all people with asthma are the same. i dont get a attack because of stress i olny get problems with breathing is when im moveing around alot. i mean i have asthma but im still going to join the track team. i feel you guys dont have a good understanding of my condition.

**Gun Grape** · 10 Jan 10, 20:53

Originally Posted by wellman

well im not going to join anyway now but i think you guys think that all people with asthma are the same. i dont get a attack because of stress i olny get problems with breathing is when im moveing around alot. i mean i have asthma but im still going to join the track team. i feel you guys dont have a good understanding of my condition.

We know you don't have a good understanding of the military.

I don't care if you kill yourself because of your stupidity. I don't want you to kill other soldiers because of it.

**wellman** · 10 Jan 10, 21:06

well i guess im getting a better understanding now. oh well guess im just going to go into gunsmithing as a civilian now. i feel like i wasted my time now. spending all the days on commiting to memory all the guns the tanks and the aircraft just for it being useless now. theres just this big hole of nothing in my head not quite knowing what to do now.