Do YOU want to Enlist but b/c of WLS you can't?

Hi all.  I asked a question yesterday about joing the Army and got an array of responses.  All of which were GREAT!  I DID talk to a recruiter for the Army National Guard Friday Morning and was finally given the news this afternoon about noon.  At first I was upset, then I was MAD and now I am LIVID!!!!  I know at least 3 of the posters on my previous thread expressed an interest in enlisting in whatever branch.  Me the Army because of age.  And I researched the Army Medical Standards which were last updated FEB of 2005 and it was thrown in as an afterthought!   I know there are many who believe that I am on some kind of "special" diet and that this would in some way hinder me.  BUT I AM NOT!  I am 3 yrs post op, at my goal weight and aside from issues with gall bladder in the 1st 30 days out I have had no major issues.  One poster on previous thread stated that if you are in and have it its ok, because you are already trained and have all of that under your belt and the military does not want to spend money to train us "IN CASE".  Well I am not BUYING that BS.  EVERY individual that joins is a risk.  EVERY ONE!!!  Whether a flight risk, a injury or some one looses it, there are always risks.  Every employer including the military goes through this.  Spending time and money to train individuals who may or may not make the cut.  I am pissed that some entity that has not a clue of what I can do is not at least willing to talk to me and hear what I have to say.  Especially when the recruit #'s are so low.  When every person willing and able should be given the oppurtunity to serve thier Country! I am willing to walk away from my job, my husband, my comfortable life and DEFEND this GREAT NATION and I am really ticked that I, because I made a decision to take control of my weight and my life 3 yrs ago, albiet considered drastic, now I can't do WHAT I wanted to do 21 yrs ago but was too Overweight to do!  Would they have let me join at 330lbs, well HELL NO!  But now I have a smaller damn stomach and I can't.  My basic comment is this! IF YOU COULD GET A WAIVER WOULD YOU JOIN!   RIGHT NOW!!??   I ask because, BY GOD I am not taking this laying DOWN!  I want to fight beside my Country MEN and WOMEN for my COUNTRY and I am willing to put a little Bee in the Big Militaries Bonnet to do SO!  Would you do it too?   On my previous thread a responder stated the increase in militaries medical waivers would cover say an old Knee Surgery!  HMMMM!  Interestingly enough, my "little" Stomach would not suddenly give out on me if running in BCT or AIT or in the Sand, or mountains or out the door for Gods sake.  I am pissed that they can take THAT RISK but not one on ME!   I have this special diet,that is very damn laughable, let's see............................. I ate scrambled eggs and toast this morning with coffee, then for lunch I had Chinese, a little of several items!  and for dinner taco salad.  Damn I am alot more different then all the non WLS's out there huh!  Oh yeah, I had some Ritz crackers, 5 to be exact for a mid afternoon snack.  DAMN ME for being so different!  Oops I forgot I had Unsweet tea all day too!  If you are interested in stirring up enough of a voice to maybe get the Disqualifier changed, or given a case by case review, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me.  I have several friends already on it!  I am gonna get a MEPS Dr to review my case and I am gonna get someone to sit up and take notice that just BECAUSE I don't eat as much as they do, that I can STILL FIGHT FOR MY COUNTRY!!!! I am not a QUITER, never have BEEN and I am not about to START NOW!  If you are serious and want to make the BEE bigger and stronger PLEASE contact me.  First I am teased and discriminated on because I was Obese and NOW because I did something about IT I am being discrimated against.  Military does not want to spend money to train me in case, well last damn time I checked EVERY working individual was footing the bill and I want my small portion put to work for ME! I appreciate all responses but please contact me personally if you feel the same.  One person can't change much but 2+ can damn sure get them to take notice! Thanks for listening, reading and supporting!   Angie ps.  I posted this exact post on the main message board but I know not everyone visits there.  I am in Meridian. MS

Hi Angie, I think it's totally ridiculous.  I thought they wanted MORE men and women to defend this great land of ours!  My brother enlisted during the Viet Nam conflict and his heart and other organs are not in correct places in his body - NO KIDDING - but.........they GLADLY took him - now maybe that could have been a risk - sigh - I'm 52 with 4 kids under 11 and I get enough action, but I admire you for wanting to defend us - Good Luck~~~ Lori

Lori,  I appreciate your support!  My thought exactly!   I would think there would have been a risk for your brother.  Pretty high I would think.  And you are right about your action!  May God BLESS the MOTHERS!   Thank you again for your support! Angie

AngieMS, I understand your flustration with the Army.  I am prior military myself.  So I served this great country of ours.  I presently work for the Army as a civilian now.  But please understand the Armies point of view.  The military like many other people and organizations don't understand WLS.  Many people I talk to think if I get punched or kicked in the stomach I will break or something.  Many people who have the surgery don't understand what they have.  I read posts all the time from people making statements that just don't make sense for someone who have WLS.  So how do you expect people who never had WLS to understand?  I know I didn't.  And before I started gaining lots of weight, didn't care.

You are correct that everyone joins the Army is a risk.  But the Army takes less risks as possible.  They want their people as young and healthy as possible.  That mean NO prior medical problems such as weight issues.  Because unlike every other employer who can just fire you or lay you off, the military can't do that.  And unlike every other employer, the Army will have to pay you for the rest of your life for ANY illness you occur while in the service.  If you get cancer on your civilian job and can't work, you get unemployment for a few months, a "Get better card", and best wishes.  That's all they are obligated to do.  Your employer don't have to pay you one dollar more.  If you get Cancer in the military, they will have to pay you up to $6000 a month for the rest of your life.  Not including free medical care.  If you get diabetes, hypertension, stress, or any other illness you can think of while serving, you will get disability for the rest of your life for that illness from the VA.  Even if you have a family history of those Illnesses.   You can join the military.  Then while in for a few months you gain 30 pounds.  And from the weight gain you get type 2 diabetes.  The army must pay you disability for the type 2 diabetes even if it from your weight gain.  Because you didn't have it when you first joined.   It's NO other employer who do that.   It's many ways to serve your country.  You don't have to join the military to serve your country.  Some people think by putting stickers or waving a flag mean they are doing their part.  It isn't.  Making sure our elected officals are doing right by our soldiers is doing your part.  Making sure ALL of our soldiers get proper medical care and have jobs when they return wounded from combat is doing your part.  Not forgetting what they are doing for you is doing your part.   Maybe one day the military will let people who had WLS join.  But first we must educated the general public about WLS.  Just the heat Star Jones got from WLS show that we have a long ways to go.  Some people think by having WLS you cheated or something.  That is the stupidess thing I ever heard.  Until the general public view on WLS change, the military view won't change either.