Can we serve in the Military after gastric bypass?

I hope I didn't offend anyone by saying that, I'm just basing what I say on my Grandfather having served on a ship during WWII and the hundreds of Navy men and women I have spoken to over the years serving as a customer service agent, as they have to call my department every time their room number changes on base, or if they move off base, so I speak to a lot of them. Since my Grandfather passed over 2 years ago I will be the first to admit that I am not directly related to anyone, or anything, having to do with any branch of the Military and that my limited information is mostly just my opinions, so again, I hope I didn't offend anyone.

Thank you,

Hey Lindsay,

I didn't take it as bashing. A lot of people just don't realize that there is a heavy Navy presence in this desert environment.

We have every branch represented over here: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard...if they are in uniform chances are they are represented on these camps.

I WANT TO JOIN THE MILITARY AS WELL AND WHEN I POSTED THIS QUESTION A FEW MONTHS BACK I WAS GIVEN SOOO MANY ANSWERS.  BUT I RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM A FEW WOMEN THAT SAY THEY WERE ABLE TO ENLIST IN THE MILITARY...NO PROBLEM.  BASICALLY BECAUSE THE MILITARY IS A "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.  ONE LADY STATED (RNY) THAT SHE JOINED THE AIR FORCE 3 YEARS POST-OP AND HAS BEEN IN FOR A WHILE WITH NO PROBLEMS.  SHE JUST MADE SURE SHE DID WHAT SHE HAD TO DO TO REMAIN HEALTHY.  I HAVE SINCE TALKED TO THE RECRUITER AND HE HASN'T ASKED ABOUT ANY MAJOR SURGERIES AND SO I DIDN'T DIVULGE THAT INFO.    I SIMPLY TOLD HIM THAT I HAD A FEW MORE POUNDS TO LOSE AND I WOULD RETURN WHEN I REACHED MY GOAL.  HE CALLS ME EVERY SO OFTEN TO CHECK ON ME AND MAKE SURE I AM LOSING THE WEIGHT SAFELY.   OUR ONLY CHALLENGE IS EXPLAING THE SURGERY SCARS WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE MEPS!!!  ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I HAVE BEEN USING COCOA BUTTER TO GET RID OF THEM.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY

BE BLESSED

no offense but I find not telling them about your surgery quite dishonest and unsafe...not only for you but for those that will be stationed with you.

 a girl I know on a military spouse board swears up and down that she has enlisted and will be in bct soon.  she said she had GB in June. 

I could not imagine being forced to eat an MRE (and if you have yet to try one, please do) after this surgery.  hubby would bring them home once in a while just for kicks. 

rules are in place for a reason.  I really hope that those that skirt them do not do damage to themselves.

I think 2-3+ years after surgery it isnt unsafe anymore. IMO
And not telling them about GBS is just as dishonest as their "don't ask, don't tell" policy about being homosexual.
I personally can eat anything, perhaps I have an iron pouch. Let's let everyone make their own decisions and not look down on them for wanting to serve their country .. who cares if they have to leave out a couple details.. They could be put on the front line of war for all we know.

my husband is career military.  I understand being put on the front line of war.  but I'd most definately be more comfortable with him being on the front lines with those that have no real chance of bad reaction to what they eat.

the don't ask don't tell policy does not apply to surgical procedures barred by the military.  if it were, then I'd have to agree with you. 

serving your country is one thing...doing it dishonestly and dangerously is another.

Nope. You can never join. That?s why I dropped the option.

I never would have believed it (it just never would have occurred to me) pre-op.  BUT, I have actually seem someone on here say that they were denied entrance into the military because they had WLS.  So it seems that that is true.  (No, I don't remember who it was.  But I am POSITIVE that I saw someone here on OH say they were denied because of WLS.  So I believe it now.)

Good luck! 

Wen