Hey Everyone

[Soulrev]

I'm doing ok. Just wanted to check in. Fort polk still sucks like usual. I'm just getting ready for deployment. That is, if I make it there. I have asthma and I didn't know about it until I came into the Army. I started running in the Army and they diagnosed me with an asthma condition that has a physical trigger. So basically I run a mile or two and I start having an asthma attack. Well today my First Sergeant was telling me he's trying to get me out of the army due to my condition. In a way I can understand that as to the fact that we're deploying in November and he doesn't want to see me get killed because I can't run.. Or something. I don't know. It's fucked up though. I didn't see myself getting a medical discharge for something like this. I mean I didn't even know I had asthma. My sister has the same kind of asthma, too. But yeah I don't know what to think about that. I hope he was just saying that just to say it. I don't really want to leave the army. I'm having a pretty good time and I'm probably in the best position I've been in my entire life. I guess we'll see what happens.

Anyhow, I'm still waiting to take my TDY to come home to get my stuff and my wife. But you know.. If I do get discharged for this bs, I guess I'd be ok with that. I mean I don't REALLY want to go to Iraq. I will if I have to and I will do what I have to do, but I don't want to jump up out of my seat to go there. Getting married changed my life. And even though I haven't reached my 1 month anniversary of being married yet, I've still had a lot of time to think while I'm here at wonderful Fort Polk, with nothing but my phone, my PSP, and my MP3 player. To be honest, if I got a discharge, I think I would be fine with that. I will just proceed with my life like anyone else does. I'm sure I can go to college and make something of myself with some hard work. And the time I've spent with the Army so far has already given me a lot of discipline and understanding of life in general.

Who knows. We'll see what happens. I hope the first sergeant was just talking shit. I do like it here. But then again I don't. You know? I mean a part of me wants to stay and a part wants to go. I kind of want to take what I've learned and what I've gained here and apply it in the civilian world as a normal person. Not just a soldier. But then again I really like how the Army works.. I mean it really is the best thing I've ever done with my life and I don't know if I'm ready to leave it yet. I've just gotten started for shit sakes. Damn.

Well, I'm still not positive when I will be coming home to get my shit but when I know I'll let you guys know. Anyway, thanks for your support and take care everyone. Hope to see you at CC soon!

-B

[Rayne]

Just be careful.

I was married to a guy that hurt his knee really bad in BCT. He spent 9 weeks in FTU while it healed. It didn't heal like they wanted it to, so they told him they were giving him a medical discharge and all future medical bills would be covered due to this injury, but when he got home with his DD-214, it was actually an uncharacterized discharge and it waived all right to the military's responsibility for his injury. He still has problems with it but he has no medical insurance and even if he did -- it's a pre-existing medical condition most insurances don't cover.

He got screwed big time.

[Onyx]

I don't know much about the army, but seems like if you really had your heart set on staying in, they could find *something* for you to do, maybe a non-combat position that doesn't involve running?

I bet some here on DGN with military experience can tell you what's up.

[odims_sphere]

I don't know much about the army, but seems like if you really had your heart set on staying in, they could find *something* for you to do, maybe a non-combat position that doesn't involve running?

I bet some here on DGN with military experience can tell you what's up.

unfortunatly it's not as easy as changing jobs. The millitary is designed so that any soldier at any time, or whats known as, "for the good of the army", can be moved in to any position. Which is why all soldiers have to maintain the same standards. Wheather he says in or not is ultimatly going to be up to the severity of the condition. generally though the "unoffical" standard is that if you can't complete the PT test , (which is a two mile run), without an attack you are out...

[Homicidalheathen]

That sucks. I am sorry about this happening to you. My kid has asthma. Carrying an inhailer is not an option I guess? Cause they work right away.