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RAF, RN or army - asthma
I've read all over the net stories about it. I want to know for myself, and hopefully helping others, will my own circumstances hinder my chances?I have always had asthma, during the winter months when i get a common cold, my asthma can fairly affect my breathing. I have not been taken to hospital due to my asthma for well over 10 years, but i have got inhaelers up until months ago. as much as i'd love to, i know full well i will never be able to be aircrew. As for ANY ROLE AT ALL in either 3 of the services, preferably RAF, is there any chance i could get in? i know icould pass the physicals, and hopefully the interviews.
Please somebody tell me. I am going to the careers office on the weekend, but i want to be as perpared as i can, or not waste the bus fair :L
Thank you
Grant
P.S. I have also read about lying about it. Is this a myth or is it actualy possible to not mention this, and maybe declare it when im in or just keep quiet? once im in ive been told by ex raf that getting inhaelers in is no problem, but hopefully i will not need this at all unless i have a bad cold.
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Reply 1
The AFCO will advise you a lot better than a bunch of strangers on an internet forum will be able to regarding your asthma.
As for lying, don't even think about it. I don't care what you do in civvy street, but one of the key qualities needed by someone in the Forces is integrity.
As for lying, don't even think about it. I don't care what you do in civvy street, but one of the key qualities needed by someone in the Forces is integrity.
Reply 2
garthvador
P.S. I have also read about lying about it. Is this a myth or is it actualy possible to not mention this, and maybe declare it when im in or just keep quiet? once im in ive been told by ex raf that getting inhaelers in is no problem, but hopefully i will not need this at all unless i have a bad cold.
P.S. I have also read about lying about it. Is this a myth or is it actualy possible to not mention this, and maybe declare it when im in or just keep quiet? once im in ive been told by ex raf that getting inhaelers in is no problem, but hopefully i will not need this at all unless i have a bad cold.
No one on this forum can give you a definitive answer unless they are an RAF doctor as each case is specific.
DO NOT LIE If it is on your medical history (that will be checked) then you will get caught out. Do not however make yourself come across worse than you are. Just ask the question at the AFCO that you have suffered from asthma in the past and will this affect my application to join the RAF. Some ex astma sufferes get in some don't it may not be quite the answer you may want but I would rather be honest to you. Good luck. H&R84
The rules used to be fairly clear cut; symptom free for 4 years, or something like that, but any history at all means no flying.
As for lying, do you think they've made up a "no asthma" rule for no reason? They don't recruit people with asthma because it's dangerous! Having a condition like asthma simply isn't compatible with forces life and the sort of job you'd be doing. There's a lot of dust in Afghanistan and you're not likely to be able to guarantee you can stop and take a quick puff from an inhaler whenever you feel a bit poorly.
Also, you won't get away with it, as presumably you've been prescribed an inhaler by a doctor at some point. So lying about it's just a quick way to get your application thrown in the bin.
As for lying, do you think they've made up a "no asthma" rule for no reason? They don't recruit people with asthma because it's dangerous! Having a condition like asthma simply isn't compatible with forces life and the sort of job you'd be doing. There's a lot of dust in Afghanistan and you're not likely to be able to guarantee you can stop and take a quick puff from an inhaler whenever you feel a bit poorly.
Also, you won't get away with it, as presumably you've been prescribed an inhaler by a doctor at some point. So lying about it's just a quick way to get your application thrown in the bin.
Reply 4
Same for me. When I applied, I didn't want to lie so I mentioned that I rarely suffer from hayfever, but can be sorted with over the counter Benadryl. Straight away, temporarily unfit for aircrew, must be symptom free for 4 years....Good job I'm going for IntO and ABM!
Sounds like you've got asthma pretty bad, as mentioned the restriction is there for a reason. Ofcourse only a medical officer will give you a certain answer but you've mentioned you've been off inhalers for "months". If it's something you're definatly interested in doing you might have to wait out those four years symptom free.
Reply 6
thanks everybody, so lying is a deffo no no. I mean i wouldnt like to lie at all but if that was the only way i'd be prepared to. I will go down and just explain it to them but to be honest i know what they will say. And theres nothing else i can do even similar to military life.
Thanks everybody
Thanks everybody
Reply 7
garthvador
I mean i wouldnt like to lie at all but if that was the only way i'd be prepared to.
No. Just no. The armed forces need trust and loyalty. You shouldn't lie to get in. You could put yourself or others at risk because of it. If you lie, you WILL get found out eventually. I'm afraid you may just have to come to terms with it if the news doesn't go your way, but I hope it's good news and that there may be an opportunity for you.
Reply 8
Owen27
No. Just no. The armed forces need trust and loyalty. You shouldn't lie to get in. You could put yourself or others at risk because of it. If you lie, you WILL get found out eventually. I'm afraid you may just have to come to terms with it if the news doesn't go your way, but I hope it's good news and that there may be an opportunity for you.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
You'll put yourself at risk, and much, much worse than that, you'll put your mates at risk - and that is unacceptable.
Go and see the AFCO people and ask them the question properly. They will give you the official answer and you can take things from there.
If you really think you will like service life but cant get in the regular forces, how about joining one of the cadet forces as an adult instructor. I know it isnt the same, but you have strong links with the regualr forces and get to do a really worthwhile part time activity helping young people.
If you really think you will like service life but cant get in the regular forces, how about joining one of the cadet forces as an adult instructor. I know it isnt the same, but you have strong links with the regualr forces and get to do a really worthwhile part time activity helping young people.
Reply 10
garthvador
thanks everybody, so lying is a deffo no no. I mean i wouldnt like to lie at all but if that was the only way i'd be prepared to. I will go down and just explain it to them but to be honest i know what they will say. And theres nothing else i can do even similar to military life.
Thanks everybody
Thanks everybody
Iknow this isn't quite what you had in mind but what about the RAFAux or the TA The requirements can sometimes be lower
Reply 11
Yes. The people here are right.
You MUST be 4 years free of the symptoms of asthma: cough, wheeze, chest tightening etc. And you must also be 4 years free of prescribed inhalers to be considered in the first place or you will fail the medical immediately.
When you say you had inhalers up until a few months ago, sadly that is not good enough for them.
What happens when you do phys training on a cold winters day and you start to struggle? (would you) They would pick it up and discharge you immediately when they discover asthma. Lying can get you discharged for "fraudulent application" which is a potential court case for the MOD. HOWEVER you have said that you won't lie - and that's the right choice.
ALTHOUGH - If you have your heart set on the forces, and your asthma is only really triggered by colds/chest infections/maybe a petty allergy and not exercise then the 4 years free rule provides a "loophole" of sorts. And then it is surely worth giving it your best shot.
Here's my advice on what I would do, take it or leave it:
1. edited
2. Go through the application process for your desired job in the forces and you will hopfully get as far as the medical.
3. At the medical you can declare how you have been free of asthma symptoms (if you have of course) and your medical records will also prove that you have not needed a prescription for 4 years - so from that you would be OK. to continue to the next stage.
BUT two things are likely to happen if you say this. It is possible that they will send a letter to your GP to get you to do a months peak flow chart at your local practice and if you pass this they might still send you for a Lung function test at an MOD hospital as they do this with all applicants who claim to be free of asthma after having it before.
If you are clear for 4 years you will be (at least) able follow this process you can say you gave it your best shot. If you pass the peak flow and Lung function test, then you would be medically clear of asthma enough for them to pass you onto training.
I wish you the best of luck and I only hope you asthma is not serious and that you can at least say to yourself that you gave it your best shot and that you did it in the LEGAL way!
You MUST be 4 years free of the symptoms of asthma: cough, wheeze, chest tightening etc. And you must also be 4 years free of prescribed inhalers to be considered in the first place or you will fail the medical immediately.
When you say you had inhalers up until a few months ago, sadly that is not good enough for them.
What happens when you do phys training on a cold winters day and you start to struggle? (would you) They would pick it up and discharge you immediately when they discover asthma. Lying can get you discharged for "fraudulent application" which is a potential court case for the MOD. HOWEVER you have said that you won't lie - and that's the right choice.
ALTHOUGH - If you have your heart set on the forces, and your asthma is only really triggered by colds/chest infections/maybe a petty allergy and not exercise then the 4 years free rule provides a "loophole" of sorts. And then it is surely worth giving it your best shot.
Here's my advice on what I would do, take it or leave it:
1. edited
2. Go through the application process for your desired job in the forces and you will hopfully get as far as the medical.
3. At the medical you can declare how you have been free of asthma symptoms (if you have of course) and your medical records will also prove that you have not needed a prescription for 4 years - so from that you would be OK. to continue to the next stage.
BUT two things are likely to happen if you say this. It is possible that they will send a letter to your GP to get you to do a months peak flow chart at your local practice and if you pass this they might still send you for a Lung function test at an MOD hospital as they do this with all applicants who claim to be free of asthma after having it before.
If you are clear for 4 years you will be (at least) able follow this process you can say you gave it your best shot. If you pass the peak flow and Lung function test, then you would be medically clear of asthma enough for them to pass you onto training.
I wish you the best of luck and I only hope you asthma is not serious and that you can at least say to yourself that you gave it your best shot and that you did it in the LEGAL way!
ColonelStrong
Do LOTS of running and swimming and start to learn NOT to depend on inhalers and build up your lung fucntion. Throw those inhalers away!
Do LOTS of running and swimming and start to learn NOT to depend on inhalers and build up your lung fucntion. Throw those inhalers away!
Dot not do this, if you have serious asthma, like it sounds that you have (Hospital visits) this will not help and will only make things worse. If you have those inhalers and feel that you need to take them, then do so.
Swimming is a great sport for improving your lungs and controlling breathing. There are also "Powerbreathe" type products which improve your lung strength and reduce breathlessness - although I have never seen one or know anyone in person who has tried it.
Reply 13
ColonelStrong
some potentially iffy stuff
Are you qualified to give medical advice - especially like that? I'd think not.
Reply 14
I got all the way to the selection process of the army to find out i couldnt join due to having a lazy eye. It doesnt effect my sight unless i cover up my good eye and then i can still see just not read to well.
I pretty much got dropped of at the train station and that was the end of that. The point is the job i applied for was in IT and nothing to do with firing guns and being on the front line the only time i'd need to fire a gun would most likley be during training. It seems rather silly that they let me get all the way to edinburgh when they could of just told me in the office back near my home. My problem is glasses/contacts or even laser eye surgery cannot correct it
I think they are fairly strict on health, heart murmors are a definate no no. If i remember rightly they don't approve of asthma either but i gues all you could do is ring up and ask?
I pretty much got dropped of at the train station and that was the end of that. The point is the job i applied for was in IT and nothing to do with firing guns and being on the front line the only time i'd need to fire a gun would most likley be during training. It seems rather silly that they let me get all the way to edinburgh when they could of just told me in the office back near my home. My problem is glasses/contacts or even laser eye surgery cannot correct it
I think they are fairly strict on health, heart murmors are a definate no no. If i remember rightly they don't approve of asthma either but i gues all you could do is ring up and ask?
jon33
Dot not do this, if you have serious asthma, like it sounds that you have (Hospital visits) this will not help and will only make things worse. If you have those inhalers and feel that you need to take them, then do so.
Indeed. Nobody (unless they're a doctor) should advise anyone to throw away their inhalers. They're prescribed for a reason, and not taking them will not make your body stronger to fight the asthma itself, it makes you more susceptible to exacerbations. I'm afraid I don't know much about exercise recommendations, and obviously keeping (very) fit is important, but don't do anything that might push you too far.
OP, it is possible you may grow out of it, and if you genuinely no longer need your inhalers (and have discussed it with your GP) it might be that you're on the road to getting past it. But don't take risks for the sake of trying to get into the forces - the consequences are really not worth it.
Reply 16
So there we have it - sensible advice from a medical student to counter the iffy advice given earlier.
Reply 17
OK. In retrospect it was perhaps iffy advice. I did said take it or leave it. And of course I'm no doctor. Never said I was. The Medical Officer would be the one to decide and would inevitably has to see one either way.
What I said in points 1-3 was what I though sound and legal advice about joining if the guy had his heart set on it. He would not pass if he did have bad asthma and from what I gather he has asthma that appears when he has an illness. He never gave a full picture, and so I never said "DO THIS FOR SURE. YOU ARE LIKE THIS SO DO THIS" etc.
I tried, and admittedly, perhaps failed to make it clear that I am unaware of his circumstances.
I'm sure he wouldnt train himself into a deadly attack. He has asthma, knows it and is obviosuly going to be able to tell when enough is enough.
In fact I wonder why mods allow threads like this to exist then. Ones where medical advice is perhaps the only way. I agree that it is in this case. You can't take liberties with things like asthma and no one here is qualified to give a definitive and SAFE answer right?
So why don't you mods post a responsible response and then lock the thread? Would that not be more logical and get the point across?
In fact, I am tempted to mail the staff at TSR to get the point across myself.
What I said in points 1-3 was what I though sound and legal advice about joining if the guy had his heart set on it. He would not pass if he did have bad asthma and from what I gather he has asthma that appears when he has an illness. He never gave a full picture, and so I never said "DO THIS FOR SURE. YOU ARE LIKE THIS SO DO THIS" etc.
I tried, and admittedly, perhaps failed to make it clear that I am unaware of his circumstances.
I'm sure he wouldnt train himself into a deadly attack. He has asthma, knows it and is obviosuly going to be able to tell when enough is enough.
In fact I wonder why mods allow threads like this to exist then. Ones where medical advice is perhaps the only way. I agree that it is in this case. You can't take liberties with things like asthma and no one here is qualified to give a definitive and SAFE answer right?
So why don't you mods post a responsible response and then lock the thread? Would that not be more logical and get the point across?
In fact, I am tempted to mail the staff at TSR to get the point across myself.
Reply 19
Drama in the Armed Forces forum :O
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