Help!!! (flat feet)

[Bob1234]

I've got flat feet and I hear this can keep me out of the military, is this true?
What about law enforcement??
Anybody?

Please Help!

Thanks
Bob

[DelC]

Originally posted by Bob1234
I've got flat feet and I hear this can keep me out of the military, I don’t think that applies anymore to the military. I know it don’t apply to LE.

[HAVEGUNWILLTRVL]

Bob,


Thats a new one. I have never heard of anyone being dq'd for flat feet in the Army anyway. I will have to check my regs on that. I will let you know. Who told you that anyway? Was it a Recruiter? Let me know.

Ski

[UN_Cop]

You can always trust your recruiter.........hahahahahahahahahah

[Bob1234]

Well, before the start of the Korean war my granfather tried to get in the Air Force and was turned down because he had flat feet.
Now every time I talk about joining the military my family brings that up and I start getting worried.


Thanks
Bob

[Dave710]

I suggest you ask Roscoe! He used to recruit so I am pretty sure he knows. He responded to a similar post a long time ago.

[krellum]

I think that was a disqualifier in the "old" military, where many of the jobs had to do with marching. Obviously, you can probably have flat feet nowadays since there are so many different specialties other than infantry. Not sure how it applies to LE.

k

[parcellspost]

I don't know about flat feet but I know bunnions are a DQ.
I would talk to the recruiters. Even it they are, you can usually get some kind of waiver. They have waivers for everything.
Good luck
Lance

[Birky]

Well I have some of the flattest feet around and I was in the Army and the Coast Guard. So no it is not an auto DQ anymore.

[RoscoeRuhl]

The medical standards for military service are the same for all branches, active and reserve. About 17 years ago, the national guard wasn't required to use the MEPS physical and people were medically screed by a hometown doctor. As far as flat feet are concerned, there have been people disqualified from military service. The key is that the majority of people disqualify themselves by making admission to problems they don't have. If you've been diagnosed by a physician with a problem, you're going to probably be temporarily disqualified until you have a medical consultation with a specialist. After the consultation, a decision will be made regarding suitability for service. If you want into the service, get documentation from the doctor making the diagnosis that describes the condition, treatment and prognosis for the future, as well as suitability for the military. Believe me, there are some really strange and unique reasons for being disqualified from military service, none of which you would ever think would be a problem.

Have a great day!

[TTRAIN222]

Well I believe I could a little light on this subject...
I don't know which branch you are looking to go into, but my brother was DQ for flat feet by the Air Force and the Navy.
He wanted more than anything to go into the Air Force after he graduated high school. He had a triple arthidesis (operation that gives some arch to the foot) done on his right foot. He still knew that the flat feet would be a problem. So before he graduated and before he went to MEPS he documented his daily activities:
1. He played basketball for his high school.
2. He wore black combat boots everyday to school for 2 months (witnessed and documented by a teacher who was also a 1LT for Army NG reserve)
3. Letter by his PCP (Primary Care Physican) stating that he would be able withstand activitites like anyone else.

He then:
-He went to MEPS and was DQ'd by a specialist
-Contacted a distant relative who is active Air Force (not sure but O-3 or O-4, I think) who contacted a General ? (not exactly sure who but was supposed to be someone who could get a waiver)
-Obtained documentation from his orthopedic doctor (who was a prior Army doctor and performed foot surgeries around the world) who stated that he would have no problem with his feet in the military.
-Air Force would not change the DQ status
-Tried with the Navy with above documentation (Navy recruiter thought he would be able to get in) and was denied

I'm not saying that you should give anything up because you won't know for sure unless you try. It is all up to the doctors that see you. If it is your dream to go into the military, by all means go for it! But be prepared if everything doesn't work out because I remember my brother was bummed for a while after he was DQ'd.

Best Wishes,
Steve

[OCRegister]

I have flat feet and I served 2 terms: 1983-89 and 1990-97, USAF Reserve. I don't think you'll have a problem.