Several Questions

[Anonymous]

I would like to join the Navy next year after I graduate, but I have a few problems that may keep me from joining. First of all I'd like to either go into one of these two fields: Bioweapons, or Linguistics. Recently I just found out I was positive to genital herpes. I'm also 5'2"-5'3" and I weigh between 160-178, I fluctuate. But I'm concentrating on losing it this year, I have already begun. So if any of you could please help me out with that I'd be greatly apprecitative. Thank You. Betsy

[Anonymous]

: I would like to join the Navy next year after I graduate, but I have a few
: problems that may keep me from joining. First of all I'd like to either go
: into one of these two fields: Bioweapons, or Linguistics. Recently I just
: found out I was positive to genital herpes. I'm also 5'2"-5'3"
: and I weigh between 160-178, I fluctuate. But I'm concentrating on losing
: it this year, I have already begun. So if any of you could please help me
: out with that I'd be greatly apprecitative. Thank You. Betsy


First of all, you will HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT to comply with requirements. Two, Unless you are having a outbreak during your MEPS / Physical , I do not see why they would find out. Since, I can only recall the doctor doing a visual vaginal exam on me ( mid 80's).

However, I would suggest that you take care of your PERSONAL medical problems away from the base if you can help it. Find a clinic at a low cost once you get to your duty station. Cause' some medics(you can believe that "ethics madness if you choose) are so nosy that they often read your medical file for the juicy stuff upon your arrival and you can not trust em' to keep such "Pertinent" information quiet. I had a friend that went through that ( a medic/guy that was working medical told her boyfriend about a previous STD. Good Luck and lie your behind off ! and if you get caught ..PLAY DUMB.

[Anonymous]

Hi, Betsy~ I agree and disagree with Tia. She's absolutely right about the weight; you need to lose it. You're not too much over, though. It's certainly doable.

Unfortunately, she's also right that there are sometimes less than ethical HMs who give the hundreds of very ethical ones a bad name. Of course, it only takes one to cause you grief. They can get in a LOT of trouble for disclosing anything in someone's medical record if caught; if you even suspect an HM is doing something like that you should let their Chief and/or the Doc know right away. It's WAAAAYYYY against the rules.... but it does happen sometimes, and I don't believe in glossing over "what is" with "what ought to be". BUT..... I think it would be irresponsible to hide any existing medical condition, particularly one that is lifelong and can be contagious. I also think it's a bad idea to start off in the military with an untruth hanging over your head; we make a lot of difficult choices, and even if we question whether or not we made the right one, we should have solid enough integrity to believe we TRIED to make the right one, and that we were honest. I know that sounds idealistic, but give it a little thought. Finally, if you've got it in your medical record, it will be much easier for you to go see the doc to get your medicine should you have an outbreak, don't ya think?

Herpes isn't cause to keep you out of the military. I know lots of people who have it. Lying, however, could be cause to keep you out of the linguistic field, where you require a high-level security clearance.

Best, Warrant

P.S. Tia, I hope I haven't left the impression that I'm slamming you. I'm not questioning YOUR integrity, as you're not saying you were dishonest. And I'm not questioning the motives for your advice; it's quite apparent you're sincerely interested in Betsy's interests and well-being, which is an invaluable quality that not enough people have. I simply disagree with your advice.



tracy_liz@geocities.com

[Anonymous]

: Hi, Betsy~ I agree and disagree with Tia. She's absolutely right about the
: weight; you need to lose it. You're not too much over, though. It's
: certainly doable.
:
: Unfortunately, she's also right that there are sometimes less than ethical
: HMs who give the hundreds of very ethical ones a bad name. Of course, it
: only takes one to cause you grief. They can get in a LOT of trouble for
: disclosing anything in someone's medical record if caught; if you even
: suspect an HM is doing something like that you should let their Chief
: and/or the Doc know right away. It's WAAAAYYYY against the rules.... but
: it does happen sometimes, and I don't believe in glossing over "what
: is" with "what ought to be". BUT..... I think it would be
: irresponsible to hide any existing medical condition, particularly one
: that is lifelong and can be contagious. I also think it's a bad idea to
: start off in the military with an untruth hanging over your head; we make
: a lot of difficult choices, and even if we question whether or not we made
: the right one, we should have solid enough integrity to believe we TRIED
: to make the right one, and that we were honest. I know that sounds
: idealistic, but give it a little thought. Finally, if you've got it in
: your medical record, it will be much easier for you to go see the doc to
: get your medicine should you have an outbreak, don't ya think?
:
: Herpes isn't cause to keep you out of the military. I know lots of people who
: have it. Lying, however, could be cause to keep you out of the linguistic
: field, where you require a high-level security clearance.
:
: Best, Warrant
:
: P.S. Tia, I hope I haven't left the impression that I'm slamming you. I'm not
: questioning YOUR integrity, as you're not saying you were dishonest. And
: I'm not questioning the motives for your advice; it's quite apparent
: you're sincerely interested in Betsy's interests and well-being, which is
: an invaluable quality that not enough people have. I simply disagree with
: your advice. Warrant, I did not take it personal at all. She has been given several opinions (well needed ) Hopefully, she can take a little information from the both of us and others. I agree to a certain degree about integrity. I forgot about the security clearance(glad you caught it) I quess that why you were the warrant and I was the Petty Officer !(hee-hee)- However, I did not expect her to be dishonest to her romance partner. There is an old saying ,"You can do anything that you want to in life as long as you are willing to accept the consequences." Therefore, I feel, whatever path she chooses she will have to accept the conseqences, Regardless. Good Luck to Betsy!!!

[Anonymous]

: I would like to join the Navy next year after I graduate, but I have a few
: problems that may keep me from joining. First of all I'd like to either go
: into one of these two fields: Bioweapons, or Linguistics. Recently I just
: found out I was positive to genital herpes. I'm also 5'2"-5'3"
: and I weigh between 160-178, I fluctuate. But I'm concentrating on losing
: it this year, I have already begun. So if any of you could please help me
: out with that I'd be greatly apprecitative. Thank You. Betsy Hi, and I read the previous responses and was shocked by what they said. First of all yes you have to lose weight/for your weight and hit bracket you have to weigh 152 to 155 to join. Your body fat is 33% for females..so you know that. Herpes simplex--you can join the Navy with/you do not have to lie(wether you tell the recruiter or not is up to you) he or she doens't need to know, but they will find out at meps so it doesn't matter--as long as you take meds for it i.e...Aclivor or others--that is not a problem, one girl just joined with herpes simplex and was here at boot--she just had to take meds for it..so don't worry about that or try to hide it--alot of people in the military have it, it is no big deal, and if you listen to what the other person mentioned about going out in town--why!!!?? You want to pay for the medical when the Navy can treat it for free?? Well, good luck and don't worry about the Herpes it is not disqualifying anymore just AIds is take care and good luck again bye!!


Jaskris@ameritech.net

[Anonymous]

Hi, Krista~

I don't know what you're shocked about. In case you didn't notice, our responses agreed. If you're shocked about the possibility of an HM who would disclose information from a medical record.... well, yes, I can understand why you feel that way, but remember there are good and bad people in all professions. As I stated in my first response, it only takes one. That is, however, no reason to hide any medical condition, *particularly* ones that are contagious.

BTW... You're mistaken about AIDS. An HIV positive person can not join the Navy. If they're a new recruit and found to be HIV positive, they'll be discharged. If they're already on active duty, they'll be retained on active duty but will not be deployable.

Take care, Warrant.

tracy_liz@geocities.com

[Anonymous]

: Hi, Krista~
:
: I don't know what you're shocked about. In case you didn't notice, our
: responses agreed. If you're shocked about the possibility of an HM who
: would disclose information from a medical record.... well, yes, I can
: understand why you feel that way, but remember there are good and bad
: people in all professions. As I stated in my first response, it only takes
: one. That is, however, no reason to hide any medical condition,
: *particularly* ones that are contagious.
:
: BTW... You're mistaken about AIDS. An HIV positive person can not join the
: Navy. If they're a new recruit and found to be HIV positive, they'll be
: discharged. If they're already on active duty, they'll be retained on
: active duty but will not be deployable.
:
: Take care, Warrant. Warrant, I just wanted to point out that Krista said HIV is disqualifying. She stated that in an unclear way, but you both said the same thing. Melissa

[Anonymous]

Roger that!

Thanks for the catch.



tracy_liz@geocities.com