British Army Medical - any experts on here?
Discussion
Hi
My 21yo son has just been rejected from joining the BA on medical grounds. It relates to use of a nebuliser for his asthma when he was 13 plus a case of scleritis when he was 16.
On the former he has been medically clear of asthma for over 5 years now; runs 10km runs weekly amongst other fitness stuff; and on the latter he didnt even know that he had been diagnosed with it let alone have any impact on his life ( i.e no medication prescribed or taken and the flare up went away within days).
Therefore he wants to appeal the decision.
If there is anyone on here who can provide some help, guidance or inside track on this I would be very grateful. It's all my lad has wanted to do since he could remember.
The irony is that he applied for Officer Training passed the medical and got through to the last stage of selection before deciding that he would prefer to join as a squaddie!! The reason for this was that he really didnt like the desk based stuff that came with rank...
Please feel free to PM me if you would prefer.
Many thanks
My 21yo son has just been rejected from joining the BA on medical grounds. It relates to use of a nebuliser for his asthma when he was 13 plus a case of scleritis when he was 16.
On the former he has been medically clear of asthma for over 5 years now; runs 10km runs weekly amongst other fitness stuff; and on the latter he didnt even know that he had been diagnosed with it let alone have any impact on his life ( i.e no medication prescribed or taken and the flare up went away within days).
Therefore he wants to appeal the decision.
If there is anyone on here who can provide some help, guidance or inside track on this I would be very grateful. It's all my lad has wanted to do since he could remember.
The irony is that he applied for Officer Training passed the medical and got through to the last stage of selection before deciding that he would prefer to join as a squaddie!! The reason for this was that he really didnt like the desk based stuff that came with rank...
Please feel free to PM me if you would prefer.
Many thanks
Thanks for this. I have passed it on. 
They have quoted some regs at him...
"JSP 950 Part 1 Lft 6-7-7 - RESPIRATORY PRE-ENTRY ANNEX D - 4D. 5c
Candidates with a recorded history of asthma, with the following features, would be normally graded P8.
c. Those who have required more than one nebulisation since the age of 5."
and...
"JSP 950 Part 1 Lft 6-7-7 - EYES PRE-ENTRY ANNEX A - 4A. 2j
The following conditions, in either or both eyes, will normally exclude entry:
Sclera. A history of scleritis."
He is trying to speak with his mentor about this. Also he knows a good amount of ex forces folks as he is an adult leader (and now trainer) with the ACF so I have suggested he see if any of them know any MO's who can help him/advise him. I think what we need to get to is a letter signed by a Dr, with wording which basically craps all over their raised issues.
Input from a serving or ex MO will be vital I reckon!
Re Officer training - he did the last but one assessment centre (2 days from memory) and passed with a B grade - meaning that there were things he had to work on. The "things" were the desk based stuff which he really does not like at all. I taught him in 6th form college for 2 years and it was a struggle
On the outdoor stuff he was in the top 3 on the assessment centre day, he flew it.
We would have preferred him to join as high up as possible (as any parent would) but he will be happiest as a squaddie working his way through.
Cheers again
They have quoted some regs at him...
"JSP 950 Part 1 Lft 6-7-7 - RESPIRATORY PRE-ENTRY ANNEX D - 4D. 5c
Candidates with a recorded history of asthma, with the following features, would be normally graded P8.
c. Those who have required more than one nebulisation since the age of 5."
and...
"JSP 950 Part 1 Lft 6-7-7 - EYES PRE-ENTRY ANNEX A - 4A. 2j
The following conditions, in either or both eyes, will normally exclude entry:
Sclera. A history of scleritis."
He is trying to speak with his mentor about this. Also he knows a good amount of ex forces folks as he is an adult leader (and now trainer) with the ACF so I have suggested he see if any of them know any MO's who can help him/advise him. I think what we need to get to is a letter signed by a Dr, with wording which basically craps all over their raised issues.
Input from a serving or ex MO will be vital I reckon!
Re Officer training - he did the last but one assessment centre (2 days from memory) and passed with a B grade - meaning that there were things he had to work on. The "things" were the desk based stuff which he really does not like at all. I taught him in 6th form college for 2 years and it was a struggle
On the outdoor stuff he was in the top 3 on the assessment centre day, he flew it.
We would have preferred him to join as high up as possible (as any parent would) but he will be happiest as a squaddie working his way through.
Cheers again
Regiment said:
Wow, a P8 essentially means that he'd be unfit for any job or role in any of the military services essentially. I'm very surprised he got passed the officer medical but failed for squaddie with something like a P8. You're going to need somebody a lot more knowledgeable than me i'm afraid in regards to this so good luck. I went through a similar thing to your son when i was 16 when i was told i'd be unfit to be a pilot for the RAF because of my height, the distance between my knee and my hips in a seat position was too great. It was a little devastating.
Ok cheers 
He developed and then left behind asthma, in his early teens. It came and went in a couple of years...just growing pains really. He had one bad winter but then never looked back...
We are kind of banking on the fact that he passed the officer medical (a full day if not 1.5 days from memory) as evidence that he is OK and fit for service.
It just seems very unfair. It is all he has ever wanted since he could think/walk/talk. He has been training now for 18 months and got himself super fit...he is even having sessions with an ex PTI who trained with the SAS! Real beasting/throwing up sesssions they are too!!
If anyone else reading this knows a serving or ex British Army Medical Officer, I'd be very grateful for a chance to connect with them...
Thanks in advance
Thanks all
I have passed the comments on to my son.
He has spoken with his mentor who has said to go to the Dr and get him/her to write a letter and provide peak flow stuff etc. Personally though I don't think that this will be enough tbh given that he had a P8 on there.
My lad is seeing the MO for the Regional ACF this weekend so will speak with her. Once he has done this I have suggested that he should in effect write the letter based on her advice and then get the Dr to sign it. That way he can reflect the specific advice from the MO if she can help. He should then back this up with relevant peak flow stuff etc. I have also suggested he get a second Dr to provide evidence as well, as a second opinion. He may have to pay and go private for this.
In terms of the medical he already had with the Army. He went away for at least a day and they did exhaustive tests on him...including strenuous exercises on a static bike with a face mask on etc. It was a very rigourous day which makes their decision now all the more strange given that he passed that and then went on to a 2.5 day assessment centre down in Westbury (from memory).
He wants to join the Paras btw.
I have passed the comments on to my son.
He has spoken with his mentor who has said to go to the Dr and get him/her to write a letter and provide peak flow stuff etc. Personally though I don't think that this will be enough tbh given that he had a P8 on there.
My lad is seeing the MO for the Regional ACF this weekend so will speak with her. Once he has done this I have suggested that he should in effect write the letter based on her advice and then get the Dr to sign it. That way he can reflect the specific advice from the MO if she can help. He should then back this up with relevant peak flow stuff etc. I have also suggested he get a second Dr to provide evidence as well, as a second opinion. He may have to pay and go private for this.
In terms of the medical he already had with the Army. He went away for at least a day and they did exhaustive tests on him...including strenuous exercises on a static bike with a face mask on etc. It was a very rigourous day which makes their decision now all the more strange given that he passed that and then went on to a 2.5 day assessment centre down in Westbury (from memory).
He wants to join the Paras btw.
dai1983 said:
Ive done 12 years in the Marines and have friends in the Paras. From a pure soldiering POV then that’s the best avenue to take IMHO but I never fancied jumping out of an aeroplane.
However if he’s educationally qualified to be an officer like I was then I’d suggest he seriously reconsider! Once the excitement of being in the paras wears off then he’ll start getting bored mentally and wonder what the hell hes doing there.
If I had my time again I’d have left after 4 years or done something else while I was single with the RFA, RN or the RAF. I’m in the process of transferring to the RN!
Yes he has the Level 3 quals but is adamant its what he wants to do. We thought about it at length and we spoke about it also at length too but he has the fianl decision to make. We know our lad: he will be happier working his way through.However if he’s educationally qualified to be an officer like I was then I’d suggest he seriously reconsider! Once the excitement of being in the paras wears off then he’ll start getting bored mentally and wonder what the hell hes doing there.
If I had my time again I’d have left after 4 years or done something else while I was single with the RFA, RN or the RAF. I’m in the process of transferring to the RN!
At the moment unless we can overturn the medical judgement he wont be doing anything though...
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