Medical Rejection: How to Appeal? [Merged]

[Loachman]

I have no reason not to believe that my chances of getting accepted this time around are greater.  What do you guys think?

That's a definite maybe, or maybe not.

Nobody here can tell you. None of us are the medical authority, and none of us are in possession of your file.

You will not know until your application is processed.

I mean this is a doctor telling me I do not have a severe reaction, why would the Medical Officers in Ottawa look at it and say "No, it's severe".

Because they are looking at it from a different angle, perhaps - considering the conditions to which you could be exposed if you are accepted.

And as for the person in an earlier post that said "some people just aren't cut out for the military", you're an idiot.

Well, many are not, for a variety of reasons. That is a fact.

As if complete dumb asses haven't been accepted before.

Many have been.

Just because I have an allergy doesn't mean I'm not cut out for it,

That is neither for us nor you to say. Your first step is to get past the recruiting process. Then it gets a little more challenging.

if I do get accepted

If...

I'd probably make half the recruits look dumb with regards to fitness.

I've never heard the term "dumb" used in regards to fitness before, but there could be many that make you look "dumb" that way, too.

I asked for positive feedback, lets keep it that way.

You only want to hear positive stuff? This is not Attaboy.ca. We will be as honest and factual as possible, whether people like it or not.

It doesn't really matter what anyone on a message board "thinks",

He is asking just that, you know.

you just need the approval of those at the CFRC.

No. He needs the approval of people higher than that.

Do the food challenge, get the forms signed, take it to the recruiting centre. Hope for the best and expect for the worst.

And that is the best thing that anybody here can tell you, and it's pretty standard advice.

 

[lee465]

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".

I asked for positive feedback, lets keep it that way.

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
Clever chap, Orwell. Love his work.

Cheer up david, your experiencing liberty!  ;D

 

[davidf33]

I don't have an attitude nor do I need an attitude adjustment. I Should of just ignored it but he the fact that his post was directed at me made me a little hot. I'm not here to brag about fitness or anything,  I just want feedback.  I don't care who's cut out for the military and who isn't. Personally, knowing some close friends that have got accepted and are currently serving with our military, I know that I am !00% cut out.  I just want your honest opinion on my chances of getting in given the medical information i provided.  Like I said it's been a frustrating process so I apologize for offending anyone.

Thanks again

 

[mariomike]

My family doctor in which I've been in the care of for 21 years has said that based on my latest allergy test results, there is no reason for me to have an EpiPen. Like I said before, my allergist recommends them to everyone as a precaution.  My doctor agreed with this, noting that technically everybody should carry an EpiPen in that case because really nobody knows exactly what they're allergic to.  We could all have a severe allergy to something but we just haven't been exposed to it.  But with regards to my case he cleared me of needing an EpiPen and said that my allergy is mild and normal with no risk of anaphylaxis whatsoever. 

You might find this topic helpful.

The Recruiting Office > Enrollment Medical > Allergies in the CF 
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/12898.0

 

[SeR]

I just want your honest opinion on my chances of getting in given the medical information i provided.

It seems that you don't understand that the "honest opinions" of milnet.ca users does not matter at all. All that matters is the opinion of whichever medical officer will be looking over your medical file. Everyone on this site can tell you that your chances of getting in are incredible and that there's no way you won't pass the medical, but if the guy behind that desk in Ottawa thinks otherwise, you're SOL.

 

[jwtg]

I don't have an attitude nor do I need an attitude adjustment.

Based on what I've read so far, I'm inclined to disagree.  If you get in, let me know what your BMQ staff think of your attitude.

I Should of just ignored it but he the fact that his post was directed at me made me a little hot. I'm not here to brag about fitness or anything,  I just want feedback.

If you're not here to brag about fitness, then why are you bragging about fitness?  Also, you should 'have' ('should of' makes no sense) just ignored it.  If you want to make people look dumb, then you should show that you have a better grasp of language than they do.

  I don't care who's cut out for the military and who isn't.

Then why the strong reaction?  Also, I imagine you have a vested interest in whether or not you're cut out for the military.  I, as a taxpayer and as a CF member, also care quite a bit about who is or is not cut out for the military.

Personally, knowing some close friends that have got accepted and are currently serving with our military, I know that I am !00% cut out.  I just want your honest opinion on my chances of getting in given the medical information i provided.  Like I said it's been a frustrating process so I apologize for offending anyone.

Thanks again

Confidence is nice, but without having been through CF recruiting and training, there is no way that you know whether or not you're cut out for it.  Also, in addition to all the required physical and character traits, the CF also has medical requirements.  You will either meet them or you won't, and that will determine whether you are cut out for military service or not (at least, from a medical perspective).


It would probably serve you well to take advice from experienced members of this forum rather than lash out at them.  Advice isn't going to come in the form of positive feedback when you're on course; it will often come in the form of yelling or corrective training. 

Good luck with your application and medical issues. 

 

[BeyondTheNow]

... I Should of just ignored it but he the fact that his post was directed at me made me a little hot... I just want feedback....

Personally, knowing some close friends that have got accepted and are currently serving with our military, I know that I am !00% cut out....

I just want your honest opinion on my chances of getting in given the medical information i provided.  Like I said it's been a frustrating process so I apologize for offending anyone.

Thanks again

While there are several users who understand your frustration(s), you need to realize that when expressing yourself in a venue such as this, you're opening yourself up to everyone's interpretation of your words and their meaning.  As well, since you specifically stated you wanted "feedback," you are also inviting the opinions of others onto yourself. You may not like what they have to say, nor how they say it.  But as mentioned in another reply, you're expressing yourself among military personnel. (As well as several other occupations, which are typically very direct in their approach to communication.) Things are generally bluntly stated--maybe even harshly so.

In my opinion, while you feel you may be just as "cut out" as your friends who you said are serving, the bottom line is that if they don't have a condition similar to yours that 'might' hinder their enrollment, then that fact alone makes them more cut out for the CF than you.  This isn't said to be a shot against you in the least, it's just how I view your reasoning.

Several users have given you their "honest opinion" on your chances. And it has also been said repeatedly that it doesn't matter what anyone here thinks about your specific situation.  No one here can give you a definitive answer as to how things will end up for you.

 

[JesseWZ]

I don't have an attitude nor do I need an attitude adjustment. I Should of just ignored it but he the fact that his post was directed at me made me a little hot. I'm not here to brag about fitness or anything,  I just want feedback.  I don't care who's cut out for the military and who isn't. Personally, knowing some close friends that have got accepted and are currently serving with our military, I know that I am !00% cut out.  I just want your honest opinion on my chances of getting in given the medical information i provided.  Like I said it's been a frustrating process so I apologize for offending anyone.

Thanks again

David,

If you are getting all hot and bothered about this, the military is going to be a big kick in the junk.
Your instructors will (probably possibly) be fitter than you, and may even cast aspersions about your relative level of fitness as compared.

Additionally, what qualifies you to determine yourself fit to serve with us? Maybe your friends have qualities in them you have never witnessed and thus far you yourself have not displayed here.

Good luck in the enrollment process.

 

[The_Falcon]

That person who made that comment, was me.  Based on the further comments you have made David, and the further dissection of your comments by other members, I stand by my previous statement.  You come off as someone, who thinks they are better than others based on a small aspect of themselves (even though are trying to back pedal hard), that being fitness.  And while more recruits should be coming in with higher fitness level, the reality is, fitness is something that is easily improved in most people if they take the time to improve it.  Character traits/flaws however...


1) You have a SERIOUS ATTITUDE PROBLEM.  You haven't even completed the recruiting process and you are already slagging people you haven't even met, and who quite possibly, might be OVERALL a better recruit than YOU.  Fitness is just one part of the equation, and seeing as how you are not in, you have NO CLUE whether or not your fitness is up to par.  IF (and it's a big IF), you actually get on a BMQ, you may find your self in the situation where all your course staff are Fitness Junkies, and have done time in Light Inf Btls, Para Coys, CANSOF, or just generally have many years of humping heavy loads, long distances with minimal rest, and THEN doing highspeed army stuff, and loving every miserable painful second of it.  I guarantee you if that divine providence happens, your concept of how fit you THINK YOU ARE  will be utterly and mercilessly shattered.

2) You want POSITIVE and possible ERRONEOUS information and a nice little pat on the head, stick to your friends and family.  The rest of us don't know you from a hole in the ground, and therefore  are more likely to give you information/advice that is untainted with bias in your favour, unlike what you will hear from people you know.  If that is something you don't wish to hear, or angers you or annoys you... TOUGH ****.  Owing to the fact that many of us have either served previously, continue to serve, or have friends/family currently serving, the only thing we care about is that the CAF recruits  the best possible candidates for their chosen occupations, and that they do not put anyone else (ie ourselves/people we know), at undo risk.  Your feelings (and the feelings of anyone else in your situation), mean SFA to us.

3) You are NOT ENTITLED to serve in the CAF, NO ONE IS.  It is a PRIVILEGE  to serve.  The only entitlement one has, is the ability to apply.  Which you have duly executed.  Beyond that the CAF owes you nothing.

 

[xo31@711ret]

My doctor agreed with this, noting that technically everybody should carry an EpiPen in that case because really nobody knows exactly what they're allergic to.

...'technically' by that reasoning, then we should all carry O2 tanks, tric kits...
I've been retired from the regs out of CFRC Freddy-town since 06 & out the res 010. So last recruit applicant medical I've done was at least 3 years ago. But as Mike & MM will tell you (& I'm pretty sure they would - we've known and-or worked with each other for well over 10 years & Mike & I were remusters on the same TQ3 back in the mid 80's); whenever I gave a family doctor letter to an applicant, I always told the individual to inform his doc that he is applying to the MILITARY & could be away from Tertiary like medical care for 6 or more months at a time; & please try to have the family doc avoid phrases such as, 'could haves' - 'should haves'. All this did, AT BEST, was a recommended G3O3 (at best), file sent to Ottawa. The file & an RMO letter were usually sent back from Ottawa to the area centre requiring a clarification to the individual's family doc: costing more time... At worst, it was a 'FAIL TO MEET CEMS'  (Common Enrolment Medical Standards)

 

[medicineman]

I'd like to add a few things - first my opinions are based on training and experience in this world.  As noted by a few thus far, many civilian physicians haven't a schmick what we do or where we go and what we have around us when we're doing it.  I've lost count of all the "little Johnny would do great in the Army, despite all the meds they're on etc ad nauseum", when Little Johnny is in fact a little wanker that mommy and daddy are trying to pawn off on what they perceive as Her Majesty's Babysitting Service.  Second, I've learned over the years that you have to be blunt and up front to people so as not to get folks' hopes up about things.  People really need to be told what they need to hear, not what they want to hear - a problem that is rampant in our society right now.  It's something I try to do in my civilian practice and when dealing with subordinates in green.  If you don't handle blunt and up front well, you're not going to deal well with the military - FULL STOP.

Good luck to you, genuinely...but be prepared for that "So sorry" letter.

MM

 

[xo31@711ret]

S,  I wish there was a 'like' option for these posts...  :camo:

what MM said...    :nod:

 

[dapaterson]

S,  I wish there was a 'like' option for these posts...  :camo:

what MM said...    :nod:

You can click on the "Rate Post" text to the left of the post to indicate whether you like / dislike the post, and to award or deduct points from users.

 

[nero231]

Hi all
Just wondering if I can run a question by you all. I had my physical, questionairre, and interview on May 21. Today I received a letter in the mail informing me I was not approved. To make a long story short , my doctor put me on medication less then a year ago for mild anxiety and mild ocd. All of the medical forms I submitted all clearly stared that the issues were due to my current job. Even my MO agreed that doctors can be quick to assume that medication will fix everything. Anyway, my question is is there any point in appealing the decision or is it best to wait the year to reapply? And if I do wait the year, will this still impact me then? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

I would suggest you try to get off of the meds asap if you want to try and apply again in a year, plus, document when you went off of the meds. The military seems very very touchy when it comes to anti-depressants etc. A lot of CF members, especially ones who were deployed come back with PTSD, but didn't have it previously. Now imagine, a recruit is signed up already with having anxiety etc. problems and being medicated for it, how is this recruit going to deal with added stress etc. while being in the service?

I know, it sucks, there are so many 'minor' (we think) issues, health wise which just slam the doors to the military right in front of our nose, so to speak. What's wrong, what's right?! Opinions differ so greatly about this issue.

 

[PMedMoe]

A lot of CF members, especially ones who were deployed come back with PTSD, but didn't have it previously.  Or at least had never been diagnosed with it, or anything similar....

FTFY.  :nod:

 

[sunnyblueskies]

True!!

"Or at least had never been diagnosed with it, or anything similar...."

 

[MAJONES]

I had similar troubles when I was going through the recruiting process; the RMO did not like my BMI and LDL/HDL levels and declared me unfit.  I called the number listed in the sig block on the RMO's letter and was told that they would consider revising their opinion if I submitted paperwork from an appropriate specialist.  Long story short, I cleaned up my diet, started running and tried working 2 jobs vice the 3 I was holding down at the time.  I got my paperwork in order, fired it of to the RMO and got in.  My advice, contact the RMO's office, see what they say and take it from there.

 

[medicineman]

Since you seem to have an anxiety disorder - OCD is an anxiety disorder - and since Recruit training and military life in general can be anxiety provoking, you're going to want to get that stuff under control and show proof that it is...it's not just about getting off your meds, it's about showing you're in control of your illness and not the other way around.

I know, it sucks, there are so many 'minor' (we think) issues, health wise which just slam the doors to the military right in front of our nose, so to speak. What's wrong, what's right?! Opinions differ so greatly about this issue.

The rules aren't arbitrary - they're there based on likely reactions, both physical and mental, that are likely to occur under demanding conditions in potentially remote areas with limited access to skilled medical care, all based on what we know about the natural progress of these disease processes and how they're treated. 

MM

Edited for grammar secondary to caffeine deficiency.
MM

 

[nero231]

Thank you everyone for your input.
I definitely don't mind waiting the extra year to reapply, I figured this would be the time to get myself  to 100% and ensure I am able to complete everything I need to to military standards. So hopefully this time next year I will be receiving a job offer with the CF. Thanks for all of your help.

Cheers!