Military Discrimination

[TShelton]

I am 22 years old and currently attending the University of
Georgia.  My entire life I have wanted to serve in the
military and protect my country.  Unfortunately, I am an
insulin dependent diabetic.  I am in perfect health and
physically fit.  I have no complications after having this
disease for over 17 years.  No branch of the military will
allow me to enlist due to the fact that I am a diabetic.  
Considering I am perfectly able to do anything that the
military requires, I think this is extremely unfair and
unjust.  I certainly understand why they would not want a
diabetic to fill a combat position, but there are numerous
non-combat positions that a diabetic could fill.  I feel that
this is a very blatent example of discrimination.  I would
very much appreciate anyone who could give me some advice on
some options I might have to fight this.  I could certainly
use a helping hand in this situation.

[JDRF Team SGG]

Of course I care deeply about folks who wish to join our military "family" and I respect your for that desire. If you were put into a war zone, anything can happen (just read the news about troops being ambushed daily). Now we both know that not all folks end up in war zones, and if so, maybe not often. But from what my spouse tells me about policies (he is a personnel officer), the problem is the one time it can happen. The military cannot be responsible for protecting that one vial of insulin. If you are separated from it in a war zone, you would be at risk. And of course your compatriots would want to help you, so their lives may be at risk because of that effort to try to help. Now, this happens all the time in military situations -- some folks will get shot down in a helicopter like the one that was shot down while on their way to R&R, and the others all stopped to try to help. But the difference is that there is no previous possible danger or weakness to those troops which would perhaps make them less able to survive if they did get captured or their immediate supplies were blown up. I understand that one vial of insulin lasts a good month, and most of us keep a spare handy just in case one breaks. But in a situation where a convoy was stopped and you were perhaps taken prisoner, your life would be in peril. This is perhaps a long shot, but it is possible. And a commander in charge, knowing that this may be a danger, may be hesitant to put you at risk and this could end up favoring you over some other guy. Even a hypoglycemic episode due to stress could put your buddies at risk if you were unable to function at top ability.

I am merely a spouse, and I know that the recruiters are simply going to list what the rules are and turn you away. I suspect that if you tried to contact the Personnel Center (in the Air Force, this would be the Mission Support Squadron), you will be given the same info. But feel free to try, for they may explain their policies better than I can as an observer and outsider. Or maybe they will simply send you the form letter saying that they cannot accept you. No telling. But it doesn't hurt to ask the questions. Just don't count on changing any policies. All the policy-making is done at much higher levels than the nearest base.

As for civilian jobs, try checking out the nearest military base's web site. I know that they usually are found at www.basenamehere.branchofservicehere.mil (i.e., www.randolph.af.mil for Randolph Air Force Base in Texas). Once you are in, there is usually an employment link. Each base handles its own web site, so you may have to go browsing to find the employment link. There really are tons of civilian jobs out there in almost all fields. if they require special security clearance, many of them will see that their candidate gets the necessary clearance after hiring. There perhaps is no real glory in being the civilian partner to the active duty person, but the jobs are there and need quality people who understand military concerns. I encourage you to check them out. I have been proud of the times I have done civilian jobs for the military while married to my active duty spouse.

[jdrf team dm]

Dear TShelton,
SGG is being modest. You had talked about non-combat roles in the military and when I spoke to a few military people, they also agreed that at anytime, you could find yourself without supplies. Civilian postions are very necessary with the military and you just might find your niche.  SGG, has from experience, very valuable experience and good advice in my opinion.  I know how much this means to you, please let us know what you decide. Keep your chin up.
Best wishes'
dm

[Sargeant Glucose]

Diabetes is a condition that the military does not want to deal with.

I am in the Military (Type II Diabetic) and they can't get me out fast enough!  They're trying every thing they can to justify Booting me out.  My impeccable job performance is not included in my evaluation.  the only thing they are concerned with is all the "What ifs".  If you are not in perfect health you have to have a means to prove you can optain perfect health in sort order.  DIABETES is not one of those things that you can provide that type of concrete evidence.

BEST THING TO DO IS NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE A DIABETIC!

[gman2004]

the military is 100% right on not letting diabetics into the military. What were to happen if u were stranded, captured, or had to go days without food, like many people in the military have to endure. If your a diabetic, you would put your life at risk, as well as your whole squad

[Type 1 Diebet]

I am also a Type 1 diabetic and i am 19 years old. My dream as a kid was allways to be in sometime of military service. With my disease the U.S. for some reason does not give a damn about my service. Now from reading what the other guy has said about the military and diabetics I see were he is going with it. But what if they could set up a Unit or Division that was strictly for diabetics. I am hell in civil war all the way to WW2 they split the races up like spanish and black units. Why cant they split up and make a type 1 diabetic unit!!!

[jcrew75]

First of all, don't knock a diabetic for wanting to serve their country just like every other patriotic person. My goal was to go into the Airforce after highschool. My testing was near perfect (want to still call me a retard). Before I graduated I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and there went my chances for serving my country.
It is to people like you that sterotype people like us and call us stupid or retarded because of you own faults. I'm 6' 210 pounds and 12% body fat. Want to still call me a retard? I would love to serve my country if I were allowed, but I'm not. I can't drive a truck, I can't be a cop, I can't be in the FBI or CIA. My only options are desk jobs. People like you who don't understand what diabetes is and what a diabetic has to do to live are the "RETARDED" ones.
I have a friend of mine that is in the military and he has tried to get me to go in time and time again, but due to my diabetes I can't. He does not know I have it. That is how good I am. I keep up with him and he is way up there in the military. I have a four year degree and could come in as an officer if given the op (Still want to say I'm retarded).

GET A LIFE MAN. SERVE YOUR COUNTRY PROUDLY AND IF A DIABETIC IS STANDING NEXT TO YOU, PRAY THEY WILL SAVE YOU IF YOU GET SHOT.

Later,