How to Join the Military With a Handicap
Making the decision to join the military can be scary enough without having to worry if you qualify. The first step is to talk to a recruiter, so that he or she can explain what your handicap could mean for you. If your recruiter determines there's a chance you could be accepted for enlistment, it is this person's job to do everything in his or her power to help you.
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Instructions
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Make all decisions with your recruiter while undergoing the enlistment process. Prepare as best you can by working out and studying for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. Once your ASVAB score comes back, choose a job that you know you can do.
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Ask your recruiter what kind of medical tests you'll be given pertaining to your handicap. Every recruit is given a thorough enlistment exam before he or she joins. There may be specific medical tests that you should know about.
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Research the possibilities of getting a military "profile." A profile is a medical diagnoses given within the military that shows commanders that you have been seen by a military doctor, and this doctor has decided you are temporarily unable to perform certain tasks. You may enlist with certain temporary profiles.
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Work on ways to make your handicap less obvious, if at all possible, before taking your enlistment medical exam. If you have a speech impediment, for example, practice speaking slowly and clearly.
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File a waiver if you are declared disqualified. Your recruiter can help you fill out the paperwork, then he or she will submit it. Waivers can be filed for any branch of the armed services. The appeal is reviewed at several higher levels, and the process can take up to six months.
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Tips & Warnings
If your handicap is so severe that you cannot stand or walk on your own for long periods of time, you will not be granted a waiver under any circumstances.
