How to Join the National Guard With an Ulcerative Colitis

Conditions like ulcerative colitis will challenge your ability to join the National Guard.

The National Guard prides itself on living up to its motto of "always ready, always there." Medical conditions such as ulcerative colitis that prohibit potential recruits from serving the Guard and their country in a manner that upholds this simple motto jeopardize your ability to join. Joining the National Guard with ulcerative colitis will challenge you, depending on the severity of your condition. The National Guard recognizes everybody's right to serve the country, so it offers a medical waiver allowing people with certain conditions to join. Securing this medical waiver requires patience and diligence, as well as recognition that your efforts could end in vain.

Instructions

1. Contact your National Guard recruiter. Your recruiter will determine the clearance capability of your specific condition, and provide you with appropriate paperwork.

2. Visit the doctor most familiar with your diagnosis and treatment. The disease can manifest itself with varying degrees of intensity in different patients.

3. Submit yourself to a medical examination with your doctor. Ensure that your doctor follows the examination procedures in the National Guard medical waiver forms. Ask that your doctor complete the waiver forms as thoroughly as possible.

4. Deliver your completed medical waiver forms to your National Guard recruiter for review and recommendation.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your National Guard recruiter to suggest a physician, if you do not have a well-established relationship with a personal care doctor.

• Completing a medical waiver form will not guarantee acceptance into the National Guard. Acceptance depends on the severity of your condition.

• Joining the National Guard without fully disclosing your condition could result in dishonorable discharge for fraudulent enlistment.

References

• Military.com: Joining the Military