Ankle hardware as airborne

[Hamers37]

Sorry if this isn’t the wrong place to ask but I was wondering if ankle hardware would disqualify me from joining an airborne division. I am not currently part of the military. I have fully recovered from the injury and can do physically demanding activity but still have one screw in my ankle. There is also the option of getting the hardware removed. Would this significantly increase my chances of being accepted, or is it still a long shot?
Thanks for any replies

 

[Ooh-Rah]

Have you spoken to a recruiter?

 

[Hamers37]

Have you spoken to a recruiter?

not yet, I’m currently still in school but want to enlist when I finish. I will definitely be talking to a recruiter in the future but just wanted to see if anyone had any experience on the topic

 

[Ooh-Rah]

not yet, I’m currently still in school but want to enlist when I finish. I will definitely be talking to a recruiter in the future but just wanted to see if anyone had any experience on the topi

Fair. Report back what they tell you.

 

[Topkick]

not yet, I’m currently still in school but want to enlist when I finish. I will definitely be talking to a recruiter in the future but just wanted to see if anyone had any experience on the topic

There is a ton of military experience and knowledge on this board, but regardless of your specific issue, recruiting goal posts move based on needs of the military and a recruiter will better know the current situation. I hope you get the opportunites you're looking for.

 

[Hamers37]

There is a ton of military experience and knowledge on this board, but regardless of your specific issue, recruiting goal posts move based on needs of the military and a recruiter will better know the current situation. I hope you get the opportunites you're looking for.

Thanks man

 

[Cookie_]

BLUF: Only a PA/NP/doc can make that determination. I'll give you some offical text and my experience below.

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AR 40-501 is the Army Standards of Medical Fitness. It lays out what MIGHT disqualify you from service.

The section on lower extremities says:

(2) Current retained hardware that is symptomatic, interferes with proper wearing of protective equipment or military uniform, and/or is subject to easy trauma, does not meet the standard (V53.7). Retained hardware (733.99) (including plates, pins, rods, wires, or screws used for fixation) is not disqualifying if fractures are healed, ligaments are stable, there is no pain, and it is not subject to easy trauma.
e. Current devices, including, but not limited to silastic or titanium, implanted to correct orthopedic abnormalities
(V43), do not meet the standard.

The reason for the hardware is what would matter here. If it was to repair an injury you'd be OK to enlist, but if it was for an abnormality you would not be. This doesn't mean you can't, it just means a specialist has to check you out and say it won't limit your service.

I came in with a disqualifying condition (history of ear tumor/surgery) and had to go to an audiologist for approval. You might have to do something similar.

When it comes to airborne, I've seen soldiers with back/leg medical histories go, but it'll all be case by case.

-----------

Reiterating; you'll need to talk to a recruiter and a doc.

 

[Hamers37]

BLUF: Only a PA/NP/doc can make that determination. I'll give you some offical text and my experience below.

---------

AR 40-501 is the Army Standards of Medical Fitness. It lays out what MIGHT disqualify you from service.

The section on lower extremities says:



The reason for the hardware is what would matter here. If it was to repair an injury you'd be OK to enlist, but if it was for an abnormality you would not be. This doesn't mean you can't, it just means a specialist has to check you out and say it won't limit your service.

I came in with a disqualifying condition (history of ear tumor/surgery) and had to go to an audiologist for approval. You might have to do something similar.

When it comes to airborne, I've seen soldiers with back/leg medical histories go, but it'll all be case by case.

-----------

Reiterating; you'll need to talk to a recruiter and a doc.

Thanks for the response, I’m hoping that if I had the hardware removed I wouldn’t need a waiver at all but I’m not sure, I’ll have to see what the recruiter says

 

[Muppet]

Recruiter as stated.

As a former Paratrooper that required left ankle reconstruction in 1995, had screws in ankle for 9 months, it came out, they wanted to med board me, I fought it.

Even with screws out, they wanted me out. I was able to stay till 1999.

A doc/surgeon will answer this but common sense dictates that having hardware in will DQ you, static line jumping is very dangerous with healthy bones, any alteration to bones makes them inherently weaker (I'm just a hood rat paramedic, not a doc).

That's my take.

 

[Hamers37]

Recruiter as stated.

As a former Paratrooper that required left ankle reconstruction in 1995, had screws in ankle for 9 months, it came out, they wanted to med board me, I fought it.

Even with screws out, they wanted me out. I was able to stay till 1999.

A doc/surgeon will answer this but common sense dictates that having hardware in will DQ you, static line jumping is very dangerous with healthy bones, any alteration to bones makes them inherently weaker (I'm just a hood rat paramedic, not a doc).

That's my take.

Thanks for the reply, it’s definately looking like I’ll need to have my hardware removed to stand a chance.