Prior Service Marine Hearing Waiver

[JoshRoy]

Greetings all,

I EASed from the Marine Corps this past December as a Staff Sergeant after 11 years of service as an infantryman. I initiated a Conditional Release to join the Army last Summer, but the MEPS process took so long that my Marine Corps contract ran out and I was unable to extend because I had declined reenlistment in order to join the Army and was given an RE3O. Prior to initiating the Conditional Release process, I was screened by Special Forces Proponent, and informed that I would be accepted into the 18X Program. The screening included a medical screening, during which I failed the hearing test, however I had a consult with a Hearing Conservation Specialist and obtained a memorandum stating that my hearing loss was moderate, did not prevent me from being able to carry out my duties as an infantryman, and should not prevent me from serving in Special Forces. I was assured by my regular Army Recruiter that this was sufficient and that I would be receiving a waiver for my hearing loss, so it was nothing to worry about, otherwise I would not have accepted an RE3O and terminated my Marine Corps career at 11 years. Now, nearly 9 months since this process began, I am being told that hearing loss cannot be waived and that I am disqualified from entry into the Army.

I have spoken with the Special Forces Proponent Recruiter who did my initial screening, and he is saying that if my recruiters resubmit the request for my waiver to the SORB surgeon rather than the USAREC surgeon who denied it, it might get approved. My recruiters haven't been able to figure out how to do this. Can anyone on this board recommend a course of action for me so I can straighten this out and get into the Army to do what I set out to do?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Gunz]

Out of my lane with SF particulars but I have been through the hearing waiver issue post-Marine Corps.

Why not have your recruiters call the SFPR and ask him how to go about resubmitting to the SORB surgeon? There's obviously a way or the SFPR wouldn't have suggested it.

Good luck, I hope this happens for you.

 

[JoshRoy]

The SF Proponent Recruiter basically implied that it's on my regular Army recruiters to figure out how to work this, but they gave me some points of contact which I have passed on to the recruiting office. So far, they haven't gotten anywhere and don't seem very confident that there is anything to be done or particularly motivated to work this out. However, I have no intention of giving up at this point so I am talking around to officers in the Marine Corps and the Army trying to find any way for my case to be brought to somebody with the ability to allow me into the Army.

 

[Gunz]

Persistence might be the key here. Hopefully you'll find your way through this. I'm hoping some other folks here give you better advice than I can.

 

[BloodStripe]

Aye. Keep pushing until you are told no. Twice or more.

 

[Hillclimb]

edit. [PM'd]

 

[JoshRoy]

Update:

I successfully obtained a waiver signed by the CO of the Medical Training Group at the JFKSWCS, clearing me to attend SFAS and SFQC. We then attached this to my packet and resubmitted for the waiver from USAREC to get me into the Army.

Unfortunately, this was denied by the Surgeon General of the Army, with a statement that the Army is not allowing any waivers for hearing loss for enlistment.

I'm not giving up however. I wrote my congressman regarding the situation a few weeks ago and an inquiry has been initiated, however we are still awaiting a response from the Army.

As of today, I had my regular Army recruiters transfer all of my documents and information to National Guard recruiters, so I'll be picking up with them next week. One way or another I'm determined to get to selection. In the meantime I'm going to work on getting an EMT certification to make myself more valuable to SF when I get there.

Again, thanks for the advice.