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Author Topic: Recruiter told me to lie.  (Read 1258 times)

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Offline buckslayer

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Recruiter told me to lie.
« on: February 05, 2011, 03:40:38 PM »
I was 100% ready to enlist in the Army.  At my very first meeting with the recruiter, I told him straight up, I have one recorded asthma related visit to the doctor at the age 14.  He said no prob, you dont use medicine now, havnt for years, your good.  So I took had an appointment to MEPS for the physical, and a couple days before it, the recruiter casually says "If they ask you about any past sicknesses or diseases, dont even mention asthma.  You have no problems now, lets just keep that bit of info between you and me".
Sounded weird so I did a little research and found out the armed forces will not accept recruits who have experienced asthma problems past the age 13.  I missed it by one year.  I called the recruiter out on it and he just kept telling me its not a problem if I keep my mouth shut.
Further research showed me that for certain high security jobs and health treatment, they will often review past medical records, and if its found you lied, dishonorable discharge is the minimum you get.

I am healthy, several of my friends have enlisted, and when they got back from boot camp, I was still in equal or better shape, and could do anything they could do.  I could lie and serve, or I could tell the truth and not.  If I went in, It wouldn't be like I was putting others in danger because of my health. 
I chose to tell the truth, but it feels like the cowards way out, a convenient excuse to not serve.  Its not a good feeling, but I guess literally living a lie and receiving benefits and pay based on a lie would feel pretty bad as well.
Thoughts on this?  Did I make the right choice?
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Offline Hit or Miss

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2011, 04:00:27 PM »
You did the right thing!  Never regret it.
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Offline lakota

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2011, 04:08:27 PM »
I agree you did the right thing. That recruiter didnt have your best interests in mind when he told you to lie.
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Offline bigbird09

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2011, 04:17:54 PM »
idc what it is if I have to lie to do it or get it, I won't do it, but thats just me.
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Offline Pat/Rick

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2011, 04:56:23 PM »
buckslayer, I admire you for wanting to serve your nation. I admire you more for not dishonoring yourself, personal integrity is everything and means more than a discharge, a diploma, or being the richest man in the world. A dis honorable discharge will follow you for the rest of your life, and keep some doors of opertunity closed for you later on.
   Are there any state NG units you might be able to get into? Could be an alternative to active duty. I would go see adifferent recruiter if possible. Take care. Patrick
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Offline Slowhanddd

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2011, 04:57:06 PM »
I had the same problem in 1968.Asthma and a ruptured ear drum.Couldn't take my trip to Viet Nam.Felt bad for a long time.You did the right thing telling the truth.I'm 60 now and haven't had problems with asthma in 50 years.Ears are a different story.They ring so loud 24/7 that you should be able to hear the ringing now.Take care,Slow
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Offline Spirithawk

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2011, 05:12:32 PM »
He had his own interest at heart, making a quota, not your's at all. Simple as that.
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Offline srussell

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2011, 07:40:15 PM »
i would try a diff. recruiter you just might be able to get a medical waver
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2011, 08:50:50 PM »
Have you had your physical yet?  If not, go ahead with it, then at the physical inform the Doc.  He/she will then take a good look at your physical condition now and make a decission to either waver it or send you home.  Odds are they would waver it and it would never be brought up again unless you should develop breathing problems.  The waver would be placed in your medical records.

I lost 1/3rd of my left lung in 1983.  I retired in 1989.  I got recalled during the first Gulf War, given a waver for breathing and weight, ended up in Northern Iraq. 
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Offline BlkHawk73

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2011, 01:16:29 AM »
  Recruiters are basically salesmen in uniform.  Their job is to sell the branch of service.  Ever known or trusted a car salesman?    You did good! :)
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Offline DANNY-L

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2011, 01:31:15 AM »
Quote from: srussell on February 05, 2011, 07:40:15 PM
i would try a diff. recruiter you just might be able to get a medical waver
You could also start with your DR. and have test done to present to the recruiter and to the military DR's for further review. I for one know that if the military wants you there are ways (within regulations) for you to join. If (when) you get in be safe,work hard and dont forget to enjoy it also, because the (army) military seems to stay in your mind forever. I've been out since 90 and still remember all those names I served with and have the dreams of things we've done. I encourage you to do what you can to go since thats what you want,but do it the legal way. You dont need a bad paper trail.
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Offline Hodr

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2011, 03:25:37 AM »
First, walk away from that recruiter.
Second google search  The United States Public Health Service Commisioned Corps  .

At your age and with a decent skill set, you could enlist through this entity without having to be combat qualified.  If you are accepted they will cover the cost of a great deal of your schooling.  Payback to your country will include but is not limited to a days service for every days training.  This is the seventh uniformned service of the US acting under the control of the US Surgeon General, using Navy rank and uniforms.  These are the the doctors and nurses who are thrown into situations in some of the most rigorus areas in the world.
Please explore as an option,

Hodr
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Offline myronman3

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2011, 05:04:53 AM »
in the end, you have to do what you feel is right.

   you have to understand something about the military....alot of the guys there have checkered pasts.   part of the culture of the military is to get the job done, no matter how you have to do it.  lying, cheating, stealing, it doesnt matter one bit.   there is one rule, and that is to WIN.   we had a saying, and that was "if you aint cheating, you aint trying." 
    now i am sure i will hear from plenty of you about honor, and all that other stuff.   believe me, there is plenty of honor.    but in the heat of things, when the job needs to get done, you find a way to do it no matter what needs to be done in order to do it.   if that means taking things that are not yours by force, it happens.   if that means lying, it happens.    if it means killing people, it happens.     constantly.   
    halfway across the world with only a few guys around you,  only the stuff you have on your back and the grit in your gut; the devious and shady guys are some of the most creative and reliable people there are.  sounds like a contradiction; those who have been there done that understand what i am talking about.   from basic, to infantry, airborne, ranger, and special forces training; doing what needs to be done in the moment (society's norms be damned) is what they instill in you.   it is not an easy thing to program into people and guys that cant get their minds around it dont seem to make it.   
     there is a war going on and the recruiter is following what he was taught to do.    looking for another recruiter and trying for a medical waiver is a good idea and i cant see how your wouldnt get a waiver.    good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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Offline Will Bison

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #13 on: February 06, 2011, 06:13:00 AM »
I had about ten years as a recruiter and interviewed several thousand (probably more than 10,000) applicants. Asthma as you describe is unusual. I would have sent you to MEPS with a copy of your medical records and a follow up letter from your Doctor if possible. Your case is unusual enough that it should garner the attention of any competent physician.

The "after age 13" is a generalization and would be akin to saying all people will enter puberty at the exact same age. Physiology is not that precise. Limits are placed so as to raise a caution flag for the recruiter, not to indicate total disqualification.

The frirst thing a good recruiter looks for are any disqualifying factors. There's no point in wasting an applicants time (or my time for that matter) if a disqualifying condition exists. Nondisclosure of fact at MEPS or to a recruiter is a bad idea. You took the proper action.

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Offline buckslayer

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2011, 07:35:01 AM »
After telling him I would not lie, he simply said dont bother, you wont be allowed.  I left him and talked to several other Army recruiters who were honest and open, and they said the same, I would not be accepted.   
I then talked to an excellent Marine recruiter, who did all he could, and once again, said the same. 

Just to be clear, I wasnt bashing recruiters in anyway, at all.  All but this one was very helpful and did all they could to help.   
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Offline Shu

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #15 on: February 06, 2011, 08:17:51 AM »
Never lie, it will just bite you in the end.

Go ahead tell the truth, let a doctor decide if you have asthma or not.

Some recruiters are liars others are honorable.
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Offline Mohawk

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #16 on: February 06, 2011, 09:02:33 AM »
You are on the right track and have made good decisions. Just be honest in your interviews. Your appeal option goes to the Cabinet, so keep that in mind(just make sure you bring that up before walking away. Say"I would like an Appeal". If we had 10 mil of folks like you we would be the safest nation in the world. God Bless you..... 
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Offline Spanky

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Re: Recruiter told me to lie.
« Reply #17 on: February 06, 2011, 05:06:51 PM »
When I went to Marine Corps boot camp we had a 19 year old recruit DIE during the 1.5 mile run part of the initial strength test.
Yeah you guessed it... he died from a severe asthma attack. You did the right thing... the recruiter is just trying to meet his quota plain and simple.



Spanky
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