Post: #1

This appears to be the correct forum for this.

Details first as briefly as possible. I am enlisting in the Air Force, I scored high on the ASVAB, high 90s. Which I hope helps my odds with this.

I had a Medical Waiver already approved for another medical condition but in that time period I found out I had a sebaceous cyst on the left side of my neck (back of the neck specifically). Now, I had to find out because it causes no pain and does not impede my range of motion.
And a sebaceous cyst is not automatically disqualifying, only if they think it will stop me from doing my job.

So I was hoping experienced forum members could help me out with what I will be expecting from the MEPS doctors to determine if this cyst makes me unfit for service and/or what my odds seem to be based on what I have said about the cyst.

I realize this is kinda vague and may seem a little weird, so I'd be happy to provide more information upon request.

I've been in this process for a long while now so I'm pretty dead set on seeing it through, and naturally it aggravates me to think I could be disqualified for a condition I developed waiting for a medical waiver.

To wrap this up; any advice or insight someone finds relevant would be appreciated and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Note: Seeing my recruiter tomorrow when he gets back in town, showing him then.

Post: #2

Could you just get it removed?

I'm currently serving in the Aus military, they are quite thorough with the medical review, but at the same time if it doesn't inhibit movement or your overall health they might let it slide.

I'd say it's more likely they will want you to have it surgically removed before they enlist you though.

Post: #3

(08-12-2015 12:55 AM)big poppa Wrote:  Could you just get it removed?

I'm currently serving in the Aus military, they are quite thorough with the medical review, but at the same time if it doesn't inhibit movement or your overall health they might let it slide.

I'd say it's more likely they will want you to have it surgically removed before they enlist you though.

I do have an appointment to have it cut out set up and would be perfectly willing to do so. I do believe that will make me have to wait 6 months and need to retake the ASVAB, which while inconvenient I would be willing to do.

I asked the Air Force subreddit and I was told it will likely not pose an issue based on what I said.

I will ask my recruiter about that, if they will care about it once it is removed.

Post: #4

MEPS is a boring but you'll be fine. It's your first glimpse into the bureaucracy of military life. Regarding your cyst, it's not serious so your waiver will likely be processed without issue. I had arthroscopic knee surgery and horrendous vision but neither of these were problems. Even guys with criminal backgrounds are granted waivers in many circumstances.

You'll have a good laugh at MEPS. They do this butthole inspection where everyone lines up, maybe 50 guys, and enters a room in neat rows. Drop your trousers, spread your buttcheeks, and a doctor takes a look. To this day, no idea why they do it but I felt awful for the guy doing the inspections - his 9-5 was staring at dudes buttholes. In case you thought your civilian job was bad...

Post: #5

(08-12-2015 12:59 AM)Eskhander Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 12:55 AM)big poppa Wrote:  Could you just get it removed?

I'm currently serving in the Aus military, they are quite thorough with the medical review, but at the same time if it doesn't inhibit movement or your overall health they might let it slide.

I'd say it's more likely they will want you to have it surgically removed before they enlist you though.

I do have an appointment to have it cut out set up and would be perfectly willing to do so. I do believe that will make me have to wait 6 months and need to retake the ASVAB, which while inconvenient I would be willing to do.

I asked the Air Force subreddit and I was told it will likely not pose an issue based on what I said.

I will ask my recruiter about that, if they will care about it once it is removed.

Yeah you'll obviously have a better idea once you talk to your recruiter tomorrow.
I had a case of jock itch when I had my medical appointment, they made me re-attend once I got a doctor's clearance showing that it was gone. Although jock itch can spread very easily so it's different to your situation as yours obviously isn't contagious.

Best of luck with it all.

In regards to the post above, damn that sounds awful. No inspections of butt holes when I went in.

Post: #6

MEPS was a bit of a joke in my experience. Angry doctor faux grilling me about pot use, maybe a tap for reflexes, and an examination of the cock just to make you uncomfortable.

Its really just a warm up to get you used to the idea that you have no power or control, and that you'll be doing mindless bullshit without explanation.

They want you, they need the numbers. They will fudge whatever they can to make sure you pass, within reason.

Good luck to you. I wouldn't do it if I had to make the decision again.

Post: #7

(08-12-2015 04:13 AM)GlobalMan Wrote:  MEPS was a bit of a joke in my experience. Angry doctor faux grilling me about pot use, maybe a tap for reflexes, and an examination of the cock just to make you uncomfortable.

Its really just a warm up to get you used to the idea that you have no power or control, and that you'll be doing mindless bullshit without explanation.

They want you, they need the numbers. They will fudge whatever they can to make sure you pass, within reason.

Good luck to you. I wouldn't do it if I had to make the decision again.

It really depends where you are in life. I think some people definitely regret joining, while others really gain a lot out of it. When I joined I was unemployed, had 0 savings, lacked drive, I was smoking weed daily and was basically unhappy with my life and how I was wasting my potential.

Now I'm building up a large stash to give me freedom to do what I want with my life, I don't smoke, hit the gym daily and I'm earning a valuable qualification. While there are some mornings I hate my job, I know it will all be worth it when I get out in 5 years.

"Its really just a warm up to get you used to the idea that you have no power or control, and that you'll be doing mindless bullshit without explanation."

You're damn correct about that.

You will be a small cog in a large machine and basically treated like a school child. OP, make sure you are good with your money and hopefully you are enlisting in something that will be of value once you want to get out, because you will want to get out. I honestly do not understand the mentality of people who can put up with this for 30+ years.

Post: #8

(08-12-2015 04:20 AM)big poppa Wrote:  

(08-12-2015 04:13 AM)GlobalMan Wrote:  MEPS was a bit of a joke in my experience. Angry doctor faux grilling me about pot use, maybe a tap for reflexes, and an examination of the cock just to make you uncomfortable.

Its really just a warm up to get you used to the idea that you have no power or control, and that you'll be doing mindless bullshit without explanation.

They want you, they need the numbers. They will fudge whatever they can to make sure you pass, within reason.

Good luck to you. I wouldn't do it if I had to make the decision again.

It really depends where you are in life. I think some people definitely regret joining, while others really gain a lot out of it. When I joined I was unemployed, had 0 savings, lacked drive, I was smoking weed daily and was basically unhappy with my life and how I was wasting my potential.

Now I'm building up a large stash to give me freedom to do what I want with my life, I don't smoke, hit the gym daily and I'm earning a valuable qualification. While there are some mornings I hate my job, I know it will all be worth it when I get out in 5 years.

"Its really just a warm up to get you used to the idea that you have no power or control, and that you'll be doing mindless bullshit without explanation."

You're damn correct about that.

You will be a small cog in a large machine and basically treated like a school child. OP, make sure you are good with your money and hopefully you are enlisting in something that will be of value once you want to get out, because you will want to get out. I honestly do not understand the mentality of people who can put up with this for 30+ years.

I wouldn't say I regret it, I did gain plenty from the experience. But looking back, my time would have better spent doing other things which would have put me in a better position sooner.

As you said, some people have no idea what to do, no prospects, and could use the leadership (I'm definitely not saying those are the only types that should join)For them, it may be helpful. Me, I was in a different situation, and if I had taken more time to figure things out it would have been the wiser thing to do than join.

Post: #9

Well this is all good to hear. Thank you all.

Going to see my recruiter...right now in fact.

Post: #10

I can't see why a sebaceous cyst would prevent you from enlisting, a few years ago I had one right below my eye socket, it was like weird bump but didn't bother me. It took a few weeks to see the specialist but he just froze the area and cut it out, then gave it to me to play with, it was like a little jelly bean.

Post: #11

The short answer is, I doubt the cyst will derail you.

Post: #12

Okay. Saw my recruiter. We're gonna go ahead with MEPS and I pushed back the date to have the cyst removed to make room for MEPS and because having it cut out before MEPS would force me to wait 6 months.
He doesn't think they will even see it, nor does he think they will care if they do.

Hopefully the doctors don't get on a power trip and have wild theories about what the bump is. Like they almost did with my last medical issue.

Post: #13

^I agree with your recruiter, they will likely not even notice, and if they do it shouldn't be an issue.

Make sure you're able to get a job you're interested in, plenty of people get told there are no openings for what they are interested in "but just sign and we'll figure it out later". It can work out, but its better to not be in that position. Make sure everything feels right.

Post: #14

(08-12-2015 03:46 PM)GlobalMan Wrote:  ^I agree with your recruiter, they will likely not even notice, and if they do it shouldn't be an issue.

Make sure you're able to get a job you're interested in, plenty of people get told there are no openings for what they are interested in "but just sign and we'll figure it out later". It can work out, but its better to not be in that position. Make sure everything feels right.

I should be fine. One of the jobs I am eligible for is a new field: Technical Applications Specialist.

Detecting nuclear detonations. It's either that or cryptolinguistics for me. Neither are guaranteed of course but a safer bet.

Post: #15

Well I conquered the Edge of Eternity that mere mortals call MEPS.

I swore in to the air force.

Only one thing I am worried about.
I drove myself but the bus left without me.
So I had to speed to catch up, following a van also going to MEPS.
Losing this van would be a huge problem for me so I took a risk... And the light turned red as I entered the intersection.

I saw no flash, and another applicant more familiar with traffic violations told me to simply discard anything I got in the mail from the city of Sacremento.

You see, they send you a link in the fail. And if you follow said link, that confirms that you received the ticket and it goes on your record.
They can confirm I got the ticket otherwise, especially when I live in Stockton. Which is an hour away.

Basically, I am asking how worried I should be if I saw no flash (it was early in the morning so dark), and if his advice is sound.

I normally would accept the penalty but because it could derail my hard work this far, and because it was a mid-intersection light change, AND because I was doing it for Uncle Sam... I don't really want to.

Post: #16

(09-01-2015 04:30 PM)Eskhander Wrote:  Well I conquered the Edge of Eternity that mere mortals call MEPS.

I swore in to the air force.

Only one thing I am worried about.
I drove myself but the bus left without me.
So I had to speed to catch up, following a van also going to MEPS.
Losing this van would be a huge problem for me so I took a risk... And the light turned red as I entered the intersection.

I saw no flash, and another applicant more familiar with traffic violations told me to simply discard anything I got in the mail from the city of Sacremento.

You see, they send you a link in the fail. And if you follow said link, that confirms that you received the ticket and it goes on your record.
They can confirm I got the ticket otherwise, especially when I live in Stockton. Which is an hour away.

Basically, I am asking how worried I should be if I saw no flash (it was early in the morning so dark), and if his advice is sound.

I normally would accept the penalty but because it could derail my hard work this far, and because it was a mid-intersection light change, AND because I was doing it for Uncle Sam... I don't really want to.

If the camera took a photo of your license plate, you will get a speeding ticket, its about 350 dollars in Los Angeles, but you can get it removed from your driving record if you have not had an infraction in the past year and a half and go to traffic school. If you just ignore the ticket in the mail, you will just lose your driver's license. If you don't actually get anything in the mail, then you should be fine. Certainly not all intersections have these cameras.

Post: #17

Yea. I saw no cameras on any intersections after driving back around. But it could have been the wrong area since I'm not familiar with Sacramento, it was early morning, and I was... singleminded.

But I think I am fine.

Also typos in that other post: Mail instead of fail. And Can't* Confirm in stead of Can Confirm.