# The military granting waivers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995 "2015-03-26T01:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/1 "2015-03-26T01:02:43Z")
Are the Army Reserves and/the Army National Guard granting waivers? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/2 "2015-03-26T01:48:34Z")
The best way to know for sure is talk to a recruiter at the time. Blanket policy changes are infrequent. Even when they are being granted they can be more or less problematic at a given time. “Waiver” is pretty broad too. Different types of issues can change status independently. Guard side can have some state level effects too depending on their strength posture and local recruiting success. Reserves will be under the same policy regardless of where the unit is located. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/3 "2015-03-26T03:33:59Z")
Well tomorrow I’m going to go and speak to one so wish me luck that everything works out. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/4 "2015-03-26T14:34:55Z")
You can pretty much forget a waiver unless you have a particularly desired skill-set, AND whatever medical reason is disqualifying you is borderline to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/5 "2015-03-26T15:45:52Z")
Waiver for what? The basic answer is “It depends.” For the most part the enlistment criteria for the Guard and Reserves are exactly like Active Duty. Especially when it comes to medical. MEPS and all your training is through the active component. Currently it is very difficult to get waivers for anything. You need them more than they need you. Manning requirements are down, the economy still isn’t great and they have plenty of people trying to get in. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/6 "2015-03-26T16:53:09Z")
Now that they are downsizing the military they will be less likely to hand out waivers, but at the same time it depends what the waiver is for and depending what your situation is they may be very willing to give you a waiver if it’s something insignificant. I had a sergeant that had to get a waiver because he was 7’ tall and had to get a waiver because technically I believe according to regulations maximum height allowed is 6’10’’. ---
**Author:** ![RememberMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@RememberMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RememberMe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/7 "2015-03-26T17:09:42Z")
What they won’t give you a pass on is the requirement to get heavily vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/8 "2015-03-26T17:23:36Z")
> [@RememberMe](#): > > What they won’t give you a pass on is the requirement to get heavily vaccinated. Another one I know that they _will not_ do is give you a waiver to fly if you’ve ever been knocked unconscious. But other than that, you can get a waiver for nearly anything. In theory. Whether you’d get one or not depends on so many things we definitely need more to go on to give you a proper answer. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/9 "2015-03-26T17:44:22Z")
> [@RememberMe](#): > > What they won’t give you a pass on is the requirement to get heavily vaccinated. Oh haha very funny ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/10 "2015-03-26T17:45:40Z")
What I would be looking for is a wavier for an entry level separation that happened 6 years ago. Re code 3 Separation code JGA ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/11 "2015-03-26T18:05:46Z")
That’s the longest gestation period I’ve ever heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/12 "2015-03-26T21:48:13Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Oh haha very funny Dude. You’re going to get a lot of shots. You’re even going to get shots for things you’ve already gotten shots for. You’re going to have a shot record, and if you misplace it, or forget to bring it when they’re giving out shots, you’re going to get all the shots all over again. If they send you _anywhere_, you’re going to get more shots. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/13 "2015-03-26T22:53:29Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Waiver for what? The basic answer is “It depends.” For the most part the enlistment criteria for the Guard and Reserves are exactly like Active Duty. Especially when it comes to medical. MEPS and all your training is through the active component. > > Currently it is very difficult to get waivers for anything. You need them more than they need you. Manning requirements are down, the economy still isn’t great and they have plenty of people trying to get in. > [@Dorjan](#): > > You can pretty much forget a waiver unless you have a particularly desired skill-set, AND whatever medical reason is disqualifying you is borderline to begin with. These. If your skills are just _that_ good and they _really_ need those skills right now, they will find a way to get you in. If you just want to be another infantryman and collect your standard paycheck, they have plenty of candidates who don’t _need_ a waiver. Of course, if we get another World War or Vietnam type land war where we need a lot of cannon fodder, you’re going to find the standards are going to suddenly get a bit more relaxed. It’s basic supply and demand here, nothing really special. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/14 "2015-03-26T23:06:58Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > Dude. You’re going to get a lot of shots. You’re even going to get shots for things you’ve already gotten shots for. You’re going to have a shot record, and if you misplace it, or forget to bring it when they’re giving out shots, you’re going to get all the shots all over again. If they send you _anywhere_, you’re going to get more shots. Yes I’m aware of that. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/15 "2015-03-27T15:59:01Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > Dude. You’re going to get a lot of shots. You’re even going to get shots for things you’ve already gotten shots for. You’re going to have a shot record, and if you misplace it, or forget to bring it when they’re giving out shots, you’re going to get all the shots all over again. If they send you _anywhere_, you’re going to get more shots. I used to HATE that crappy yellow record! Lost it at least twice. Nowadays all the shots are on computer, so don’t need to carry that around anymore! ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/16 "2015-03-27T16:54:38Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I used to HATE that crappy yellow record! Lost it at least twice. Nowadays all the shots are on computer, so don’t need to carry that around anymore! Still have mine, had all of the information entered into the EMR with my local doc finally. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-granting-waivers/715995/17 "2015-03-27T17:06:18Z")
A Waiver for a separation will depend a lot on age and Military Specialty .