Which military branch is easier to get a medical waiver to enlist?

Question

I've been a Army ROTC cadet at a university for a little over a year now and going for my second year. Due to a birth defect leaving my left hand missing a pinky and ring finger, the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) says I am disqualified from service as an officer and I am unable to get a waiver from Army cadet command since the military is downsizing. Since nearly all, if not all, branches are downsizing, I may not be able to commission into the other ROTC programs at my university (especially since I would be behind in training and already have numerous college credits). I'm attempting to get another waiver, however in the mean time I want to explore all military branches in case I want to enlist in case I am denied again. My idea would be either enlist after my second year of college and finish school later on and maybe go through OCS (or when I return to college, I'll have enough training and school to finish ROTC in a Green to Gold program or something similar) or I will enlist after I graduate in little over two years and go directly to OCS. Sorry about the length of the question so I'll get to the point, I would like to know which branch  will most likely offer me a medical waiver for enlistment? I really want to serve in the military in any branch at this point, I am interested in every single one. Here are some points that might be helpful in order to answer my question:

-Since being born missing fingers, my hand adapted over the years allowing me to perform just like everyone else and especially those in my ROTC unit (ex. pull-ups and push-ups).
-Right handed.
-Age: 19 going on 20.
-An Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) average score of 260 out of 300.
-Meets height/weight standards for the Army.
-ASVAB scores: TBD.
-Medically qualified overall (ex. sight, bones, skin, etc.) except my left hand of course.
-No criminal record or tickets.
-Qualified as a marksman at the shooting range at Joint Base Lewis-McChord with my ROTC unit.
-I do understand those enlisting go through MEPS instead of DoDMERB, however knowing I could show up to day one of MEPS and be disqualified could be a military career ender for every branch. Perhaps there is a certain medical process for me to take prior to MEPS as well?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and hope everyone had a wonderful New Years.

AD · Accepted Answer

In all honesty, you probably aren't going to get in if you are missing fingers. People who are already in who lose a finger could face separation and are evaluated to determine if they will keep them. You are welcome to try but I seriously doubt any branch will give you a medical waiver. The National Guard is usually the most lenient on waivers, as a recruiter we had a guy who was rejected for a waiver for active duty so he went to the Guard and they gave him the waiver.

@ Artilleryman: Consider doing a tour as a recruiter before you say that the Army has super low enlistment standards. Just because you got lucky when you got in doesn't mean everybody else will since standards are sky high due to the drawdown. I'm pretty sure you noticed how much harder it is to reenlist now and how they're even looking at the NCOERs of NCOs who want to reenlist before they make a decision on allowing them to do so. Not to mention the QSP boards coming up real soon. It's hard for the guys on the outside to enlist right now too.

Jayne · Answer

1

Erika · Answer

Military Medical Waivers

visick · Answer

Army Waivers

Anonymous · Answer

I'd say Army has the lowest standards. As an Army vet, I hate to say it, but the Army has drastically lowered its standards. Pretty much every other branch has strict standards. And don't listen to the guy who said Coast Guard. Everyone thinks they're a pushover branch because you don't see their commercials as often. The toughest muthas I've ever seen were from the Coast Guard and the Navy. 

Your profile looks pretty good for the military. I honestly am not sure about your finger issue, but when I joined, my right pinky finger was paralyzed from an accident. I didn't say anything, but they caught it at MEPS. I thought they were going to disqualify me, but they inspected my hand as a whole and concluded that I could still hold and fire a rifle, so they let me join. Didn't need a waiver or anything. I'm really not sure in your case, though. 

I'm surprised your ROTC command hasn't told you anything. They of all people should know.

Andrew 427 · Answer

The military as a whole really hate people with any kind of physical defect. Today, they're more strict than Nazi Germany was with their recruits. Seriously, the SS had a corps for disabled individuals during the early years of the war. The U.S. Military doesn't. That kinda says a lot about how they feel about people who have disabilities... Scary, isn't it?
Anyway, I hope this helps. If not, you at least tried, and nobody can take that away from you. Bear in mind, there ARE other ways to serve your country.

bill · Answer

Your best bet would be to contact a recruiter from each branch and email them this question with all the details and they can tell you how likely they think they can get you in.

Mrsjvb · Answer

all Five Branches use the SAME standards.   a DQ for one is a DQ for all.  

Missing digits is a PDQ and no waivers are authorized in any Branch or component.  Officer or enlisted.

 choose another path, you will never be allowed to serve.

Tiera · Answer

***** you don't know anything about the dam military. so ***** **** you

Anonymous · Answer

coast guard?

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Which military branch is easier to get a medical waiver to enlist?

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