Joining the Air Force with Hypothyroidism

Trauma Columnist · Nov 19, 2009

There's solid reasons for this: there are many places in the world w/o regular medical care and the concern would be if you missed your meds, would you then be fit for duty?

NurseJessi · Nov 20, 2009

This is from the Military Medical Standards they use:

The disqualifying medical conditions are listed below. The International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes are listed in parentheses following each standard.

The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction (without an approved waiver) are an authenticated history of:

Current goiter (240) is disqualifying.

Current hypothyroidism uncontrolled by medication (244) is disqualifying.

Current or history of hyperthyroidism (242.9) is disqualifying.

Current thyroiditis (245) is disqualifying.

Just me, but I don't see anything about thyroidectomy, and since these standards talk about "control with medication" - if you're well controlled with synthroid, I don't see why you couldn't get a waiver... But I don't have experience with this. Anyone else know for sure?

allnurses Guide · Nov 20, 2009

I am working on my BSN and would like to join the Air Force once I'm done. I had a total thyroidectomy and it is controlled with synthroid. I was told today by a recruiter that you can't be on any meds for an entire year before you join and that is just impossible for me. Do you know of anyone who has received a waiver for this and is this info exactly accurate? She did not seem to sure of herself on some of her answers. Thanks for any information you may have. I was very disappointed when she told me this.

Were you talking to an enlisted recruiter or a Healthcare recruiter? It sounds like you might have been talking to an enlisted recruiter. I would say that you can probably get a medical waiver for your hypothyroidism. I know nurses that have had their thyroids removed, were allowed to stay on AD, and still deploy on a regular basis.

Good Luck!

aniko743 · Nov 21, 2009

I have been reading these post for a long time. Finally I will be graduating with my BSN next month. I started the process with the Air Force, however, I have hypothyroidism also. It is very well controlled with Synthroid. I have a same fear, that I will be disqualifed because of that. My recruiter said that probably I will need a waiver. I guess I just have to wait and see.

Aniko

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2009

I just graduated from COT YESTERDAY (FINALLY!!!) and my roommate had hypothyroidism and was on Synthroid. I do not know if she had a waiver or not, but she was there and was on the medication.

Please don't take her acceptance as gospel that you'll be OK; just understand that I personally know of one person who has it and is now on active duty.

aniko743 · Nov 22, 2009

Thank you for your reply, it gives me some hope that I might get a waiver for it. I don't have any other medical history, but my thyroid. I just keep a positive attitude and see what happens.

Congratulation for finishing COT.

zaokeanka · Aug 18, 2020

I am a nursing student getting ready to graduate in December. I just inquired about Air force Reserve (not sure if I spoke with a medical recruiter or just an enlisted recruiter), but was also told that because I am on Synthroid, I do not qualify. I'm on a very low dose of it since I was pregnant with my second child and I know I can get off of it, but just wanted to see what folks here can advise. How were you able to get through it with being on this medication? can anyone share what the outcome was?

Thanks!