They always seem to come a few hours after I lift or do cardio. They didn’t start until I started training for boot camp. If it gets serious enough, I fear that I will be found out and kicked out of the military. Please help!
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Migraine and headaches have become a major problem for US military over the past decade. Migraine headaches are very different from the normal headache. A migraine is excruciating, and throbs in only one part of the sufferer’s head. Ever so often the headache is heralded by a “migraine aura,” which can consist of fuzzy or lost vision, tingling or numbness of the skin, exaggerated response to pain or brief unconsciousness.
Migraine and headaches have become a major problem for US military over the past decade. Migraine headaches are very different from the normal headache. A migraine is excruciating, and throbs in only one part of the sufferer’s head. Ever so often the headache is heralded by a “migraine aura,” which can consist of fuzzy or lost vision, tingling or numbness of the skin, exaggerated response to pain or brief unconsciousness.
Migraine is listed in the Military Medical Standards for Enlistment & Appointment as a condition that will disqualify a person from being accepted in the military. This is especially true if the headaches restrict normal function, or if they are of such severity as to require prescription medications.
If you’re a migraine sufferer, you have an obligation to mention it in your application paperwork. Knowingly giving false information or withholding essential information on a recruiting form is a criminal offence; a felony punishable by a $10,000 fine and three years in prison. In most cases, recruits who are later discovered to have disqualifying conditions receive a fraudulent enlistment discharge with a reenlistment code of “4,” meaning that if they reapply, they can never be accepted in the military again.
All is not lost if you’re a migraine sufferer, however: you can apply for a medical waiver if your symptoms are not severe. Each waiver request is evaluated individually, and factors such as whether you are otherwise exceptionally qualified are taken into consideration.
Migraine is a debilitating condition that can affect your ability to serve in the military, and it should always be taken very seriously.