RAF and armed forces medicals

Mary29

My son was diagnosed with JIA when he was 12. He had fluid on his knees, hips and swelling in his finger. For the next 4 years he took methotrexate and he never had any problems with his eyes, all his blood tests were clear and at the age of 16 he was discharged from the hospital. When he was diagnosed he was in shock for a while as from the age of 7 he had been a keen footballer. At the age of 12 he joined the Air Cadets and come what may he did everything he could to join in. He was so determined not to give in to the pain he did Rugby, Football and Athletics he did so well he represented his squadron at local, regional, national and Corps level. At the age of 16 he did so well at 100m he was asked to run with the RAF. Again he did so well he was asked back for a second time. When he was 16 he knew he wanted to go into the RAF so we discussed this with his specialist. He told my son there should never be a problem as he has never had damage to his joints or had serious swelling. We then went to our local RAF careers office told them what the medical history was and they told us he had to be off medication and be pain free for 2 years.
However, now the job he has waited for has finally come open so he applied, 3 medicals later and 6 months of waiting he has been rejected as being UNFIT as he has chronic arthritis. We are going to appeal as his specialist can not understand why they have reached this decision as there was never damage to his joints and all the letter he sent to my GP clearly state that every visit we made to the hospital showed no issues, blood count was normal and Ben had outgrown the condition.
I am looking for anyone out there who has been discriminated against for the same reason when applying for a job in the armed forces or similar. How the RAF can label my son has suffering from chronic arthritis despite what the specialist has stated.
Any comments welcome

frogmorton

Mary

I am sorry that this is an area about which I know NOTHING :oops:

BUT I do want to offer you both my support - I think this is such a shame :? and must seem terribly unfair when your son on paper (ignoring the arthritis) sounds the perfect candidate.

In yours shoes I would be appealing for definite. Is it worth checking out legislation regarding disability discrimination? Maybe not if you want them on your side though?????

I would be gathering as many additional reports as possible, references, testimonials and make a heartfelt plea for reconsideration.

Love to you both

Toni xx

Mary29

Thank you Toni,
As a Mum who told him never to give up on his dream I feel so helpless now he is being told the illness he fought for 4 years is the illness that could stop him living his dream.
His MRI scan results done in 2004 showed no damage to his joints and that is what we are hoping the RAF will see. My sons specialist is away until the 15th July but his secretary is getting together all the necessary details for an appeal so that on his return he can hopefully help us fight this.
The ATC are preparing a testimonal stating all the things my sons achived as a cadet and now as a Civilian Instructor he applies 100% in everything he does.
What frustrates me the most was in 2008 he passed and was sent to RAF Cranwell for officer training but failed on his maths. In 2010 he passed for Firefighter but with government cut back was told to reply when the job opened up again. So if he passed twice before what has changed in 2 years, other than he is 2 years older, stronger and JIA free.
All my family and friends have their fingers crossed that our appeal is given a fair hearing. x

19smp59

When my son went for army selection he was sent home as they heard a heart murmur, they sent him straight away for an echocardiogram. When we arrived at the hospital there were about 10 young men all waiting for the same thing. All of them nervous wrecks because they knew their career choice was over if anything was found. I remember the relief when the consultant came out and read out my son's name as being fine, along with all the others. I really wish your son well, you certainly seem to be doing all the right things. Good luck x

Mary29

Thanks you. Which department of the Army did your son go into. I know they do these things for a reason but its not good when a young person who applies for the armed forces is put through so many different things because of a previous medical illness. x

19smp59

My son is in the infantry, 1 Scots based in Edinburgh at the moment. Sadly I think they have got stricter because they can be more choosy as due to unemployment etc many more people are applying. I know that my son had had a knee problem before he applied and they followed this up and asked for confirmation before he was accepted. My GP wrote a brilliant letter confirming that the knee problem had been a (??? cyst) sorry can't remember the name and that the physiotherapist had dispersed it and that no joint damage arose from this.

I have a friend who's son applied for the navy and he was rejected due to a blood condition but he was advised to appeal and get a report from his Consultant. He only hasn't followed this through yet as he is working abroad at the moment.

I really hope that once you get a favourable report from his Consultant that an appeal will go his way. He's very lucky that he's got the kind of mum who supports him and is doing everything she can to help.

Good luck again, Suzanne x

lupin15

Hi i am sorry to hear what has happened to your son but they have got really stricked about who they take in. My daughter tried to join the RAF passed all the tests and then they got to her medical.. She has physical artica ( sorry i have spelt that wrong). She had come off her meds to get in but they said she had to be off them for another 2 years even though she had not been on them over 1 year. This was nearly 3years ago. The issue when my daughter asked was that any one on medication or had been on any had to be off it for 2 years.. Aparently this has stopped a lot of kids that had childhood ilnesses getting into the forces both RAF and the army.
I am not sure what you can do but hope that you manage something. My daughter has taken another course has had a daughter and now working and studying with the hope of becoming a nusre. Sometimes things have a way of turning out another way. Good luck