Profile Questions about Mahal

[rafi]

Post Medical Questions here by hitting reply

[Arronious]

Btw thanks for this awsome forum with out the smut that was going on here before.
Here's my question. i wear glasses but i also wear contacts. I really don't want lazer surgery cause my father's friend is blind in one eye cause of it. but how does it work in the idf? do i just wear my pair of glasses or do they issue me a pair? Can i wear contacts or not?
Each has its own advantage and disadvantage but i want ot know what the army says. thanks 4 the time

[Mac]

Are persons with one kidney allowed to serve in the IDF, and if so can they serve in combat units or just non-combat?

[Dan from Boston]

Please read the forum rules and post to the introductions thread in the Introductions forum before posting.

[Sammy]

alright my question is, if you are serving in a combat unit and you are medicated, i.e. for acid reflux disease, can u carry your meds with you? these pills are absolutely not required, but my life is just easier with them, so not having them poses no health risk to me... so whats the policy?

[rafi]

alright my question is, if you are serving in a combat unit and you are medicated, i.e. for acid reflux disease, can u carry your meds with you? these pills are absolutely not required, but my life is just easier with them, so not having them poses no health risk to me... so whats the policy?

I'm not a doctor. But pending on the degree of reliance on a medication, you may or may not be allowed to have them on you. Mitigating circumstances include: are they prescription or "over the counter" and who will supply them? There is a chance the army will want to control their adminstration. Medicine is a funny thing in the army. If you do not take it as prescribed, you can actually be put on trial for "p'giyat rikush tsahal" or damaging army property - you! So they take it pretty seriously, and as such might want to have control over your taking it.

As you are aware, in certain circumstances, acid reflux can give you symptoms ranging from asthma to an ulcer. These might affect your profile on the day of your enlistment.

So while I am trying to make you aware of a couple of things that may come up, I do not think anyone short of the doctor on the day of your induction physical can give you a definitive answer.

And lastly, something I wish more posters would realize - no one in the army cares what you think about your own health. They will tell you what they think, and that is all that matters. I cannot put enough emphasis on this.

[aussieboy]

in september 2006 i had two seizures and have been put on long term epilepsy medication
would i be allowed in a combat position?
i can carry three months worth of pills in a small pocket and if neccesary can go without for up to a month-and have done so without problems
the medication on me has no noticeable side effects. i also have slight asthma if i dont keep fit but am in top health otherwise.

thanks

[rafi]

in september 2006 i had two seizures and have been put on long term epilepsy medication
would i be allowed in a combat position?
i can carry three months worth of pills in a small pocket and if neccesary can go without for up to a month-and have done so without problems
the medication on me has no noticeable side effects. i also have slight asthma if i dont keep fit but am in top health otherwise.

thanks

Welcome to the board.

A frequently asked question is whether a person's personal medical history will preclude them from combat duty, and what should they do about it. My responses have varied from emotional to harsh.

As a commander, I daily had to make decisions for the good of my entire unit. Some of those decisions revolved around putting people in harms way. There is no luxury or margin of error in trying to remember who can do what in a tight emergency situation. In other words, peoples lives can depend on everyone on a team being 100% effective 100% of time. Obviously this is never possible, but you want the odds in your favor.

Serving Israel is an incredible mitzvah. And less than 5% of soldiers ever actually see combat, except in unusual times. There are so many jobs to be filled in the IDF, many requiring brains over brawn. There is no reason why you should endanger yourself or your comrades. Serve, serve with honor and serve to the best of your abliities.

But I think you already know the answer to your question.