Statement on Military Service...

When I was in my mid-20s, I had a strong desire to serve my country through the military.  My desire for public service originated from being a Boy Scout working toward my Eagle Scout rank.  After taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), I was thrilled when my recruiter told me I would qualify for most military positions.  The next stop on my planned career in the military was at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).  All went well until an eye doctor gave me a vision test without my glasses.  He wrote down my vision as “CF”.  When I asked what “CF” represented, he said, “Count fingers.”  I had failed the vision test.  I decided to explore a way to get around this hurdle to military service.  I went to my eye doctor and asked if I could get a medical waiver for the military.  She replied that there would be no problem getting a waiver to stay out of the military.  When I explained that I wanted a waiver to get into the military, she said she was less sure about that and that I would need to check with a military recruiter.  I asked a recruiter from every branch if I could get such a waiver.  Every recruiter told me my nearsighted vision would keep me out of their branch.  One recruiter even told me he could not envision a war so bad that they would lower their vision requirements to include me.  I could see well enough to drive but not well enough to defend.  Realizing I could not serve my country through the military was probably the greatest disappointment of my life.  I now realize I can still provide a public service through being a State Representative.

Support Our Troops!

Paid for by Friends of J D Strouth, Jana Clark, Treasurer.