37 replies to this topic

[hannibal]

If you would like you could be a dispatcher for the police. Also many government jobs will hire the disabled, they even have special hiring authorities for disabled individuals. You just need a letter from your doctor.

[Stand]

I was thinking about joining the military a few years before my accident. They would not accept me than because I previously broke my foot playing basketball and had pins and screws in it. Highly doubt they would accept anybody in a condition that any of us are in. You can still be patriotic without serving in the military! Best of luck!

[ForeverChanged]

E-DOG, on 05 February 2010 - 11:17 PM, said:

Kodie, on Feb 4 2010, 07:38 PM, said:

Hello all!

I'm just wondering if I would be able to join the military? I know the answers are probably going to lean towards "no", but I mean, I could probably fly one of those remote controlled drones or something! I wanted to serve my country since before I got injured and now, even in a wheelchair, still want to. Does anyone on this forum have any idea?

Thanks in advance.

Kodie, I realize yer from Tennessee, but gee whizz dude, that's gotta be the dumbest question ANYONE has ever asked.

E sorry, just had to say it

E-Dog, I realize this question was asked a long time ago but I just saw it and I felt I had to educate people who think like you do and like I probably would if I hadn't been in the Army and if I hadn't actually looked into this subject. OK now, I spent 5 years in 82nd Airborne Division and the last 2 years were spent attached to 7th Special Forces Group. When I was in the Army I bought my first Harley and after a couple years I started riding with a motorcycle club. One of my brothers in the club was in the Army too. He was in an elite unit and he only had one leg. He was parked under an overpass waiting for the rain to chill out and a car clipped him. He lost his leg from just below the knee. Even after he lost his leg he could still out run most of the guys in his unit and he stayed at Ft. Bragg for at least another 3 years and as much as he loved being in the Army, I'd guess he may have stayed in and retired. I loved being in the Army too but I was gone for 7 out of the first 12 months of my son's life. I missed Christmas 3 times, my kids birthdays, my wife's birthdays and too much to list or even remember. I figured my kids needed me more than my country did at that time and when my country needed me again, I couldn't be there. Now something I'm sure you aren't aware of, there have been discussions about allowing disabled individuals to join the military in NON COMBAT positions. There are many positions in the military that someone in a wheelchair could do, clerks, pay roll, the JAG office, most any computer positions and most any positions that wouldn't require the individual to join their unit in any field locations during combat. This is just the Army I'm sure there are A LOT of positions in other branches, especially the Navy and the Air Force. I'm not putting down the Navy or the Air Force but it's just a fact that if you're in the Air Force, unless you are a pilot or air rescue, you will probably never see direct combat. In the Navy about the only way you'll see direct combat is if you are a SEAL, a pilot and some of the gun ships and even the gun ships launch their from miles away from combat. They are similar to artillery units. Like I said, I'm not putting down the Air Force or the Navy. In fact, I've been trying to talk my son into going in the Navy but I want him to do something he can use AFTER the Navy. I should have done something I could use when I got out but nooooooo. I saw the video of paratroopers jumping out of planes and I decided I just had to be the best of the best. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it....and I did. Too bad that when I got out, believe it or not there was not even one job posting asking for someone with the ability to jump out of planes, repel from helicopters, prime a block of C-4, TNT & dynamite, figure the amount of explosives it takes to bring down most any structure, walk 30 miles through the jungle, through swamps, through the desert and find a metal stake sticking up 12" above the ground in the dead of night with only a compass and terrain map(NOT an exaggeration.I actually taught land navigation), fight hand to hand using Muay Thai, and kill people. I just can't believe it but there WASN'T ONE job opening for a mercenary....LOL. Anyway, I would actually LOVE to see them change the rule keeping disabled individuals out. I fought in Iraq during Desert Storm and I got out of the Army a couple of years after I returned home and then shortly after that I was paralyzed in a drunk driving accident. After 9/11 I wanted to go back in SOOOOOOO BAD but like I said, it was too late, I'd already been paralyzed. I was literally sick because the second that first tower fell, I KNEW we were going to war and I KNEW things would never be the same again. The first Soldier that was killed just about killed me too. I felt like, "I have all this training and it's going to waste. Americans are over there dying and I SHOULD be there with them. I can help them." I did find a way to serve my country though. I filmed a documentary, "Forever Changed: A True Story That May Save Your Life" and then I began speaking in schools in the United States and Canada about the consequences of alcohol abuse, drug abuse and drunk driving. I also began speaking for conferences, mental health organizations, businesses like UPS that want to educate their employees and I also began speaking for Military units, specifically Army units. I know what the young men and women coming home are going through and I know that many of them are dealing with the feelings of guilt, regret, the pain and all the rest of the feelings that come with combat, the same way I did, with drugs and alcohol. Believe it or not, killing someone, even when they're trying to kill you, leaves you feeling guilty and it's something that never goes away. Anyway, I'll stop babbling. I just thought this may be something you were interested in hearing and if enough people were to fight for it, we could probably get the rules changed. I would be MORE than willing to help if anyone is interested. Being that I do these presentations, I contacted my congressman to get contact information and I've got information for Air Force, Navy and Army contacts. If you're interested in checking out my web site to see what I've been doing, the address is; www.ForeverChangedLLC.com. I'll be more than happy to speak in any schools anywhere around the United States and Canada.

[Brad Williams]

Ratticis, on 19 March 2010 - 11:02 PM, said:

Let's form a gimp militia and take over! . . . Unless they run to the top of a flight of stairs

Blahhaahaa blahhahhaah. That was to funny!!!! I'll have to use that one!!"

[tsh3406]

You can absolutely work for the United States Military, but no, you can not be a combat soldier. Fact is, a lot of able bodied folks can't make it through bootcamp. If you get onto usajobs.gov, you will find tons of jobs on military bases all over the US that have a very wide range of administrative and support positions that ANYONE can do. The irony of it is, though, that there are plenty of US Marine combat soldiers that CANNOT do all the things that KJ0331 indicated, either. I know this because I work with combat disabled vets. The ones who could not get out of the way of enemy fire, did not do so well repelling down a mountain or out of a helicopter or could not otherwise overwhelm and suppress the enemy. It's worth noting though, that there are several instances of para's that actively serve as law-enforcement officers.

Tim

[tsh3406]

By the way, ain't a DAMN thing "f'n rediculous" about wanting to serve your country, that dude is a patriot. And he has the improvise and overcome attitude as opposed to whining about what he cannot do....

Tim

[Gerodread]

all right good to see this is still open, i signed up just for this discussion.
nice and heated too.
to everyone here pursuing this career path good luck!
so... i see many sided arguments from all directions.I live in canada, im a paraplegic ive got good balance and upper body strength. could i get a job in small engine repair or some type of mechanical work?

[greybeard]

ForeverChanged, on 22 August 2011 - 05:01 AM, said:

E-DOG, on 05 February 2010 - 11:17 PM, said:

Kodie, on Feb 4 2010, 07:38 PM, said:

Hello all!

I'm just wondering if I would be able to join the military? I know the answers are probably going to lean towards "no", but I mean, I could probably fly one of those remote controlled drones or something! I wanted to serve my country since before I got injured and now, even in a wheelchair, still want to. Does anyone on this forum have any idea?

Thanks in advance.

Kodie, I realize yer from Tennessee, but gee whizz dude, that's gotta be the dumbest question ANYONE has ever asked.

E sorry, just had to say it

E-Dog, I realize this question was asked a long time ago but I just saw it and I felt I had to educate people who think like you do and like I probably would if I hadn't been in the Army and if I hadn't actually looked into this subject. OK now, I spent 5 years in 82nd Airborne Division and the last 2 years were spent attached to 7th Special Forces Group. When I was in the Army I bought my first Harley and after a couple years I started riding with a motorcycle club. One of my brothers in the club was in the Army too. He was in an elite unit and he only had one leg. He was parked under an overpass waiting for the rain to chill out and a car clipped him. He lost his leg from just below the knee. Even after he lost his leg he could still out run most of the guys in his unit and he stayed at Ft. Bragg for at least another 3 years and as much as he loved being in the Army, I'd guess he may have stayed in and retired. I loved being in the Army too but I was gone for 7 out of the first 12 months of my son's life. I missed Christmas 3 times, my kids birthdays, my wife's birthdays and too much to list or even remember. I figured my kids needed me more than my country did at that time and when my country needed me again, I couldn't be there. Now something I'm sure you aren't aware of, there have been discussions about allowing disabled individuals to join the military in NON COMBAT positions. There are many positions in the military that someone in a wheelchair could do, clerks, pay roll, the JAG office, most any computer positions and most any positions that wouldn't require the individual to join their unit in any field locations during combat. This is just the Army I'm sure there are A LOT of positions in other branches, especially the Navy and the Air Force. I'm not putting down the Navy or the Air Force but it's just a fact that if you're in the Air Force, unless you are a pilot or air rescue, you will probably never see direct combat. In the Navy about the only way you'll see direct combat is if you are a SEAL, a pilot and some of the gun ships and even the gun ships launch their from miles away from combat. They are similar to artillery units. Like I said, I'm not putting down the Air Force or the Navy. In fact, I've been trying to talk my son into going in the Navy but I want him to do something he can use AFTER the Navy. I should have done something I could use when I got out but nooooooo. I saw the video of paratroopers jumping out of planes and I decided I just had to be the best of the best. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it....and I did. Too bad that when I got out, believe it or not there was not even one job posting asking for someone with the ability to jump out of planes, repel from helicopters, prime a block of C-4, TNT & dynamite, figure the amount of explosives it takes to bring down most any structure, walk 30 miles through the jungle, through swamps, through the desert and find a metal stake sticking up 12" above the ground in the dead of night with only a compass and terrain map(NOT an exaggeration.I actually taught land navigation), fight hand to hand using Muay Thai, and kill people. I just can't believe it but there WASN'T ONE job opening for a mercenary....LOL. Anyway, I would actually LOVE to see them change the rule keeping disabled individuals out. I fought in Iraq during Desert Storm and I got out of the Army a couple of years after I returned home and then shortly after that I was paralyzed in a drunk driving accident. After 9/11 I wanted to go back in SOOOOOOO BAD but like I said, it was too late, I'd already been paralyzed. I was literally sick because the second that first tower fell, I KNEW we were going to war and I KNEW things would never be the same again. The first Soldier that was killed just about killed me too. I felt like, "I have all this training and it's going to waste. Americans are over there dying and I SHOULD be there with them. I can help them." I did find a way to serve my country though. I filmed a documentary, "Forever Changed: A True Story That May Save Your Life" and then I began speaking in schools in the United States and Canada about the consequences of alcohol abuse, drug abuse and drunk driving. I also began speaking for conferences, mental health organizations, businesses like UPS that want to educate their employees and I also began speaking for Military units, specifically Army units. I know what the young men and women coming home are going through and I know that many of them are dealing with the feelings of guilt, regret, the pain and all the rest of the feelings that come with combat, the same way I did, with drugs and alcohol. Believe it or not, killing someone, even when they're trying to kill you, leaves you feeling guilty and it's something that never goes away. Anyway, I'll stop babbling. I just thought this may be something you were interested in hearing and if enough people were to fight for it, we could probably get the rules changed. I would be MORE than willing to help if anyone is interested. Being that I do these presentations, I contacted my congressman to get contact information and I've got information for Air Force, Navy and Army contacts. If you're interested in checking out my web site to see what I've been doing, the address is; www.ForeverChangedLLC.com. I'll be more than happy to speak in any schools anywhere around the United States and Canada.

I hope you aren't waiting for a reply from E-Dog. He died almost a year ago, and incidentally he served as a US Marine.