Army? Should I Go?

[Apocalypse77]

I will have to go to army in 3 years. Should I go?

 

[orbiter12]

It's 3 years away, I wouldn't worry about it now.

I don't think anyone on here would recommend shooting guns though

 

[linearb]

Firing large amounts of centerfire ammunition is pretty much guaranteed to slowly degrade your hearing, even if you use earplugs (if you don't then it happens more or less instantly).

I still like my bangsticks but I stick to .22 rimfire mostly now. I'm looking at buying some silencers so I can shoot bigger things again, but that's not going to be an option in the military.

Tinnitus is the most frequently paid disability for the US Veterans Administration: https://www.hillandponton.com/eservice-connection-hearing-loss-tinnitus/

 

[Michael Leigh]

I will have to go to army in 3 years. Should I go?

It depends on how much your tinnitus hyperacusis improve. At the moment it's not something I would recommend. I advise you to seek whatever help you can get at ENT and with a Hearing Therapist if you can get a referral. It would be a good idea to make sure your health professionals document your progress and treatment over the coming months and beyond. That way if you are unable to go to army in 3 years because of your tinnitus and hyperacusis, you will have medical evidence to support your reasons.

Michael

 

[MBH]

In the US you volunteer, but in other countries I don't know. Document tinnitus disability, and if you have to go in, how is your kitchen skills, learn how to cook, serving the army is also being in the army, it's part of the team. There are other jobs, if you must go in, but it's 3 years away.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I will have to go to army in 3 years. Should I go?

Is serving in the military mandatory in your country? If you can avoid it (and you care about your future and about your health) it makes sense to do all you can to avoid it (independently of whether or not you are suffering from tinnitus).

 

[PaulBe]

Where are you that you have to go? Not Israel surely?

 

[walkthroughwalls]

Where are you that you have to go? Not Israel surely?

Norway possibly? Although I think you can object by saying that you're a pacifist and you'll have to do community service as an alternative. And the latter may involve working with (screaming) children.

I agree with @Michael Leigh. Make sure there's a record of your tinnitus (and possibly hearing loss) which should get you exempted from having to be in loud situations. Get in touch soon and you may be able to work something out, although three years is still a long time away.

Not all military work involves firearms and artillery, though. A job in cybersecurity or doing administrative work should be fine. Personally, and I don't have any experience with the draft, I'd also base my decision on what wars your country gets involved in and if you support the decisions your government makes.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Norway possibly? Although I think you can object by saying that you're a pacifist and you'll have to do community service as an alternative. And the latter may involve working with (screaming) children.

I agree with @Michael Leigh. Make sure there's a record of your tinnitus (and possibly hearing loss) which should get you exempted from having to be in loud situations. Get in touch soon and you may be able to work something out, although three years is still a long time away.

Not all military work involves firearms and artillery, though. A job in cybersecurity or doing administrative work should be fine. Personally, and I don't have any experience with the draft, I'd also base my decision on what wars your country gets involved in and if you support the decisions your government makes.

I realize not all militaries are the same, but I know military personal with cyber security and administrative roles and they still have to participate in regular training sessions (i.e. gun range shooting).

Talk to an ear specialist @Apocalypse77 and research if a medical exemption is possible. You have three years, so maybe wait a year before starting the process.

 

[PaulBe]

I realize not all militaries are the same, but I know military personal with cyber security and administrative roles and they still have to participate in regular training sessions (i.e. gun range shooting).

That's true. In the end everyone in any Military is supposed to be able to handle a weapon with some proficiency, even the Chaplains. You never know who may be the last line of defense. (Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition?)

 

[Apocalypse77]

I have much time before I have to choose. For a long time I wanted to join the air forces, but inside a fighter it can be as loud as 103 db so this would 110 % make my T worse. It's sad that I can't join the air forces, but maybe if I didn't get T I would have joined the air forces and I would have developed a really loud T, much louder than now.

 

[TuneOut]

I will have to go to army in 3 years. Should I go?

HELL no. Get out of it any way you can.

 

[Zug]

I have much time before I have to choose. For a long time I wanted to join the air forces, but inside a fighter it can be as loud as 103 db so this would 110 % make my T worse. It's sad that I can't join the air forces, but maybe if I didn't get T I would have joined the air forces and I would have developed a really loud T, much louder than now.

I read once that WWII Pilots used to come home and tell their doctors that they kept hearing the bombs falling. That was Tinnitus. I also met some veterans, most of them where really proud of what they accomplished. I once had lunch with a guy lacking one hand because it was blown up by a grenade. He seemed happy with his life.

My point is, if you're thinking about joining the air force your job may involve people trying to kill you. If you're really into it and want to do it anyway, Tinnitus won't stop you.

 

[walkthroughwalls]

I realize not all militaries are the same, but I know military personal with cyber security and administrative roles and they still have to participate in regular training sessions (i.e. gun range shooting).

Talk to an ear specialist @Apocalypse77 and research if a medical exemption is possible. You have three years, so maybe wait a year before starting the process.

I didn't know this. Thanks!