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...Oh what fun!

Anyways, I was wondering what exactly I should, or should not, include within my appeal? I know I need medical evidence and a letter written by myself but what should this letter say?

The reasons I wasn't accepted were:

Agoraphobia (Medically Discharged 2 years ago from NHS)
Wheeze (up to me being five)
Heart Murmur (Innocent and never been seen by docs or had meds, shit, I only found out a year ago)

And the biggy......my eyes wobble...!! It's called Congenital Nystagnus (CN) and it is a weak muscle in my eye(s) (not sure). I see straight btw (as in my vision DOES NOT move) and my vision is well within acceptable standards (Army standards) both corrected and uncorrected. This condition seems to be a perma bar to the Army so is it still worth appealing even with, presumably, sufficient medical evidence?

I have to go doctors today and collect a letter from them detailing that these facts do not interfere or indeed even have a bearing on my lifestyle. I'm also thinking of getting something similar from the opticians but I don't know how to go about this since they don't exactly have consultants.

I'm also planning on putting in my hand written letter that I am willing to submit myself for medical testing by themselves but I don't know if this is suitable....??

Is there not some sort of waiver I can sign with regards to some of these conditions (similar to what you can do in USA)?

Sorry if this seems a little rant-ish, it is extremely dissappoiting to believe that the MoD is willing to generalise an eye condition which is not as bad as they make out and therefore ruin my future.

As a note: Is it worth mentioning this to my uncle? He was a RSM and was even offered Captain so I don't know if there is anything he could do as in cut the red tape bullcrap. His name is Scott Dunn if anyone knows of him in the RA.

I don't want to pour cold water on your idea of appealing their ruling, but when the forces now have the choice of the the fittest and brightest young men, I personally think that you don't stand much of chance. Only today a young lad dropped dead after playing American Football and he had a heart murmur when he was a child, now every one thought he was clear and he was accepted for the forces only to drop dead a few weeks before he started. When they turn you down it is normally for a very good reason.

When you say fittest and brightest, I can run a 8 minute mile (I go gym every day except Sunday so that will decrease) and I scored an 87 on my BARB. The recruitment Sergeant said it was equal to an A* grade so I'm not exactly stupid in that respect.

As for the heart murmur; I have never ever been to the doctors, I have never taken meds for it (indeed if I still have it) and my doctor has not once mentioned it in regards to anything including when I had asthma when I was 8 until about 10.

I understand that with the current economical situation the MoD is spoilt for choice but how many actually want to be soilders? I know I do and I'll be damned if I'm going to let something as daft as a heart mumur or wobbly eyes get in my way.

While I appreciate your comment I would like for you to answer some of the questions in my original post if you would care to.

Thanks.

Having a RSM or even a Brigadier wont make any difference to your application these days. The Lad that died in Kent last weekend had been cleared with his heart murmur but still dropped dead after playing American Football. Now if they took you into the forces and some thing happened now just who do you think that will get blamed for letting you in.

If you already know that having wobbly eyes is a instant bar on joining the Forces why bother to appeal? What's submitting to testing going to do other than prove "yes, you do have wobbly eyes"

If its decided its a bar, then it is, no matter if it effects your vision or not for some reason (and although not obvious there will be one) it's been decided that this condition makes you unsuitable for the Army.

But more importantly, despite the fact you say you've been clear for two years, you're Agoraphobic!

Conditions like that can easily be trigged by stress and how would you expect the Army to take a risk that if you're stuck in a FOB in Afghanistan, under constant attack whenever you leave the compound, you're not going to have a relapse and refuse to go on patrol etc...

It may be huge disappointment for you but honestly, with the conditions you've been barred under, you've got no chance of a successful appeal and that's just an unfortunate fact that you should get used to as in the end it'll only prolong your agony by drawing this out. The Army aren't going to pay out good money to have you tested for conditions they know you have and that subsequently bar you from service.

Sometimes you have to take knocks like these on the chin, pick yourself up and move on. I'm barred from service with the forces now due to my knee, life's shitty, deal with it. The sooner you accept it the sooner you can move on with you life, if you keep going over and over it in your head it'll drive you crazy take it from one who knows.

GiMpY 91 You say that you can a mile in eight minutes, were you walking it or running it. I was timed during my training as running a mile in 4 minutes 5 seconds

I walked five minutes for warm up then ran the rest. I wasn't trying by the way, I just went for it randomly just to see. I've got no problem with speed its just endurance which is the pain in the ass for me.

I'm overweight by Army standards (BMI) by approx 7lbs and I've only been going gym for a month but I know it's pretty poor but for someone who once weighed 17 stone thats pretty good by my books. I now weight 13.5 stone so I pretty much have no choice but to appeal dispite the naysayers.

Something I've got to say here: I know CN is a perma bar but I do not think it should count (In my case). Yes my eyes move but my vision does not, my head does not (common amongst CN 'sufferers') my eyesight is slightly deminished (left eye only) but well within Army standards and pretty much perfect with glasses. It is merely a weak muscle in my eye, it's not going to fall out or anything so it's kind of stressful that this is once again impacting on my life.

/rant

Note: Awesome time btw, I thought 5 minute miles were impressive but thats really good. Congrats.