Quote:
Originally Posted by JJ_BPK
I disagree with your assessment of Cpt Castro as being un-fit for duty.
ALthough the world thinks that military service is a continuous routine of dodging bullets. The fact is few do the shooting and the many do the support.
Cpt Castro, with assistance, could be a contributing asset to the Army, for his total career. He may not lead a fighting unit but there is no reason he can't serve with honor in any of the thousands of support units.
I don't think he SEE's an alternative, other than serving with Honor.
And that I admire greating...
My $00.00002
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First, it's not my assessment, it is US Army regulation AR 40-501 Standards of Fitness, which states in part, "(3) Current or history of degenerative changes of any part of the retina is disqualifying." And "(2) Absence of an eye, clinical anophthalmos, unspecified congenital or acquired, or current or history of other disorders of globe is disqualifying." And finally, "a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the following is disqualifying:
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye.
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye."
The Standards of Fitness for the Active Army and the PULHES requirement for selection to SF duty positions states that CPT Castro is physically unqualified.
I didn't write the regulations, but I do agree with them. CPT Castro is physically unfit for duty and should be medically retired so that he can begin his new life and new career. This is what has happened to every soldier who has returned from combat having lost their sight, until now. I'm sure all the soldiers blinded in Vietnam, Korea, WWII, an WWI would have liked to have been allowed to stay on active duty until they could retire, but the regs said they couldn't.