NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Keith Nolan spent a decade applying repeatedly to the Army's Reserve Officers Training Corps' program before the deaf man's tenacity paid off and a commander finally let him audit the classes.
Nolan became a top performer in the ROTC program's Bravo Company at California State University at Northridge, and his instructors were so impressed they let him wear a uniform. He was distraught when he turned it back in and said goodbye to the other cadets in May. He could advance no further under the military's current policy that requires cadets pass a hearing test to be commissioned by the Army.
Why would he want to be in the military so badly? Super patriotic?
ReplyDeleteNormally, I would say don't discriminate against the disabled....but let's think this through....If they were to hire him - they would have to assign him to specific tasks - generally non-front-line / non-combatant roles....that's not the problem...the problem comes in when you want to give a 'soldier' (term used generically here) a break from the front lines - by assigning them to a non-front-line / non-combatant role; which has been taken by someone that can't rotate in to the other role. We've already seen this type of issue when we integrated women in to more of the specialties initially filled only by males. The solution was to allow the ladies to fill the other half too.
ReplyDeleteWhen he can fill the other half - bring him on...even if he has a bionic ear.......
Sorry but for now I don't think you belong...there are standards for a reason.
Retired Serviceman.
I read the article and they already have disabled people serving in the military.
ReplyDeleteCertain things they cannot do but there are jobs that they can. I am surprised no one has sued them for discrimination.
he can't watch my back!!
ReplyDelete10:08 Those in the military who are "disabled" usually BECAME that way as a result of their military service & were allowed to continue to serve with limitations. These restrictions on their ability to perform often result in reclassifi-cation to a specialty (job) that is less demanding of them in the specific area of their disability. This almost always disqualifies them from any kind of combat specialty and many combat support specialties, leaving others who aren't so limited to "take up the slack" in many of the less glamorous, more physically demanding, more dangerous jobs in the military. When the military increased the numbers and role of women in their ranks, this effect was experienced. Having said all of this, the ultimate role of anyone in the military is to fight if it becomes necessary. And there is no way to guarantee that a person will never be exposed to the possibility of combat. There are certainly some with less serious disabilities who can and have served honorably and well and would be able to fulfill a role in a combat situation in spite of it. However, someone who is deaf would endanger himself and those around him, not only in combat, but in many training situations (weapons & grenade qualification come to mind immediately). Anyone who's been in the military, if they're being realistic, can certainly attest to this. If you haven't been in the military, it may be difficult for you to see the larger picture.
ReplyDeleteRetired MSgt, US Army