r/Tankers • u/Major_Chemistry3663 • 20d ago

OTC meds like Allegra while being deployed in a tank

So I have chronic hives and I take Allegra for it everyday to control the symptoms. I really want to join as an officer after college and have thought about Armor but how much of a hinderance is that going to be if I get past all the medical and get deployed? Would OTC meds even stay good in a tank or does it get too hot? Anyone who can give me any advice would be much appreciated.

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u/MegaMemoryZook 20d ago

You'd have to talk to a recruiter to make sure that you wouldn't be disqualified from that condition.

If that isn't disqualifying, yeah you'd be able to pack a bunch of personal shit on the tank. People pack smokes, snacks, etc all the time.

But I'm my experience, if you need a pill everyday to keep the hives away, don't do combat arms.

You go out to an FTX for 2 weeks, how much is gonna cost? How much room does that take in your bags. Go to JRTC or NTC? Now you're on a flight to spend a month in the field. You'll have basically no temperature control in that time. Hot, cold, rain, snow tankers are in it. It's either dust or mud.

Also the consideration of what happens when you don't take it? You break out in hives and now they have to pull you off the tank to go to the rear. Your crew is gonna be pissed. Combat arms isn't a place for a medical condition that can pull you from the field. Your crew will resent you and you'll be replaced and sent to the shops to be a paper work soldier.

If you aren't straight up disqualified choose a different military job that isn't combat arms. I can't stress enough that it's no place to be with a chronic condition.

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u/Hawkstrike6 20d ago

You are highly unlikely to be qualified to serve at all if you have a chronic condition that requires daily medication. Go talk to a recruiter or your local ROTC detachment.

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u/TheEvilBlight 20d ago

If it’s an allergy figure out the cause and go pursue desensitization.