turtle141 wrote:

B.Personnel who suffer from SLEEP APNEA, and require a breathing assistance (CPAP machine) ARE NOT deployable under Army Regulation AR 40-501. You may be given special consideration only if you have a doctor's statement indicating that you can function without the CPAP machine.

hope this will help out ..

Hey!  Can you tell me where that is in the reg?  All I can find is the phrase  "if found fit (by MEB/PEB) the Soldier should not be deployed if the absence of coninuous positive air pressure would hinder the Soldier from performing military duty."  (chapter 5, paragraph 14-6) To me, that sounds like CPAP users can't deploy where Army medicine can't provide DME/sleep medicine support (Iraq, Afghanistan) but they'll probobly read it creatively.  By the way, I'm looking at the newest version of the reg, effective 29 June 07, so maybe they changed it since your post.  I'd sure like to see that memo someone mentioned about deployability Kuwait but not Iraq or Afghanistan.  Just got outta there and don't want to go back too soon...

drquest86 wrote:

Wish I would have seen this support forum earlier.

I am a soldier who uses a CPAP BUT was found undeployable due to its use.

First off, they told me that if the machine was rechargeable, then I was deployable.  Then, just a few days ago, I was told I was un-deployable except to Kuwait.  No Iraq, no Afghanistan, no Germany (believe it or not).  They cited a new memo from Army Med that stated the use of a CPAP in a combat zone is forbidden.

That is interesting.  I know a guy who deployed with his CPAP, but I think he did not get diagnosed via the Army, nor was he profiled.  Unlike myself, I am profiled on my PUHLES scores.

Hope he's okay and not keeping his fellow soldiers up at night

I've kept a lot of good buddies awake at night with my snoring.  Shows what great guys we have in the military that they were so decent to me about it.  Did you ever see that memo?  I'd like to know if it is still in effect.  I'm being boarded right now for OSA and expect to be found fit.  But years of undiagnosed OSA has done me a lot of harm and I'm not looking to go down range again and have to function without CPAP.  I don't hear much good about CPAP use in theater.  Motor failure due to dust and irregularity of generator power, masks crushed during "operations," and worst of all, no way to get replacements or parts except out of soldier's own pocket---.  That ain't all that easy either, where I was, they blocked access to EBAY citing "bandwith" issues so you need somebody in the states to order what you need and send it out to you.  Not good.  I'm surprised about a restriction on Germany:  Landstuhl told me they had three great contractors providing CPAP equipment and support...

I was currently diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and have orders to Korea, OSAN AB. Report no later than 10 NOV 2008  I really want to go my PCM tells me that I will be going through a MEB and that I will still be able to go to KOREA.  I was wondering if he is telling me the truth or if he is just BSing me?  This disorder does not affect my duty performance or my fitness, also I think I sleep just fine and always wake up feeling rested.  So is he BSing me or am I still going to OSAN AB Korea

markt wrote:

Hey!  Can you tell me where that is in the reg?  All I can find is the phrase  "if found fit (by MEB/PEB) the Soldier should not be deployed if the absence of coninuous positive air pressure would hinder the Soldier from performing military duty."  (chapter 5, paragraph 14-6) To me, that sounds like CPAP users can't deploy where Army medicine can't provide DME/sleep medicine support (Iraq, Afghanistan) but they'll probobly read it creatively.  By the way, I'm looking at the newest version of the reg, effective 29 June 07, so maybe they changed it since your post.  I'd sure like to see that memo someone mentioned about deployability Kuwait but not Iraq or Afghanistan.  Just got outta there and don't want to go back too soon...

Try this link http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf for the published version of the document dated 14 December 2007.  Same chapter and paragraph cited states:

(6) Sleep apnea. See paragraph 3-41c for profile guidance and for MEB processing criteria. The Soldier can be deployed if nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is required and can be supported in the area of deployment. Criteria for the ability to use nasal CPAP in the area of deployment include the following: availability of a reliable power source; absence of environmental factors that would render electrical equipment inoperable or unreliable, and the availability of a reliable source of replacement supplies such as masks, harnesses, and filters. A Soldier that requires nasal CPAP should not be deployed if these factors cannot be assured and the absence of nasal CPAP would hinder the Soldier from performing his/her military duties.


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REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Omg.  I can't believe this.  While I don't want to start a rant, this is terrible.  Any one of you being actively untreated in a combat zone makes yourself dangerous - to yourselves and your whole group.  We are fighting sending gays to the military who want to go and we won't send them because being gay would affect morale.  But we do send sick men and women as if they don't effect morale simply being impaired from severe sleep deprivation?

Ugh.  I don't want to get into the gays in the military thing but I just can't see the rationale of sending people who are a danger to others in that sort of a situation.


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mid6761...not a problem but, you have tagged onto a very outdate thread.  Hopefully you will continue to get responses here.  If not, try starting a new thread...and there is a thread at the top of the Help forum that is all aobut SA and the Military.

Thank You for protecting us...and SA afects you in ways that are often not realized..including reaction time, stamina etc.


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BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.