'I want to serve my country': Deaf man locked in ongoing battle to join the Army

Miss-Delectable

Miss-Delectable

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Deaf teacher Keith Nolan locked in ongoing battle to join the Army | Mail Online

A deaf man is fighting to be allowed to serve his country by join the Army.
29-year-old teacher Keith Nolan is determined to achieve his lifetime dream of working in military intelligence.

After a decade of applying repeatedly, Keith Nolan was finally accepted into the Army's Reserve Officers Training Corps' (ROTC) program, after a commander agreed to let him sit in on the classes.

Nolan became a top performer in the program at California State University, and his instructors were so impressed they let him wear a uniform.

But military policy requires cadets to pass a hearing test to be commissioned by the Army.

Nolan was distraught when he had to say goodbye to the other cadets when the course ended in May, Fox News reported.

He said in sign language: 'All I really want to do is join the Army.'

'I want to do my duty, serve my country and experience that camaraderie, and I can't, owed to the fact that I'm deaf.'

He added 'I am convinced that there is a non-combat position that I can do in the military without harming our armed forces' effectiveness and readiness.'

Capt. Sid Mendoza, a supervisor on the training program said Nolan was one of the top performing cadets.

With the help of a deaf interpreter, Nolan excelled, showing up at 5 a.m. exercises even though he was not required to and earning a perfect score in his military sciences class.

Nolan, who was born deaf to deaf parents, has wanted to join the Army ever since he learned of the experiences of his grandfather and great uncles who fought in WWII.

His father, Kevin Nolan, successfully won a city council seat against a 20-year incumbent and taught his son to rise above his disability.

Congresman Rep. Henry A. Waxman is working to help the driven young man. Nolan wants Waxman to sponsor a bill allowing deaf people into the armed forces.

More than 2,000 people have responded in support of Nolan's Facebook page, 'Commission Cadet Nolan Now.'
 
Not letting him is a crime of its own, imo.

I've tried to enlist twice myself. Ah well. But I feel the dudes pain in this situation.
 
Yes correct...I know his family pretty well..they got deaf sister as well. :)

Whole family are deaf only one is hard of hearing which is Kevin, I am not sure right now....

I am very impressed how Keith get his act up and roll up his sleeves....I really hope that they will let deaf people get in any of services (Army, Navy, etc etc)

Steinhauer said:
I think I know his older brother - Kevin ... right?
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I think it's cool that he's challenging people's perceptions of deafness, but at the end of the day it's just not going to fly. Any person in uniform must be trained for combat readiness and be prepared to fight. It's just not going to happen for a deaf person.

Did he ever consider the fact that he could serve his country just fine by being an Army civilian?
 
I tried to join the service after high school. I knew what the answer would be. ("No.") I had nothing but respect from the recruiters, but the fact is, like TheWriteAlex said, people in the service are soldiers trained for combat readiness. One needs to be able to hear verbal orders and carry them out immediately. There's no time to interpret in the middle of a skirmish or battle. It's the difference between life and death, or losing or winning a fight.

I have the utmost respect for this man and I totally understand where he is coming from.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
I think it's cool that he's challenging people's perceptions of deafness, but at the end of the day it's just not going to fly. Any person in uniform must be trained for combat readiness and be prepared to fight. It's just not going to happen for a deaf person.

Did he ever consider the fact that he could serve his country just fine by being an Army civilian?
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My hubby didnt serve in the front lines as a Marine...he did communications repair. I think there are plenty for Keith to do without having to fight on the front and still be able to serve his country.
 
LakeTahoe said:
Yes correct...I know his family pretty well..they got deaf sister as well. :)

Whole family are deaf only one is hard of hearing which is Kevin, I am not sure right now....

I am very impressed how Keith get his act up and roll up his sleeves....I really hope that they will let deaf people get in any of services (Army, Navy, etc etc)
Click to expand...

I know Kevin and met his mom and dad a couple of times.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
I think it's cool that he's challenging people's perceptions of deafness, but at the end of the day it's just not going to fly. Any person in uniform must be trained for combat readiness and be prepared to fight. It's just not going to happen for a deaf person.

Did he ever consider the fact that he could serve his country just fine by being an Army civilian?
Click to expand...

Just so you know, at the end of the day, in israel, there are deaf soldiers who have been combat trained. I actually know one .... Wonder what ever happened to her ....
 
Steinhauer said:
Just so you know, at the end of the day, in israel, there are deaf soldiers who have been combat trained. I actually know one .... Wonder what ever happened to her ....
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Just so you know, we are talking about the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Israel has nothing to do with this.
 
I truly admire this young man. He is paving the way to change for others that will come after him. Baby steps are *always* needed for change and understanding. Acceptance.

Geez, people say all these things about 'hearing' commands but, from what I know of the army, being in combat, a lot of it is done by hand signals. Why can't they do ASL signals so that Deaf *AND* hearing can fight for their country if that's what they want to do?

I cannot imagine a dream and passion of being to serve your country, to be proud to do so, and be denied simply because you have to hear? Oy!
 
TheWriteAlex said:
Just so you know, we are talking about the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Israel has nothing to do with this.
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Oh then I apologize, I thought you were implying that deaf people could not be trained in the military in regards to combat. (because they absolutely can).
 
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Steinhauer said:
Just so you know, at the end of the day, in israel, there are deaf soldiers who have been combat trained. I actually know one .... Wonder what ever happened to her ....
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Thank you for proving me wrong. :) That's really cool.
 
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/deaf-man-determined-to-serve-in-military-despite-disability/

bboatmanable
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 12:46pm
BUMTHROWER
Yes, the military is the biggest discriminator in the world. Right now, I am a Military Training Instructor for the Air Force (Drill Sergeant) and while the initial logistics of it all would be a bit daunting, it certainly would be far less to overcome that have gays and lesbians in the same dorms as straight Trainees. If their is a NON-combat roll they can accomplish (and believe me, there are plenty in all services) then I would rather train someone who has the heart this young man does ANYDAY over some of the LAZY individuals who call themselves Americans that I have the distinct displeasure of training now.
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just had to post this.
 
Question:

When considering deaf people for the military, are we talking about all deaf people? That is, we're not restricting it to oral deaf, or deaf with CI's only?


I'll play Devil's advocate here (not that the Devil needs anyone's help).

Some points to think about:

1. Many orders during training and active duty are yelled from behind, from marching commands in boot camp, to "Duck!" in combat.

2. Many orders are taken and given by radio only. That includes helmet radios that are used during combat missions.

3. On ships, orders and emergency announcements are given over the ship's intercom system.

4. Even if terps were available during training and Stateside, they wouldn't be available overseas in combat.

5. When deployed in combat zones, batteries for CI's and HA's might not be available. Same goes for replacements and repairs.

6. No VRS available overseas.

7. These days, no one in the military can expect to do an entire tour without going overseas or avoiding combat. It's not fair or feasible for rotation reasons.


I'm not saying these are disqualifiers. Only that each circumstance needs to be thought through completely.
 
Reba said:
Question:

When considering deaf people for the military, are we talking about all deaf people? That is, we're not restricting it to oral deaf, or deaf with CI's only?


I'll play Devil's advocate here (not that the Devil needs anyone's help).

Some points to think about:

1. Many orders during training and active duty are yelled from behind, from marching commands in boot camp, to "Duck!" in combat.

2. Many orders are taken and given by radio only. That includes helmet radios that are used during combat missions.

3. On ships, orders and emergency announcements are given over the ship's intercom system.

4. Even if terps were available during training and Stateside, they wouldn't be available overseas in combat.

5. When deployed in combat zones, batteries for CI's and HA's might not be available. Same goes for replacements and repairs.

6. No VRS available overseas.

7. These days, no one in the military can expect to do an entire tour without going overseas or avoiding combat. It's not fair or feasible for rotation reasons.


I'm not saying these are disqualifiers. Only that each circumstance needs to be thought through completely.
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In Israel, a profoundly deaf person can serve their country in the military. I do not know how they do it, but I am quite sure they take a common sense approach. They probably sign the orders to deaf groups that are trained together. They may pair up a deaf person with someone who is currently serving that knows sign. In other words, they may have a "segregated" army. There may be no VRS overseas, but they get internet.
 
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