Ever since I got out in 2012 I've been playing with the idea of getting back in. Civilian life is not all it's cracked up to be.

The biggest thing that's kept me out so far has been my weight. I'm not obese, but I am over the weight limit for enlisting.

In the last few months it's come to light that my uncle needs a kidney, so now I'm on a very strict weight loss plan so that I can get my BMI down to where i would be an eligible donor.

Consequently, after I lose the weight for the transplant I will also be able to "make weight" to reenlist.

But does anybody know if having donated a kidney would disqualify me on it's own?

Obviously that wouldn't ever stop me from donating my kidney, but it would be nice to know.

Has anybody else been in a similar situation or known somebody who's been denied enlistment or allowed to enlist after donating an organ?

I'm almost 100% sure that is a disqualifier. Throw in the way the military is restructuring and the retention rates I doubt you could receive a waiver.

I agree with cookeag. I'm pretty sure that's a DQ.

I am afraid of that.

All you can do is try.

Most of the services use AR 40-501 Section 2 at MEPS as the accessions medical bible. I fought a battle over a waiver for a specific condtion back in 2009 when I tried to re-enter the Army via a direct commision in the USAR. I lost that battle, lol.

AR 40-501 Section 2 applies to: "...Applicants for reenlistment in the Active Army, RC, and ARNG/ARNGUS after a period of more than 6 months.has elapsed since discharge."

Section 2-15 (f)(1) would appear to apply to you (assuming you donate your kidney):

f. Kidney.
(1) Current absence of one kidney, congenital (753.0) or acquired (V45.73) does not meet the standard.

There is, of course, the possiblility of waiver of almost ANY condition. As others have mentioned, given the various drawdowns going on, the chances of a waiver for having 1 kidney seem pretty slim to me. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen though. Hell, Biden's kid got appointed an Ensign in the Naval Reserve at age 43! Proof that miracles CAN happen...

Text for AR 40-501 can be found at the following link:

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf