Smokin Joe...
I also have congenital flat feet (never bothered me, but the Army wasn't thrilled with that and would still 4-F you for it). They are still flat.
When I was in school, I thought about entering the ROTC to help pay for school, because I could not get a job one summer. I began the process of joining the Air Force ROTC, took the physical, etc, and at the same time, applied for my first student loan. The loan came through before I heard back from the Air Force, so I took it.
But in taking the physical, the doctor said to, "son, you got some of the flatest feet I have ever seen".
I quickly asked, "that won't stop me from getting into the Air Force, will it?"
He said, "no, we will take you, even with your flat feet."
My question, when guys got drafter back in the day of the draft, if they had flat feet and the US Army would not take them, were they required to go into the Navy or Air Force, where flat feet did not matter so much? I regret my decision of not doing the Air Force ROTC and going the loan route. I feel like I missed out on a key experience, and having the opportunity to do it again, would have gone in the Air Force.
The doctor told me I did not have the eyes to be a pilot or navigator. I asked what else could I do? He said, next best is probably the missile program. Part of my decision not to do it was I thought I would get stuck in a silo 100 miles from the nearest town, no girls, etc, and I thought, that isn't something I wanted.
