Discrimination is making a difference, either in favour of, or against a particular person or thing. Deaf/hearing impaired people are not allowed in the armed forces. This is obvious discrimination. I feel unhappy and resentful because deaf/hearing impaired men and women have been excluded from the armed forces, even though they qualify and pass all of the other requirements. It is obviously unfair and it is prejudiced against the deaf.

Deaf/hearing impaired people are equal to hearing people and should have the same opportunities to participate in the experience of being in the armed forces. Deaf/hearing impaired people and hearing people are the same as each other but there is only one difference - they can't hear.

I believe the deaf/hearing impaired should be able to join the armed forces as they should be given the chance to show what they can do. There are lots of different things that they can do. One example is in the catering area where they can cook and cater for the many different needs in the force. Deaf/Hearing impaired people have the same skills as hearing people. They can, with the use of appropriate technology, work in many different areas, for example in the offices, as mechanics, in the field, or in any area where they require appropriately skilled people.

I know there are areas where deaf people cannot work safely, but there are many other fields where deaf/hearing impaired people can excel. In the American Annuls of the Deaf, published in Washington, D.C. there is an article which mentions that a deaf person is often presumed to see things which might be overlooked by those who hear. There are numerous examples in literature of deaf people leading scouting parties because of their allegedly superior acuity. This visual acuity is a very good skill and a great asset to have in the army because it would help them to concentrate better. It gives them a better ability to see if people are hidden or if they are trying to catch someone. Deaf people have an increased visual ability. They can use their peripheral vision better, because they have had to always rely on their eyes to keep them safe.

In very noisy areas, hearing people find it exhausting to concentrate and difficult to listen/hear. Deaf/hearing impaired people have little problems with noise. They can concentrate and they can communicate using sign language. If soldiers are walking through the jungle and they need to be as quiet as possible so the enemy does not know about them, they can communicate easily and silently by using sign language. This would be excellent when they are in a very noisy environment like an airport where there are a lot of jet engines or on a battle field. Deaf people can communicate easily without having to use their voices.

There are many good job opportunities in the armed forces, which should be available for everyone. There are a variety of apprenticeships such as being chefs or drivers. We can learn many skills and be just as disciplined as hearing people, learning to develop excellent job skills.

When you're in the Armed Forces you are able to get cheaper housing loans, have opportunities to travel and when you retire you will get a service pension. The deaf miss out on these chances. This is an extreme form of discrimination.

The army states deaf/hearing impaired cannot join the force because of communication problems. I think that is stupid. Interpreters can be used. Not all deaf people rely on interpreters. Their hearing loss may be mild or moderate. There are also many forms of communication devices for non-hearing people. They can use the Fax and the portable TTY, mobile telephones can put printed messages into the cockpit of a plane etc.

Deaf/hearing impaired people should be able to get into the army. There are good opportunities to improve life in the forces and deaf people should have access to these. Deaf people have increased visual awareness and their ability to communicate under difficult circumstances makes them very good candidates to become soldiers in the armed forces of a country.