Is it impossible to get into the army if you have a learning disability?

Question

My husband is talking to an army recruiter tonight at our house. He is planning on signing papers and joining tonight. Only problem is that he does not have his GED or diploma. The recruiter said it will not be a problem and that he just has to get it before basic. What I am worried about is that he is going to have trouble with the test. See, he has a slight learning disability to where he has great difficulty with spelling and trouble reading...

A friend told me that it won't matter because the army will help him every step of the way and that there are lots of soldiers who can't read well or at all. I don't want my husband disappointed in himself... help!

My husband works construction and has since he started working... the learning disability doesn't interfere witth that at all!

Answer 1

Let me try and help: All these people answering your question, some were right on for the most part some were way way off, here goes:

This is the course of action I would take: First the recruiter coming to the house is just coming to do the initial paperwork, that is basically to see if your husband is physically, mentally, and morally qualified.....on paper, next comes the ASVAB and the physical. If your husband passes that then he becomes qualified to join provided the Army is accepting applicants without a GED. If not he will have to wait until they are or pass the GED. If he passes the GED and they are accepting he will get the job they want him to have, something like laundry and bath specialist, or petroleum supply specialist, he will not have a choice in anything, he may even get what they call an open contract which is where they assign him a job based on needs after Basic Training, remember the object is to get your foot in the door. Jobs like Infantry, Armor, Computers, Mechanic, require a far greater aptitude than you make out your husband has. My advice is to take the ASVAB and physical, the physical is good for a year, the ASVAB for 2 but if he does not do well he can take it over in 30 days, up to three times then he has to wait for 6 months. As someone else said, THE ARMY WILL NOT HELP YOUR HUSBAND GET HIS GED WHEN HE IS IN. He can get it himself by going to school, but the Army is not going to help other than to give him tuition assistance. When I was a recruiter, we had programs that we could put kids in which were like 6 weeks long, once completed, the kids took their GED's and almost 100% passed, in addition, the school was set up and approved so that when the kids passed it was equivilant to a HS Diploma. Ask the recruiter if they have any of those programs. Do not know if your husband can do that as he works. Mabye a night class. Remember, he is not joining tonight, just going over and signing the paperwork for his physical, mental, and moral status. Sit down and write a list of questions up that you want to ask, even the so called dumb questions are not dumb. If you, and I mean you are not comfortable with the recruiters answers, call him on it. Good Luck, and feel free to contact me via e-mail if you have questions. And last, no contracts are signed until your husband sits down with a guidance counselor at the MEPS and they give him a job, your not signing a contract tonight!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

When the armed forces instituted the All Volunteer Force concept all possible enlistees were required to have a high school education or GED before signing on the dotted line.

Now that DOD relaxed this requirement to make recruiting quotas, especially for the Army, it seemed inconsequential that an enlistee with some learning disability mattered. Remember that to all the branches of the armed forces its all about making quotas.

Having said that! I would not recommend your husband sign any contract until he receives his GED. If getting a GED is part of the contract and he has not passed the GED before the time he is ordered to basic he could be discharged for medical conditions. This will be a stain that will be found out on any future employment and remain with him for the rest of his life.

Again, remember that quotas count to all the branches of the armed forces, and the recruiter could care less what happens to your husband after he is discharged. Your husband’s future is what is at stake here.

Good Luck if your husband decides to join! The military is an honorable occupation.

Answer 4

To the obvious morons who replied that you have to have a learning disability to join the military they need to read the report on the link (that is, if they can comprehend it). The US military is better educated that the general population.
That being said, there are people with disabilities in the military (just like there are in the general population. Your husband will have to take the ASVAB, which there are study guides for and I was told he will have to pass the GED before he can start basic training. The military will help him to accomplish both of these tasks. The recruiters office should have study guides and information for both of you. Good Luck.

Answer 5

He'll have to take and pass the ASVAB test before being accepted into the military. It is a test that determines one's aptitutde in certain areas and helps the recruiters make determinations about how well he'd fit into the Army and what job he would likely do best at. Since he has a learning disability, this test might be difficult for him...it can be tough. IF he passes and the Army wants him, he'll likely be put into a job that doesn't require much intelligence.

But if it would of his own best interest to improve himself as much as he can.

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

DoD Directive 6130.3 addresses the topic of LD, which the regulation collectively terms "academic skills disorders" a term which is defined by the DSM-III-R. The Department of Defense requires its mental evaluations to be conducted using the DSM-III-R criteria. It provides that "Diagnostic concepts and terms used in ... DoD Directive 6130.3... are in consonance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, DSM-III-R, American Psychiatric Association, DSM-III-R, 1987. "

DoD Directive 6130.3 provides in part:

"The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are:
***
4. Specific Academic Skills Defects. Chronic history of academic skills or perceptual defects secondary to organic or functional mental disorders that interfere with work or school after age 12."

So learning disabilities, under certain circumstances may disqualify an applicant for military service. However, learning disabilities that do not interfere with work or school after the age of 12 would not preclude military service.

Answer 7

the Army will not help him pass the GED test. That, he has to do all on his own. without the GED, he doesn't ship, end of subject.

have him study his buns off. and also look into ASVAB study books as well.. he has to have a minimum 31 raw score on the ASVAB to even qualify for any jobs in the Army.

Answer 8

I don't know. It really depends on if he can learn at all. Because I don't know the extent of his learning ability I'd have to say it would be safer for him not to join.
Solders need to think fast on their feet to stay alive. They need to be able to negotiate several things at the same time and have exceptional observation and learning skills. Tactical and strategic planning under extreme pressure and danger is critical for survival. Don't let him join. The army is hard up for bodies, they'll lie and do anything to convince him it's ok.
Read the articles in the links below. They could save your husbands life.

Answer 9

I read some of the situations some of you people are desperately in and I thank God everyday for my life.

So your husband has such limited choices in his life that he has broken down to the only viable solution left... Join the army as an 11 Bravo infantryman and go to Iraq in order for his family to survive in the U.S. Well aint that America.
That is so sad maam. I mean no disrespect to you and your family. I will pray that your husband finds his way.

Answer 10

no he has to take a test and if he fails they won't let him in. just try helping him study. they have plenty of book you can check out for the ged test and the asfab. think about it would you want someone holding a gun (to protect your freedom say overseas) that can't read? they have to meet certain requirements for these reasons. good luck to him.