I'm wondering if I can get in the military. I've talked to a recruiter and I am supposed to be getting ready for testing for the ASVAB. He told me that I could not get in there if I have been on medication or have been diagnosed with ADHD in the past 2-4 years. I was diagnosed with ADD about 5 years ago and I haven't been on medication since then .. and I'm a little confused, because I get different information from different people
2007-12-03 17:03:08 · 20 answers · asked by :) 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
ADD/ADHD
Under the old standards, any history of ADD or ADHD was disqualifying. While waivers were sometimes possible, they were among the hardest categories of waivers to get approved. Under the new standards, ADD/ADHD is disqualifying only if the applicant has been treated with ADD/ADHD medication within the previous year and/or they display signs of ADD/ADHD. For applicants with a previous history of ADD/ADHD who have been off medication for more than one year, and they do no demonstrate significant impulsivity or inattention during MEPS processing, the MEPS examining official may find them qualified for military service without submission of a waiver.
Records review is still required. Any history of being evaluated or treated for ADD/ADHD must be documented. As a minimum, all treatment (if any) within the previous three years must be submitted to MEPS, in advance, as part of the medical pre-screening. Full medical records are required if the applicant was ever treated for ADD or ADHD with any medication other than Ritalin, Adderal, or Dexedrine, or if there were any additional psychiatric symptoms, such as, but not limited to, depression.
MEPS may require school transcripts to demonstrate acceptable academic performance for the year without medication. If treatment for ADD/ADHD occurred throughout the school environment, but wasn’t stopped until after the applicant left school, there is still the possibility of waiver consideration.
2007-12-03 17:42:30 · answer #1 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Be honest with your recruiter about everything. If not it can come back and hurt you later. That would be much worse then not getting in. Now that's out of the way. No it will not affect you or keep you from getting in. It may prevent you from being assigned to certain job skill or ratings however. Now even though you can get in remember this. At any time should your condition return it is possible you may be medically discharged from the service.
2007-12-03 18:06:36 · answer #2 · answered by aswkingfish 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have ADHD. When I joined the Navy, their only requirement was that I had been off medication for the year prior to enlisting. Just be honest at MEPS and with your recruiter.
2007-12-03 23:24:23 · answer #3 · answered by Denise S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Figure out what you have been diagnosed with and what you haven't and put that into your initial packet. Whatever you put as your answers in that packet is what you then tell and explain to MEPS. Having different answers from one place to another will get you into serious trouble. Also if a doctor didn't tell it to you it wasn't so in the Army's eyes. So don't make assumptions or self diagnosis on anything. Believe me if your recruiter says you are good to go then you are. That is their job and they study the regs backwards and forwards to make sure their enlistees are eligible.
2007-12-03 17:15:48 · answer #4 · answered by Bridgeit21C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
im in the airforce and have to work with a guy that has adhd, or so he says....the diagnosis didnt get him in any trouble. but his behavior is getting him kicked out.
basically he's a retard, never pays attention, always doing the wrong thing etc etc...
but regardless of what your recruiter tells you, if there's a record of it, you need to let them know. i know some recruiters will tell you to not mention it etc etc...if there's a medicall record somewhere and u get a job that needs a security clearance, then they'll find it and you'll get in trouble. but dont be a peace of crap like the guy i was talking about, using a medical excuse to do his job like **** and endanger everyone else.
2007-12-03 18:03:18 · answer #5 · answered by bob p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you were diagnosed with ADD then it must not be affecting your normal life or you would be on medication. You have to be OFF the medication for a certain length of time. Not for sure, but I thinks it is 3 years.
2007-12-04 02:19:17 · answer #6 · answered by USDrill 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My fiance has a pretty strong case of ADHD and he`s been in for almost two years now. Its never been a problem so long as you control yourself. He is usually excessively busy but when he puts on his uniform, somehow he becomes a different person. I guess it does depend a little on how much you are willing to try and concentrate on it or how bad your case is.
2007-12-04 02:08:53 · answer #7 · answered by Ila J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband was diagnosed as a teenager with ADHD (he's now 38) and in the Army. He didnt mention it when he joined. I was diagnosed with depression/bipolar disease when I was 12. I am now 23 and in the Coast Guard. I didnt mention my problems when I joined either. As long as YOU know it won't affect you, I wouldn't even mention it.
2007-12-05 16:54:58 · answer #8 · answered by monster23 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to the recruiter again and make sure. If you try to enlist and they dont let you, im pretty sure you can ask for information so that you can appeal to the U.S. Army Medical Board. If you right an appeal letter to them after you get denied to join the Army you might get a shot at getting in. But again ask your recruiter again just to be sure. if he/she tells you no again, then just try to enlist anyways lol.
2007-12-03 17:10:16 · answer #9 · answered by O00-ACE-00O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you're at MEPS, tell the truth or face the consequences…
It’s that simple.
Sorry, no info on the ADD/ADHD problem, however.
2007-12-03 17:06:30 · answer #10 · answered by Yuriy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋