My friend is being all emo and is telling everyone when he turns eighteen he's going to join the army so he can finally fit in or because he wants to die or some other b.s. reason. Anyways, I'm consoling his girlfriend that he wouldn't be able to join the army because he has epilepsy, but she says he said no he checked. I'm confused, because my father wasn't able to get into the army just because he had flat feet, so I thought there was no way they'd let someone a condition like that join. So could a person with epilepsy be able to join the army?
2007-12-20 14:43:07 · 9 answers · asked by Sierra 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Sounds like he just wants attention. That's a definite disqualifier if it's happened anytime recently. He could lie about it on his application, but if it's a frequent problem he deal with, it would be discovered and he'd be discharged. He might also get in trouble for lying on a military application.
I believe the actual rule is that unless the applicant has been free of seizures for a period of five years, while taking no medications for seizures, and has normal EEG, they are disqualified.
A lot of disqualifiers can be waived (waivers are considered on a case by case basis), but I'm inclined to think that epilepsy would not be waiverable.
Additionally, if your friend has documented depression (wanting to die and whatnot), that is also a disqualifier.
The military is very choosy, which surprises a lot of people. A person with medical problems (even flat feet, amazingly enough) is a liability and could potentially place himself and others in unnecessary danger. The recruiting numbers are being met and exceeded year by year as well, meaning that they aren't hurting for recruits, so it's not like they'd just let him on because they need people; they have plenty.
2007-12-20 14:56:24 · answer #1 · answered by WD 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It would be tough but i wouldn't say its impossible. I was in 2 movies while I was in the army only small extra type stuff but it payed. One was a tv movie. The other was The patriot. My dad worked on the movie so got me a part. I don't really care about doing movies or anything just thought it was cool. So its possible but don't expect alot of free time to be able to. Now the writing shouldn't be a problem at all, and going to school wouldn't be a problem if there is a school that you could take the classes you want near by. If its film school you might run into some problems as there's not alot of good ones and the good film schools are not really near army bases. Don't give up on your dreams you can achieve them with some hard work. Maybe you should figure out why you want to join the army if you feel a passion for film. The army doesn't pay that well to be honest and the benefits while free are not always that good. You do get money for college so that would help if that's a problem.
2016-05-25 06:14:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no way that guy can come into any branch. I am a US Army Recruiter and I would never send that guy down to process for the Army. Reason being is that if he gets a siezure in the middle of a fire fight he and some of his comrades might end up coming home in a coffin. That's not something I want over my head. He is DQed for life. The only way he has around that is not telling his recruiter. Hopefully that doesn't happen.....But if that does happen you need to contact that recruiter because it's not fair to the soldiers he might serve beside. I wish there was a way to help him but unfortunately there is not as far as getting in the military. SSG Miller
2007-12-20 15:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by dustynmill 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Epilepsy past the sixth birthday is disqualifying unless he has been symptom-free (no seizures) in the past five years without the use of medication. He will be subject to an exam by a neurologist and have an EEG done to confirm a normal brain pattern.
2007-12-20 15:31:05 · answer #4 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes he can join and serve.
My son joined , went through the training ,served as an Army Ranger and did a tour in Iraq.
He was honorable discharge after raising to the rank of Sergeant (sp).
He is also an epileptic since early childhood.
2007-12-20 14:53:56 · answer #5 · answered by Akkita 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Epileptics are considered medically unfit for military service.
Of course, they can probably get away with it if they can somehow get their hands on medication, or if they don't suffer seizures very often.
I've heard of one fellow who joined the Royal Australian Navy even though he was an epileptic. He took his own medication with him through recruit training which kept him going well... until he ran out, suffered a brain-damaging seizure and was ineligible for medical support because he didn't tell them he had it.
2007-12-20 15:51:55 · answer #6 · answered by Gotta have more explosions! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no. only if they lie. but they would not be in anymore danger than the rest. with meds they would be fine. epileptics can do fine 99% of the time. most sailors, soldiers, etc. are drunk far more than that. reality check. if somebody wants, unless they have a really bad case, they would do fine. what is the worse thing that would happen? getting fired? bs. need a finger to pull the trigger. if they get through boot camp, they are home free.
2007-12-20 14:50:33 · answer #7 · answered by JIM 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. My bunk mate at basic got kicked out because he had seizures when he was five. Why he waited until basic to tell anyone that, I will never know.
2007-12-20 15:09:43 · answer #8 · answered by DOOM 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
He will not be allowed to enlist is he has epilepsy..period.
2007-12-21 00:05:30 · answer #9 · answered by Annie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋