Posted: 6/7/2006 4:38:48 PM EDT
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I decided a while back that I wanted to join the Marines, and have commited myself to getting in shape (a lot of work to do). I have given myself until January to get in shape and finish one last semester of college. I have 25 units right now. Before I even considered it, I heard that ADD/ADHD would disqualify someone from joining the military. My research on this subject has given me conflicting results. A little background: I was diagosed at age 5 with ADHD. I took various medications until I was about 12, then I stopped. I have not been on any medication for at least 5 years. I do not have any of the symptoms of this condition, and have not for some time. I have absolutely no problems concentrating on a task, and I have no trouble sitting still. Hell, sitting still is what I do best!  Personally, I don't think I ever did (I was just an "active" child  ). My mother had trouble with me, but my dad always objected to the medication. Whatever the truth is, it is now on my medical record.I have not been to the "doctor" for several years (since I stopped taking medication). I find is suspicious that the "doctor" I went to always assured my parents that the medication would help with my "organization", which was the reason that I took it. I may have been hyper as a young child, but after that I was just "disorganized" (Messy room, etc). What a great reason to medicate a child... Is it possible to get this childhood diagnosis removed or otherwise amended? I fear that I would be disqualified based on a diagnosis that occured when I was 5 years old (I'm now about to turn 19). That diagnosis may not have been valid, and I certainly don't have it now. I haven't talked to a recruiter yet. I don't want to do so until I prove to myself that I can get in the shape required to enlist. I've been sitting on my ass playing computer games too much, and just recently started becoming active again. If all goes well, I should be ready to talk to one early in the fall. Oh, and I'm confident that I could get in the highest percentile on the ASVAB. I've always been in the top 1 percent on English and top 5 percent on math in standardized testing (not much of an achievement in this state!). So, what are my options? |
| if it's already on your record you might already be kind of screwed, as someone with that condition can't enlist, it happened to a friend of mine when we went. it's sounds like you've got the condiditon under control (if you even have it) make sure the military doesn't know about it, simply. i'm not supporting lying to the meps doctors, but i will say that if everyone was 100 percent honest about medical stuff, the .mil would be a lot smaller. good luck. |
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This whole thing pisses me off. Parents need to be more careful with that they do to their kids...this shit can come back to haunt you as an adult. I read somewhere that if you are not on medication (and have not been for at least a year), you should be fine. Since I have not been for at least 5 years, and I don't have any symptoms, I don't see why it would be a problem.
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| Previously Diagnosed ADHD is not per se disqualifying unless currently on medication andd/or displaying active symptoms of behavioural problems. If you can get documentation from your current doctor you that you have outgrown the condition and have no behavioual issues, you have a fairly good chance of obtaining a waiver. But it takes a while and probably needs to go theorught the appropriate Surgeon General. |
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If you haven't been on meds for a year, tell them, and move on. Make sure you sign up for Combat Arms, Arty, Tracks, Infantry, or Engineers, because that way you experiance all the "true fun" the Marines have to offer. And don't worry about getting in shape, or losing weight, the Marines have their own weight loss program and you will be amazed at what they can do for you in 13 weeks. And don't worry about college, it will be there when you get out. Go now, have fun, it is a vacation. I shit you not if you join the Marines at some point very soon you will be hanging out somewhere in Boot Camp thinking "Can't believe I was worried about ADHD and getting in shape." |
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Though this is in your medical records, and you haven't been on med's for some time, agree with the above about discussing this with recruiters. Generally, witha good candidate, the addage of "where there's a rule, there's a waiver" may be used. The recruiter would likely refer you to a military MD for a check-out. |
| If you haven't been on meds for years, I wouldn't sweat it. I would get a current physical and if that documents that you're fine, you should be good to go. The recruiters are your best path to getting through the enlistment process without a hitch. They have a goal to meet and you are the only way that they can meet it. The golden rule of military medicine is to give them only what you want them to know. I shredded my rotator cuff and bicep early on in our last deployment and was on pain meds from our corpman the entire time. We called him Dr. Feelgood. I made sure that it was documented in my medical record as an injury. When it came time to demob I told the DR in Norfolk that I would have it looked at by a civilian ortho DR and as they were backed up for 6 months to even see a Navy ortho DR, he documented the injury again and I was on my way. The moral of this story is to make MilMed work in your favor. Don't allow it to be a roadblock for your goals. |
Well, I don't think it's on my regular medical records. The "behavioral specialist" I went to as a child kept his own records and did not forward them to my main doctor AFAIK. I'm going to request my medical records soon and see what's up. That would probably help things. What would I say with this question? 72. Taken medication, drugs, or any substance to improve attention, behavior, or physical performance "Oh..I thought it meant that I took non-prescribed drugs, that's why I said no" |