Military and genesis and behavioral therapy

[Anonymous]

This thread is bonkers. Does OP really think that treatment is optional for some people?!? Are they willing to let their kids suffer for 18 years on the off-chance that they might want to go into the military? Who on earth would care about that professional path more than the well-being of their child?!?

My ADHD/ASD son was called this summer by a military recruiter who had all his basic info and knew he was going to college. Apparently he was trying to recruit him by offering financing options. The conversation ended when he asked whether DS had ever taken medications for ADHD. The recruiter was very polite, DS was very polite, and now DS is very happy in college, paid for by me. DS would NEVER have been able to attend the college he is attending had it not been for years of services, accommodations and MEDICATIONS.

Get your kids the help they need. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This thread is bonkers. Does OP really think that treatment is optional for some people?!? Are they willing to let their kids suffer for 18 years on the off-chance that they might want to go into the military? Who on earth would care about that professional path more than the well-being of their child?!?

My ADHD/ASD son was called this summer by a military recruiter who had all his basic info and knew he was going to college. Apparently he was trying to recruit him by offering financing options. The conversation ended when he asked whether DS had ever taken medications for ADHD. The recruiter was very polite, DS was very polite, and now DS is very happy in college, paid for by me. DS would NEVER have been able to attend the college he is attending had it not been for years of services, accommodations and MEDICATIONS.

Get your kids the help they need. End of story.

For some people isn't not optional but it could be optional for others. It's still good information to know. I posted above; my kid has dyslexia and an IEP. After years of remediation, he could potentially drop his IEP right now (he's a HS freshman) to keep all options open. DH and I aren't encouraging that but, if he wants to try, we would support it. Most likely, he could do well without his IEP at this point. If he didn't, we would request to resume it. He wouldn't be the only student who had these types of concerns.

He opted to keep his IEP knowing that it would take options off of the table. It's better that he knows the information now instead of being surprised later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understood that it was an IEP after age 14, as well as a 504. And meds would be a disqualifier. Waivers are not necessarily granted.

My DS wanted to explore the option of joining the Navy as an officer but he's a HS freshman with an IEP and dyslexia. He opted to not drop his IEP and has taken military service off the table.

The military does not accept crazy people.

Crazy people do not exist, but there are people who have mental health issues.

[Anonymous]

This is great considering plenty of recruiters would encourage candidates to omit disqualifying medical information. Especially the mental health things like ADHD.

[Anonymous]

It's a feature, not a bug for me

[Anonymous]

Good to know. Considering I have to opt my child out of being able to be contacted by military recruiters now that they are in hs I’m thrilled to learn that their adhd would “disqualify” them from being used as human cannon fodder.

[Anonymous]

Stop spreading misinformation. They can apply for a medical waiver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understood that it was an IEP after age 14, as well as a 504. And meds would be a disqualifier. Waivers are not necessarily granted.

My DS wanted to explore the option of joining the Navy as an officer but he's a HS freshman with an IEP and dyslexia. He opted to not drop his IEP and has taken military service off the table.

The military does not accept crazy people.

Sure they do. Plenty don’t declare meds, treatments, and diagnoses on paper. Great they are going to system that doesn’t depend on personal honesty/integrity

I know a fair number of active duty folks that get therapy and do it all out of pocket - because the military tracks these things and it can get you disqualified (or limit the level of clearance you can get).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop spreading misinformation. They can apply for a medical waiver.

I think that is OP’s point. They will HAVE to declare and apply for a waiver now that is will be visible. Versus before when most would just lie and omit.

[Anonymous]

On another note, my spouse is in the military so we get our care at military treatment facilities usually. My 12 year old has asthma. Her pulmonologist (at Walter Reed) told me that if she's still on her maintenance/rescue asthma drugs by 14 she can't be considered for the military. Which I found really surprising. Trying to confirm this information.

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t change anything for us. We always got our healthcare through the military so when my kid applied it was all there anyways. OP is just letting people know. If your kid isn’t planning on going into the military or service academy, continue on. No need for disparaging remarks against the military and “human cannon fodder”.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for posting this, OP. I have a younger kid who is medicated for ADHD, and had no idea that it would be a disqualifier (or even a stumbling block) for military enrollment. This is useful information to take into account for our future planning.

[Anonymous]

Yes, mental health, asthma, vision, diabetes - any number of medical conditions - can disqualify you from joining the military.

However, my MOS has MANY members that had history in these areas and were able to get waivers. That does depend on your skill set, though. And we have TS clearance.

I think a lot will be changing, especially around mental health disqualifiers. Being on medication for anxiety/depression is just too common these days to disqualify everyone who has used them. Plus we need our active duty military in a healthy mental state - not hiding issues.

[Anonymous]

My kid doesn't take any meds, but if he needed them I wouldn't let any military aspirations stop him. That's just ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This thread is bonkers. Does OP really think that treatment is optional for some people?!? Are they willing to let their kids suffer for 18 years on the off-chance that they might want to go into the military? Who on earth would care about that professional path more than the well-being of their child?!?

My ADHD/ASD son was called this summer by a military recruiter who had all his basic info and knew he was going to college. Apparently he was trying to recruit him by offering financing options. The conversation ended when he asked whether DS had ever taken medications for ADHD. The recruiter was very polite, DS was very polite, and now DS is very happy in college, paid for by me. DS would NEVER have been able to attend the college he is attending had it not been for years of services, accommodations and MEDICATIONS.

Get your kids the help they need. End of story.

Not end of story.

First, recruiters lie. They have quotas to meet. They don’t care if the recruit is later DQ’d.

Second, it’s hardly as simple as you claim. A kid just starting out can easily derail .mil or classified positions In numerous ways.

OPs point is: your medical records are NOT private for .gov employees. You waive all your privacy rights when you sign the SF-86, including medical / HIPPA rights.

Don’t like it? Then don’t work for .gov