Military and genesis and behavioral therapy

[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

[Anonymous]

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

They can apply for medical waiver but people should be aware of this in advance. There is no guarantee that they'll get a medical waiver.

There is nothing misinformation about this. It's just how it is.

[Anonymous]

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.

He shouldn't give up on his dreams , yet. Apply for a waiver. Especially, if he is not on any meds. Considering what MEPS will ask for, there's a chance he might still be able to enlist. I think he should still talk to a recruiter.

[Anonymous]

When you enlist in the military you have to disclose your medical records. So being part of genesis isn't any different except that they are more accessible. But otherwise you're saying that you would lie and not disclose civilian records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the ADD meds limited to 2 years? Meaning if you are off of them for 2 years, you're fine. Friends of mine in the military insist that the other 2 - IEP after age 12 and seeing a counselor - are waivable and are frequently waived. The military is kind of desperate for folks at this point, and having an IEP, seeing a counselor, and taking ADD meds will make my child a better soldier if he chooses to pursue a career in the military.

What happens if they send him in theater where he can't get new supplies of his ADD meds for months?

[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.

He shouldn't give up on his dreams , yet. Apply for a waiver. Especially, if he is not on any meds. Considering what MEPS will ask for, there's a chance he might still be able to enlist. I think he should still talk to a recruiter.

PP's kid doesn't want to enlist, he wants to be an officer. The recruiters for enlisted personnel are different than the ones for officers.

[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.

He shouldn't give up on his dreams , yet. Apply for a waiver. Especially, if he is not on any meds. Considering what MEPS will ask for, there's a chance he might still be able to enlist. I think he should still talk to a recruiter.

PP's kid doesn't want to enlist, he wants to be an officer. The recruiters for enlisted personnel are different than the ones for officers.

+1 and the standards/medical clearance process is different (I didn’t go to MEPS but rather a separate pre-commissioning physical at a military treatment facility when I had my pre-commissioning physical).

With that said, the military as a whole is in a recruiting crisis. You never know what might be waiverable at any given time. Don’t give up hope automatically if that is what your son wants to do. He should still talk to a recruiter once he has a college degree (or is close to completing one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

They can apply for medical waiver but people should be aware of this in advance. There is no guarantee that they'll get a medical waiver.

There is nothing misinformation about this. It's just how it is.

All branches are different. While some are generally known to be more unforgiving of waivers, what any branch will waive at a given time is completely variable. You can shop around to different branches and even different recruiters within the same branch. Unless you have a serious medical condition that is 100% non-waiverable, don’t give up.

When there’s a will, there’s a waiver. I know this firsthand.

[Anonymous]

This seems like a stupid policy especially if they want to recruit more high quality kids.