Effects of ADD upon enlistment

SRR2R · Post by **SRR2R** » July 14th, 2004, 2:02 pm

SFC Hit_It,

Could you comment on the accuracy of the information below regarding a history of ADD, attention deficit disorder, as it relates to enlistment. It was derived from this website, http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningt ... asthma.htm . I understand this information relates to general enlistement, but I am also specifically interested in the context of achieving an opt 40 contract.

"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 wasnâ€™t stopped until after the applicant left school, there is still the possibility of waiver consideration."

Also, SFC Hit_It, would you be willing to receive a PM/e-mail/phone call from me to make further inquiry regarding this topic?

Thank you for your time.

hit_it · Post by **hit_it** » July 14th, 2004, 4:40 pm

send me a PM with your concern.

hit_it · Post by **hit_it** » July 15th, 2004, 4:21 am

i'll answer that long aass fucking shit you sent me another time. i got too much work to do today.

hit_it · Post by **hit_it** » July 15th, 2004, 3:17 pm

PM answered.

TRLewis · Post by **TRLewis** » July 29th, 2004, 5:59 pm

I have ADD and my doctor told me I needed to learn to subtract too. Ok all joking aside. My doctor told me when i was a freshman in high school that i needed to come off of it sometime. Its just a question of discipline really, I cannot say it will work for everyone, but that is what I had to do. Just gotta be able to remember to make sure you pay attention.

Hand Job · Post by **Hand Job** » August 1st, 2004, 9:13 pm

I didn't know they could disqualify you for ADD. I really don't believe ADD is a real thing. Any kid that walks into a doctor's office, after their parents tell the doctor got detention, doesn't do his homework, etc. is automatically labeled ADD nowadays. So because some doctor is "trigger happy" with passing out perscriptions for adderall, you can be disqualified?
I made failing grades even when i was on the medicine.
I hope that doesn't effect me getting a Option 40.

SRR2R · Post by **SRR2R** » August 2nd, 2004, 3:23 pm

Hand Job,

I agree that the diagnosis of ADD is very subjective, to say the least.

AngryPistols · Post by **AngryPistols** » August 3rd, 2004, 10:52 am

FIREFIGHTER wrote:Im sorry what did you say? I wasnt paying attention.