ADD/Ritalin and the military???

For the Air Force an individual can not currently be on medications to help with attention. They must of been off all meds for at least 12 months before being considered for a waiver. They must not display any underlying learning disabilities past the age of 12. The individual would be required to show proof of being able to cope. This would involve a psychriatric evaluation that would prove there were no current issues and that the individual displays enough maturity to make it in the military. Once in the person may be disqualified from certian career fields such as flying.

This is the eaxct same information I was given regarding my son joining the Civil Air Patrol (division of the US Air Force) and/or Sea Cadets (Navy). NO meds after the age of 12 is how they explained it to me (not no sign of LD) but it appears pretty clear.

What really confuses me is that if you look at those who are pilots, they have a high degree of hyperactivity present. Maybe the military will change after they finally realize that ADD/ADHD does not “go away” with age.

You mean the military doesn’t accept persons with a disability, such as dyslexia? My son will be crushed, he wants to go to college and play football, but realizes that dream might not work, so his second choice is the military. He wants to be a sniper, and he would be good.

It’s not the label so much as meds and accommodations. The military doesn’t exactly want to level the playing field unless it’s with land mines. On the other hand, recruiters will bend rules all over the place to meet their quotas.

According to AFI 48-123 (Medical Examinations and Standards) specific academic skills deficts: “chronic history of academic skills or perceptual defects secondary to organic or functional mental disorders that interfere with work or school after age 12” is disqualifying. Currnet use of medication to improve or maintain academic skills is also disqualifying. This is interputed to mean that if the learning disability interfered with the indiviuals ability in school the individual is disqualified. The one thing people dont know about these standards is that occassionally they are waivered. In the case of an academic skills deficit or ADHD a current psychological evaluation would be asked for to address wether or not the indiviual has the maturity and insight to succeede in the military. Hope this helps.

Anti-Ritalin folks who insist “there is no such thing as ADD” have made a big deal out of the supposed unwillingness of the military to accept those who have ever taken Ritalin. These people are in the BUSINESS of scaring parents with no end of overblown rhetoric. My son, who is in a state military college and only rarely takes Adderall anymore, has had ongoing conversations with recruiters. What he has been told over and over again is that applicants must be off medication for at least a year. I suggest that parents take the needs of their children one step at a time. If the student needs medication now,to get through school successfully,then he needs to take it. Later, when he’s older and more mature, he may be able to manage without it, as my son does.

There is talk about “no medication, ever” but I have yet to hear where a hard and fast rule is written,which leads me to believe there isn’t one.