DQ

Current Spc. in the Army National Guard with 2 years service at the moment.

Due to BCT, AIT and Airborne I did around a year in training. Just now am able to apply (Next admissions cycle)

Had a quick question.

Was diagnosed with ADHD (after enlistment) and recently started taking medication for it.

Is this a DQ? I am not a civilian applicant so I am curious if the stance is different.

I would be surprised if this DQ me as being medically unfit for duty as I am already serving. If I am medically unfit for West Point how can I be medically fit for active duty Army? That would not make sense to me.

Appreciate any information

The difference is between retention standards (chapter 3) which you fall under as a Soldier since you weren't diagnosed within the first six months and accession standards (chapter 2) which you will have to meet to go to West Point. You may be retained as a Soldier, but not able to join with that condition. A common one is that given eyesight deteriorates over time, the Army is not apt to kick someone they've invested years of time and money to develop, but won't take a new recruit with eyesight that may be better than that (just not up to accession standards).

Yes, ADD/ADHD is a DQ condition under 2-27 (learning defects) and given that it is a school and they want you to be off medicine for at least a year, then this will make your application tough, but not necessarily impossible. If you want insight into what you will need to demonstrate in order to gain a waiver, read the regulation.

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf

Contact LineInTheSand via private message. He has personal experience with ADD (he won't acknowledge the H)

You do have to be off the meds for a specific time frame - I think a year and show you can still be successful academically and socially.

If you are not in college now - it may be difficult to demonstrate academic success without the medications

Is going through a 5 month accelerated whiskey AIT without meds not enough to prove it? And Airborne?

I am planning on applying while I attend college here in my city. So I can just stop taking the medication if needed. The medication enhances quality of life. Requires a lot of effort to focus without it. But I am able to function without it.

I am assuming that reg applies to ROTC as well?

Gotta love the Army

Also, I went through high school without any form of medication.

I would think based on that, and my military training, that its blatantly obvious I do not "need" it to accomplish the mission.

I've been on meds literally like two months.

@845something

The issue is you started it - the meds

I am not passing any judgement but now there are 'tests' and a timeframe where you have to demonstrate you can be successful without them to be admitted to USNA.

Not saying insurmountable, but you will need to go through a process

Find out what it is and see if you can make it

You aren't in high school, so the traditional process won't apply

Cerberi said:

The issue is you started it - the meds

I am not passing any judgement but now there are 'tests' and a timeframe where you have to demonstrate you can be successful without them to be admitted to USNA.

Not saying insurmountable, but you will need to go through a process

Find out what it is and see if you can make it

You aren't in high school, so the traditional process won't apply

Click to expand...

If I get a second opinion and they say I do not have ADHD and do not need meds. Would I be good?

I know how ADHD diagnosis can be thrown around by some doctors. Some "issues" (which can be subjective) with focusing does not 100% mean I have ADHD and need meds. I have functioned fine my entire life without a diagnosis or meds, so I think its a good possibility I do not even have it. @Cerberi ?

You need to speak with a DoDMERB specialist and/or research the rules around it.

The DoDMERB questionnaire will ask are you/have you and your answer will be 'yes, I was diagnosed with X and took Y drug to manage it'. To remediate it or get a waiver for it, you will have to demonstrate you have functioned fine without it for z months (I think z is 12 months)

Suggest you private message LineInTheSand for a personal input.

The fact you are not in high school makes your journey more unique than most and that you have military experience. Most folks here are first timers through the process and coming from high school

Your unique path may be a compelling story in itself but since you are on the meds - you will be sent through a different process

Investigate it by knowing the DoDMERB rules

Who knows - maybe an SA will send you to prep school to see how you'd perform

I don't make the rules and have no special knowledge of them. The ADHD topic is a frequent topic on the board, so it is clear there is a process to follow

And by all means - if the doctor prescribed it, speak to your doctor before stopping it.

Your actually in the military and 'would be surprised' the Army has a rule that makes no sense to you

Now that is surprising (humor intended)

Cerberi said:

Your actually in the military and 'would be surprised' the Army has a rule that makes no sense to you

Now that is surprising (humor intended)

Click to expand...

Haha true true. I shouldn't be shocked. Love it and hate it at the same time haha