ASD Misdiagnosis MEPS & DoDMERB Waiver Likelihood

[Mattsgg]

Hello,

My plan was to join ROTC in college and commission as an officer upon graduation. Looking further into it I have come to realize that being diagnosed with any form of ASD is a PDQ.
I have taken an interest in the SMP program and would like to enlist as a reservist upon HS graduation a year from now.

However, I was diagnosed as a young kid with PDD-NOS. I am scheduling a time to get reevaluated as I do not believe (and never have really) I have autism. I have very few of the typical traits of an autistic person and believe it was a misdiagnosis for other personal reasons for my. A specialist will either confirm or deny my suspicions. I understand if it is a misdiagnosis, I would still need a waiver to enlist or commission.

I am talking to an enlistment recruiter and he said that we could fight if it was a misdiagnosis. If it is and the waiver gets accepted meaning I’d be able to enlist in the military, I’d rather enlist as a reservist IF I HAVE A GOOD CHANCE of getting a waiver for DoDMERB. I would much prefer to be an officer, I enjoy paperwork and management and it is considered a more prestigious path. I’d like to join the SMP because I would like some hands-on experience with BCT and AIT before joining ROTC, also I feel as though if I were to be an officer, I should have at least some experience being what I would eventually lead. If I have a poor chance of a waiver, I would much rather serve active duty because 1. The Post 9/11 GI bill is very appealing, especially considering I’d like to go to a T14 law school after the end of my contract 2. I would like to serve my country in a full-time capacity for at least a few years, both to work with other true Americans and for the strengthening of discipline and character being a soldier incurs 3. I’d like to be entitled to veteran discounts and benefits

So as for now, I am simply wondering in black-and-white, if I were to get a waiver for ASD misdiagnosis for MEPS, would it be likely for me to receive a waiver for the same thing for DoDMERB?

Any answer is appreciated,

Thank you,
Mattsgg

 

[Capt MJ]

Neither MEPS or DoDMERB give waivers. DoDMERB reviews medical records and exams and determines if a person meets/does not meet military accession standards (Q/DQ). The services each have their own waiver policies. The waiver authority assigned to the program you are applying for will determine if a waiver will be offered, per their current policy and the individual case.

No one here can tell you what your chances are for either officer or enlisted paths. You have to work the process.

You already have the right idea - getting re-evaluated. The military would also want to know if you ever had any accommodations, did you use them, when did you stop using them, are you able to perform well without them. Ditto any prescribed medications for this childhood diagnosis. If none, great.

If you go to the DoDMERB home page - no login required to do what I am going to suggest - read through the left-side menu. The process, FAQs, workflow diagrams, etc., all kinds of good info.

https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Detachments.aspx

 

[perspica]

In very similar boat! Childhood misdiagnosis, no IEP/meds/accoms, looking to commission after grad. Going to begin talking to recruiter soon. How was your process?

 

[Capt MJ]

In very similar boat! Childhood misdiagnosis, no IEP/meds/accoms, looking to commission after grad. Going to begin talking to recruiter soon. How was your process?

Zombie post walking - that poster joined in July of 2023 and was last seen that same day. Doubt you will receive an answer.

My answer above is still good. Educate yourself on the process using primary sources. You will not know the decision unless you work the process.

You note you had a “childhood misdiagnosis.” Is that something a healthcare provider has written in your medical record after a formal assessment? If it is your own opinion, that is not what is needed by military medical accession reviewers. You will likely need current-state language in your record confirming your status with regard to the earlier diagnosis and noting you have not used Rx, accommodations, etc. or whatever applies to create a clear history. No answers needed to questions here. It is what is documented in your medical record by qualified providers that is evaluated.

Equally, if your grandmother told you you have eczema because of that dry spot on your arm you get during cold weather but you take care of with a bit of lotion, that does not mean you have been diagnosed with eczema by a doctor.

 

[GoCubbies]

Hello,

My plan was to join ROTC in college and commission as an officer upon graduation. Looking further into it I have come to realize that being diagnosed with any form of ASD is a PDQ.
I have taken an interest in the SMP program and would like to enlist as a reservist upon HS graduation a year from now.

However, I was diagnosed as a young kid with PDD-NOS. I am scheduling a time to get reevaluated as I do not believe (and never have really) I have autism. I have very few of the typical traits of an autistic person and believe it was a misdiagnosis for other personal reasons for my. A specialist will either confirm or deny my suspicions. I understand if it is a misdiagnosis, I would still need a waiver to enlist or commission.

I am talking to an enlistment recruiter and he said that we could fight if it was a misdiagnosis. If it is and the waiver gets accepted meaning I’d be able to enlist in the military, I’d rather enlist as a reservist IF I HAVE A GOOD CHANCE of getting a waiver for DoDMERB. I would much prefer to be an officer, I enjoy paperwork and management and it is considered a more prestigious path. I’d like to join the SMP because I would like some hands-on experience with BCT and AIT before joining ROTC, also I feel as though if I were to be an officer, I should have at least some experience being what I would eventually lead. If I have a poor chance of a waiver, I would much rather serve active duty because 1. The Post 9/11 GI bill is very appealing, especially considering I’d like to go to a T14 law school after the end of my contract 2. I would like to serve my country in a full-time capacity for at least a few years, both to work with other true Americans and for the strengthening of discipline and character being a soldier incurs 3. I’d like to be entitled to veteran discounts and benefits

So as for now, I am simply wondering in black-and-white, if I were to get a waiver for ASD misdiagnosis for MEPS, would it be likely for me to receive a waiver for the same thing for DoDMERB?

Any answer is appreciated,

Thank you,
Mattsgg

The answer to your question is "maybe."

You are going SMP to a USAR unit (vice ARNG). If you are DQ'ed at the MEPS, then the waiver authority for you to enlist in the USAR is US Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). They may give you a waiver to enlist Remember, recruiting is horrible right now, so USAREC has been more lax on what they waive. As an aside, if you go into the ARNG, the waiver authority is the National Guard Bureau.

You will probably be DQ'ed by DoDMERB for having an autism spectrum disorder. My take is that you have a bona fide diagnosis of PDD-NOS since you got this from your medical records. Not many people would include NOS (not otherwise specified) in correspondence unless they've seen it in print in their medical records. Once DoDMERB DQ's you, the waiver authority is the US Army Cadet Command (USACC). If you are granted a waiver, then you can contract into Army ROTC. My gut tells me if you get a waiver to enlist for SMP, then you will also get a waiver for USACC. I don't have any secret contacts that can tell me for sure, but it's just my take.

Realize you have 2 different waiver authorities - one each for SMP (enlist in USAR) and for Army ROTC. They may come up with a different decision. More often than not, their waiver decision will be the same.

However, it is very possible one grants you a waiver and the other doesn't. As I mentioned before, USAREC has become much more lax with waivers. USACC has not seen the affect of the college "enrollment cliff" - yet. They may be more picky as to who gets a waiver because their projections may indicate (I don't know for sure) they may continue to meet mission 2-3 years from now.

As an aside, if you want to be a lawyer in the Army (ie a JAG officer), that's another waiver authority too. That one sits up at The Judge Advocate General's office. So maybe you get a waiver for SMP and ROTC, but maybe not from the TJAG. It's highly unlikely TJAG won't give you a waiver if you've gotten one from ROTC but it's possible.