Need some advice

G

gizzy1122

New Member
Joined
May 17, 2022
Messages
9
I know this is a big integrity problem but I was directed by my ROTC recruiter and some cadre to do this. They said when I was going through DODMERB that if I feel like I don’t have it don’t put it. I did that and it has been on my mind the whole time since starting ROTC. The only thing wrong with me was ADHD and some anxiety as a child, which was cleared from a psych eval recently. My cadre says it’s fine, but I wanna be honest. They won’t tell me, but what are the chances that I won’t get caught lying? Is there another medics exam that I’ll have to do while commissioning, not counting the DODMERB in 2 years?

Edit: how would I come clean, do I email Dodmerb?
 
To be clear, are you saying your recruiter told you to lie?
 
Omitting something like ADHD and previously diagnosed anxiety seems pretty major to me. Not saying I agree with it or not, but there are some cases where people omit minor things... this seems pretty major.

No one can reasonably tell you the "chances" of getting caught lying. Just know that from here on out, everytime you do a physical you will most likely have to sign off on your previous health forms that ask you about medical history. Everytime you sign this, you'll be lying to the military and govt.

Not sure what ROTC you're doing but for NROTC there was a pre-commissioning physical not to mention flight physical all before commissioning.
 
FastFood44 said:
Omitting something like ADHD and previously diagnosed anxiety seems pretty major to me. Not saying I agree with it or not, but there are some cases where people omit minor things... this seems pretty major.

No one can reasonably tell you the "chances" of getting caught lying. Just know that from here on out, everytime you do a physical you will most likely have to sign off on your previous health forms that ask you about medical history. Everytime you sign this, you'll be lying to the military and govt.

Not sure what ROTC you're doing but for NROTC there was a pre-commissioning physical not to mention flight physical all before commissioning.
Click to expand...
what pops up on the pre commissioning physical, like what do they all do?
 
Well, despite whatever the recruiter (or anyone else tells you) you should know - as a prospective military officer - any form of deception, omission, or dishonesty is WRONG! And, to answer your question - intentionally omitting or providing inaccurate information on your DODMERB can cause you to be permanently disqualified for military service. Now, in practicality would the military find out about an ADHD omission - maybe not but do you really want to risk it? And, with the forms you are allowing the military to gain access to your past medical records. Maybe they request pediatric records about something completely different and the ADHD is referenced on a page in your files…. If it does come out that you purposefully omitted the condition to better your chances it will not go well.

You are not the first candidate to ask a similar question on these forums. I always read the question and shake my head - because you knew before you asked that this was the wrong thing to do before you did it. Now, you are concerned about being discovered. Your condition may never be discovered and you may make it into and through ROTC and become a military officer some day. I do not believe starting your path towards becoming a military officer is best represented by your lying on forms to get past the medical. If you do become a military officer, please do not take wrong or inappropriate actions because someone else tells you to! You and I both know that the right step to take us to say you have remembered additional medical information and attempt to amend your file. It may or may not effect the end result but will give you a clear conscience for years to come.
 
MarTac said:
Well, despite whatever the recruiter (or anyone else tells you) you should know - as a prospective military officer - any form of deception, omission, or dishonesty is WRONG! And, to answer your question - intentionally omitting or providing inaccurate information on your DODMERB can cause you to be permanently disqualified for military service. Now, in practicality would the military find out about an ADHD omission - maybe not but do you really want to risk it? And, with the forms you are allowing the military to gain access to your past medical records. Maybe they request pediatric records about something completely different and the ADHD is referenced on a page in your files…. If it does come out that you purposefully omitted the condition to better your chances it will not go well.

You are not the first candidate to ask a similar question on these forums. I always read the question and shake my head - because you knew before you asked that this was the wrong thing to do before you did it. Now, you are concerned about being discovered. Your condition may never be discovered and you may make it into and through ROTC and become a military officer some day. I do not believe starting your path towards becoming a military officer is best represented by your lying on forms to get past the medical. If you do become a military officer, please do not take wrong or inappropriate actions because someone else tells you to! You and I both know that the right step to take us to say you have remembered additional medical information and attempt to amend your file. It may or may not effect the end result but will give you a clear conscience for years to come.
Click to expand...
I completely understand, I just felt in the situation that I was not able to do much about it.
 
What is it they say: “The coverup is usually worse than the crime.”
We don’t know the specifics of your case and we shouldn’t know. But if there’s a reason to come clean, then come clean now. Any consequences you may face will only get worse down the road.

The military’s health requirements are not simply for your sake. They’re for the sake of those you lead. As an officer, you’ll be responsible for many lives. Think of those in your charge and not just yourself.
 
gizzy1122 said:
The only thing wrong with me was ADHD and some anxiety as a child, which was cleared from a psych eval recently.
Click to expand...

Just curious of the time frame when you say "recently". You were cleared in the past week, month, year? And what does that mean.....did you ask for a clean bill of health or did you stop taking medication? I am asking a bit rhetorically.....you don't owe anyone answers here on the forum. But if you have recently seen a counselor or psychologist/psychiatrist, then that is significant and should be reported on your annual health certification. And I suspect you know this.

gizzy1122 said:
My cadre says it’s fine, but I wanna be honest.
Click to expand...

Your cadre......as in your PMS or PNS? Or an academic advisor? And you told them you were recently cleared on a "psych eval" and they said "OK"? If that is true, and your cadre tells you there is nothing to worry about, what is it you want to hear from the forum patrons? Your gut is telling you the right thing to do but you want to hear someone here tell you to continue to hide medical issues. And you are two years into your ROTC program? I guess better late than never, but there are things in your post that don't pass the smell test for me.
 
gizzy1122 said:
I completely understand, I just felt in the situation that I was not able to do much about it.
Click to expand...
This is alarming to me…maybe im missing something. YOU are signing your contracts. YOU are taking the Oath. YOU are answering the questions. YOU are telling your medical DR that what you reported is truth. Do you think its ok to lie? And not a little white one, or an exaggeration of the truth, but something that can have major consequences. As in, lying/omitting medical information *can* result in seperation, and leave you on the hook for recoupment. There are for sure consequences especially that *could* pop up!

It shouldn’t be a question of ‘what do they ask, how could i get caught’. It can come up any time! Here is an example: you get injured, hospitalized, and boom your records are right there. As they should be. Now what? And all this is aside from the ethical part of lying….where you will have to re-lie, and re- lie again and again (bc you will).

What about the honor code? Is that a thing with ROTC? It is with a SA.

I would highly suggest getting this right on your record, and letting the chips fall where they may. And before your are contractually on for the recoupment, should separation occur (not a medical person, no clue about this). But before you hit that date of recoupment. Not trying to be harsh, but its shocking to me that a recruiter would tell you to lie, and that an applicant would think that is ok to do. Even with a recruiter telling you to.
 
I'd be highly surprised (and extremely) disappointed if an officer program recruited and cadre at an ROTC, independent of each other, unit told you to omit diagnosed medical information. You must have been one special applicant that they felt the service branch could not live without and were willing to put their integrity and their careers on the line just to get you and keep you in the program. It is much more likely that what you were told was not to self diagnose and put down having conditions which you had not been diagnosed as having, but you maybe heard what you wanted to hear at the time and are now worried about being discovered.
 
GWU PNS said:
Just curious of the time frame when you say "recently". You were cleared in the past week, month, year? And what does that mean.....did you ask for a clean bill of health or did you stop taking medication? I am asking a bit rhetorically.....you don't owe anyone answers here on the forum. But if you have recently seen a counselor or psychologist/psychiatrist, then that is significant and should be reported on your annual health certification. And I suspect you know this.



Your cadre......as in your PMS or PNS? Or an academic advisor? And you told them you were recently cleared on a "psych eval" and they said "OK"? If that is true, and your cadre tells you there is nothing to worry about, what is it you want to hear from the forum patrons? Your gut is telling you the right thing to do but you want to hear someone here tell you to continue to hide medical issues. And you are two years into your ROTC program? I guess better late than never, but there are things in your post that don't pass the smell test for me.
Click to expand...
I have not taken meds for many years, and got a psych eval in the summer.
 
ProudDad17 said:
I'd be highly surprised (and extremely) disappointed if an officer program recruited and cadre at an ROTC, independent of each other, unit told you to omit diagnosed medical information. You must have been one special applicant that they felt the service branch could not live without and were willing to put their integrity and their careers on the line just to get you and keep you in the program. It is much more likely that what you were told was not to self diagnose and put down having conditions which you had not been diagnosed as having, but you maybe heard what you wanted to hear at the time and are now worried about being discovered.
Click to expand...
No, I told them my diagnosis as a child, and they said they cannot tell me what to put, but if I feel like I don't have it don't put it.
 
GWU PNS said:
Just curious of the time frame when you say "recently". You were cleared in the past week, month, year? And what does that mean.....did you ask for a clean bill of health or did you stop taking medication? I am asking a bit rhetorically.....you don't owe anyone answers here on the forum. But if you have recently seen a counselor or psychologist/psychiatrist, then that is significant and should be reported on your annual health certification. And I suspect you know this.



Your cadre......as in your PMS or PNS? Or an academic advisor? And you told them you were recently cleared on a "psych eval" and they said "OK"? If that is true, and your cadre tells you there is nothing to worry about, what is it you want to hear from the forum patrons? Your gut is telling you the right thing to do but you want to hear someone here tell you to continue to hide medical issues. And you are two years into your ROTC program? I guess better late than never, but there are things in your post that don't pass the smell test for me.
Click to expand...
One of my ms instructors who is a major in the army, and the other one is the "recruiter" for ROTC and handles scholarships.
 
gizzy1122 said:
I have not taken meds for many years, and got a psych eval in the summer.
Click to expand...
I’m almost positive that’s relevant, specifically asked for information on the DODMERB questionnaire. From what I recall from my one kiddos filling out of their questionnaire. Probably in two different places. And then follow up information in a 3rd maybe 4th place. You medical stuff shouldn’t even be discussed with your recruiter/cadre.

This is on you to handle. Doesn’t matter what we say. It’s pretty obvious what the right answer is. No one here is going to advise you to further this deceit, or make you feel better about doing so.

You said they “…they cannot tell me what to do…” IOW they can’t tell you to lie or not. That’s up to you, and you knew way back then.
 
Last edited:
Just giving you my 2 cents here. Honesty is huge. If you've been formally diagnosed with anything or treated for something DISCLOSE IT. It will be in your records. Pharmacy records are checked.
My son disclosed to ROTC and DODMERB his history of chlorine induced asthma (he was a junior Olympic swimmer in his early teens) and that he saw a therapist for anxiety/depression around that time. He was honest.
Did he get DQ'd? Absolutely. For both.
Did he get a waiver? Yes for both.
Did it delay his scholarship? Yes.
An ROTC friend of his was not honest about his mental health history and was denied a waiver request because of that.
Character MATTERS to the military.
Don't be that guy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top