Waiver for Disqualifying Conditions (ADHD)

[G Dad]

Good morning,
My son is a sophomore in high school and has expressed interest in applying to the Naval Academy. He is a straight 'A' student and is a member of the cross country, baseball, and wrestling teams. He also takes Adderall for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I understand taking medicine to treat ADHD is an automatic disqualifying condition. However, I have read conflicting accounts of applicants receiving a waiver or not receiving a waiver for taking medicine for ADHD, on this and other college message boards.
Before he gets his heart set on attending the Naval Academy, I would like to know whether he has any chance of obtaining a waiver for this disqualifying condition. One story I heard is that he would need to be off his Adderall for one year and performing successfully academically prior to indoctrination day in order to obtain a waiver. Could you please assist me in getting the answer to my question?

Thank you

 

[RetNavyHM]

G Dad,

Current use of medications or any academic assistance (i.e. extended time on tests, use of a computer when no one else gets to use one, etc.) for an academic skills disorder (ADD, ADHD) is a disqualification. Waivers for applicants who are currently on medication are very rare in my experience. If the applicant has been off medication and has had no academic assistance in the past year, with little or no academic decrease would not be a disqualification, and would not require a waiver.

As your son is a sophomore you have some time to work with your family physician (or whomever prescribed the medication for your son) and see if it is possible to wean your son off the medication without affecting his academic performance. You will need to work with the physician and ensure that your son is followed through the process to ensure there are no withdrawal symptoms, as well as to ensure that his academic performance stays up.

if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Whistle Pig]

As usual, a thoughtful, clear and candid insight. We're all learning from your counsel, RetNavy. How'd the fleet ever let you escape!

 

[G Dad]

Thank you! That was very helpful and we will get to work on that with our medical professionals now. Thank you again.

 

[G Dad]

As usual, a thoughtful, clear and candid insight. We're all learning from your counsel, RetNavy. How'd the fleet ever let you escape!

. . . and need to add "non-judgmental" just a straight forward answer.

 

[RetNavyHM]

. . . and need to add "non-judgmental" just a straight forward answer.

First thing you learn, never judge anyone, lest you be judged yourself!

How'd the fleet ever let you escape!

Pretty easy, high year tenure (couldn't stay any longer without picking up rank), and I had very little desire to pick up rank knowing I'd be gone to Iraq. Plus having a very good job offer waiting for me, and living in a great area helped in the decision. I had 20 great years, but it was time to focus myself in a different area. I'm just happy I can still help out!

 

[kp2001]

Pretty easy, high year tenure (couldn't stay any longer without picking up rank), and I had very little desire to pick up rank knowing I'd be gone to Iraq. Plus having a very good job offer waiting for me, and living in a great area helped in the decision. I had 20 great years, but it was time to focus myself in a different area. I'm just happy I can still help out!

Don't forget that the military is horrible at retaining any and all healthcare related people. I saw a slide today relating to the Air Force and it's number of general surgeons and of those (appox 63) eligible to get out in the next four years 60 of them were planning to do so. I'm sure the retention for Independant Duty Corpsmen would be very similar.

 

[usna1985]

Don't forget that the military is horrible at retaining any and all healthcare related people. I saw a slide today relating to the Air Force and it's number of general surgeons and of those (appox 63) eligible to get out in the next four years 60 of them were planning to do so. I'm sure the retention for Independant Duty Corpsmen would be very similar.

However, as my father once said:

Wherever you're going is the best;
Wherever you are is the worst;
And wherever you were wasn't as bad as you thought it was when you were there.

Words to live by -- and generally true.

 

[jamzmom]

Wise man, that Father of yours.

 

[goingstrong]

Would anyone be able to tell me of an instance where candidate was accepted to USNA without being off of a medication for ADD for atleast 1 year, is it even possible to get a waiver for this condition?