locutusofborg
Hummingbird
Joined: Oct 08, 2007
Age: 20
Posts: 21
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject: Asperger's Syndrome and the Military |
 |
|
| Hello, it's been a while since I've been on here. Anyway, I have a few questions about joining the military with Asperger's syndrome. I contacted an Air Force recruiter and he says I can join if I present a paper by my doctor saying that I have Asperger's and I haven't attended therapy or treatment sessions for over a year, and I'm looking into the Air Force, but would any of you Aspies know about the other policies of the other branches of the military? Are there any people with Asperger's on this forum who are in the military? |
|
| Back to top |
|
Tahitiii
Resident Whistle Blower
Joined: Jul 02, 2008
Age: 57
Posts: 2271
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Someone asked a similar question a while ago.
I know that I would make a very bad soldier. |
|
| Back to top |
|
pakled
"Bless his Heart"
Joined: Nov 13, 2007
Age: 55
Posts: 7827
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
if you can get through Basic. From what I've heard, it's high-stress, a lot of doing muddy things in bad weather, yelling, and most importantly, 'unit punishment' (you're punished twice; first time your entire unit is punished for something you've done, then a second time once the Drill Instructor is out of site, by your own platoon)
That being said, it's a very structured environment, there are exact rules for social situations, etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
aspiemom1
Blue Jay
![]()
Joined: Jan 23, 2008
Posts: 75
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I was in the air force. (Note, I still have not been officially dx'd, but there is a strong indication that I am AS). Basic is not too horrible (pretty structured/scheduled), tech school can be a total pain in the rear. There are few if any services/help and if you would need some type of help, well basically they will med board you out (meaning medical discharge). Also, if you tell them before going in, you can bet you may not make it through MEPS, though you might be able, its not 100% guarenteed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
KazigluBey
Velociraptor
Joined: Jan 04, 2009
Age: 34
Posts: 405
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject: Re: Asperger's Syndrome and the Military |
|
|
| locutusofborg wrote: | | Hello, it's been a while since I've been on here. Anyway, I have a few questions about joining the military with Asperger's syndrome. I contacted an Air Force recruiter and he says I can join if I present a paper by my doctor saying that I have Asperger's and I haven't attended therapy or treatment sessions for over a year, and I'm looking into the Air Force, but would any of you Aspies know about the other policies of the other branches of the military? Are there any people with Asperger's on this forum who are in the military? |
I was in the military and have since completed my time; that however, was before I was diagnosed with AS. I managed not only to join and successfully complete my time, but also did a total of four different jobs with the army. |
|
| Back to top |
|
locutusofborg
Hummingbird
Joined: Oct 08, 2007
Age: 20
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Yeah, but is there anyone who has been diagnosed with Asperger's and is in the military at the same time? |
|
| Back to top |
|
Katie_WPG
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 08, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 509
Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The fact that they want you to get someone to confirm that you haven't been in therapy insinuates that they would be fine with it, just as long as you aren't a "head case". My guess would be that the military would be hesitant to take someone with an ASD because of the risk that meltdowns would lead to recklessness with a rifle. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Dussel
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 20, 2009
Posts: 1788
Location: London (UK)
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| It may be also a question of dealing with authority. I think a lot of Aspies, including myself, have difficulties just to follow orders, because it is an order (I want to know to reasoning behind it). I think an Aspie, how has no difficulties with this, could fit quite well in a structured environment, but certainly wouldn't. |
|
| Back to top |
|
IndridCold
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 42
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dussel wrote: | | It may be also a question of dealing with authority. I think a lot of Aspies, including myself, have difficulties just to follow orders, because it is an order (I want to know to reasoning behind it). I think an Aspie, how has no difficulties with this, could fit quite well in a structured environment, but certainly wouldn't. |
Same here. If someone tells me to do something, there usually has to be logic behind it. My parents hated that, but nowadays they accept that I am usually right. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Daedalus
Butterfly
Joined: Jan 30, 2009
Posts: 15
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Are there any people with Asperger's on this forum who are in the military? |
I was in the Air Force for almost 10 years. Basic training was the hardest, a lot of in-your-face yelling and humiliation (hard for me as an aspie, though i didn't know I had it until recently). After that it was ok, with a very structured environment and all that. I never really made any true friends in the military because socializing is hard for me, but I was good at my job. If you must join, then I would highly suggest that you consider the Air Force. I think it's about the "least" regimented of the military branches, and I don't think I could have handled going through any other branch. Plus the Air Force tends to attract most of the "intellectual" types even though it is definitely a combat force. I did have some personal adjustment issues in trying to adapt back to civilian life after I got out, but I don't regret serving.
_________________
I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens.
- Woody Allen |
|
| Back to top |
|
MrMisanthrope
Deinonychus
Joined: Feb 23, 2009
Age: 45
Posts: 340
Location: The Eastern Outskirts of the Daley Empire
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I was in the Army for 6 years. Would still be there if not for a medical discharge (unrelated to my AS).
In my branch of Combat Arms, I think my variant of AS was likely an asset. Socialization was NOT required for success or promotion. Absolute Precision and Skill was. Give me a clearly defined mission with open operational paramers and no interruptions and I succeed.
_________________
Malum Prohibitum, Malum Habenae Regum Est.
I'm not Jesus. Stop punishing me for other people's sins.
True Liberty Expressed as Fiction: http://www.bigheadpress.com/tpbtgn |
|
| Back to top |
|
roadracer
Phoenix
![]()
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Posts: 781
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In the war era where in, they are more likely to take you. I know before we started the wars, I know a guy they wouldn't take just because of a learning disability. They can not take you or give you a medical discharge for what ever they feel like. If they think aspergers is going to be a problem, then they wont take you. Anyway, if you really want to git in, you are better off to not tell them, or play it down as much as possible. If you tell them you have aspergers, that is on the autism spectrum, I am pretty sure they arnt going to take you. I had a good freind with some big disabilities, very autistic like, that was able to get in, by not telling them what he didnt think was important, and he served many years, unfortantly he was later killed in Iraq. It sort of Reminds me of the movie Forest Gump.
BTW, I have never served, they would never take me if I tried, even that I never would, you can read my signature to understand why |
|
| Back to top |
|
Andromeda
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Feb 22, 2009
Age: 28
Posts: 41
Location: Juneau, Alaska
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, I'm glad I saw this thread, since I'm new here and that I'm currently in the military.
I'm in the Coast Guard in Alaska, and I was just diagnosed with aspergers from a psychologist, after I was refered to see him. I don't know yet whether the Coast Guard may possibly process me for separation, but I have managed to save alot of my money for college once my service would be complete, and I have one year left on my contract. I'll admit that I have had not so many good social interactions with my supervisor, and other members from my previous jobs. I always had people get onto me, thinking that I purposefully gave a puzzled stare at them. Bootcamp was really tough for me to adjust, as I had to use teamwork and other social interactions to get through. |
|
| Back to top |
|
MrMisanthrope
Deinonychus
Joined: Feb 23, 2009
Age: 45
Posts: 340
Location: The Eastern Outskirts of the Daley Empire
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
^^ They should NOT, and you should fight it if they try (if you like being a Coastie...)
There is no fundamental reason why AS should disqualify you for ANY position in any branch of the Military so long as you can pass your SQTs. for your MOS.
It may be an issue to certain promotion levels, but with care & consideration you can stay in a Tech/Combat field where sucking up to Brass isn't quite as important.
_________________
Malum Prohibitum, Malum Habenae Regum Est.
I'm not Jesus. Stop punishing me for other people's sins.
True Liberty Expressed as Fiction: http://www.bigheadpress.com/tpbtgn |
|
| Back to top |
|
Andromeda
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Feb 22, 2009
Age: 28
Posts: 41
Location: Juneau, Alaska
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| While you were in the army, how well were you with NT coworkers? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
