Aspie joining National Guard, thoughts?

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I am 22 and want to join the Guard. I am currently unemployed and do not have a college education. I am in good shape and very good with technology and computers. I also want formal training in weapons and survivalist skills.


I am thinking of doing the Guard while going to college and staying the guard for the duration I am in college.

I am from NY state and only looking for a couple of years. Thoughts?

Why the guard and not ROTC if you are in college? I was in the military years ago and found it to be a tough situation, being an Aspie, due to the close living conditions and not having any alone time, except when on guard duty, which I actually liked. On the good side, I really learned a lot about people and that was worth a lot to me. Overall, I would have to say that it was a worthwhile experience, though a tough one to endure at times.

The military is tough even for nt's, you have to be especially tough though because you'll have nothing in common with your comrades, yet will be around them 247.

If your prepared to be the oddball of the group, act as part of the group, and never discuss your AS, you'll do well.

In a perfect world any aspie capable of doing service should give it a shot as I believe it does give some real useful development you can't get elsewhere. However you need to be tough as nails, not physically but mentally.

i was under the impression that the american military now routinely screens for AS.

Thanks a lot guys. I guess you're right, I tend to get these things in my head and obsess about them. The training would do me good, but I don't think the DI's would be very understanding of me.

Aspies are the ideal soldiers, in terms of combat ability, that is if you can act like a machine, that's what they want and that is exactly what some of us can do. The regimented lifestyle of the military was always a haven for us.

One of my friends, who is an Aspie was in the military and he made it through training and everything, however he had trouble when he had to go overseas. He was fine on base in Germany, yet active duty in Iraq he did not fare well with.
He got out with an honorable discharge and has VA benefits.

I do not suggest the military for a lot of folks on the spectrum. It would vary by the individual person, and possibly what brand of service they are joining. Yet you really have to be wanting to work with others and work as a team effort.
Once you get to Iraq and you can't hang, it can lead to really really bad scenarios as i.e. a 4 person team; one person takes off as they can't deal with the situation; you got 3 people already in a tense situation who have to take on the work the 4th person can't and ya'll can't reach a higher ranking official to transfer the guy who can't deal out.... this was a real situation i read about... (although i believe the person who couldn't hang was NT)

I wouldn't suggest anyone join the military, but espicially not someone with a condition that causes them to be more fearful and anxious than other people.

Being extremely sensitive I cannot handle even small conflict even if it is just social. I am sure death and destruction would just cause me to shut down completely. When it gets real....it gets surreal. I wouldn't make it past basic training.

I'm sure it's a terrible idea for most autistic people as we tend to be quite sensitive to our surroundings and threatening situations.

And I don't want anything to do with war.

I honestly beleave an aspie with the right intrests and skills would make a great fighter pilot or back room intelligence/operator person, foot soilder, sounds alot like school to me and I know how that turned out. If I had the intrest to join the millitary and I don't, thats the angle I would go at.

I'm in the Air Force.

Three things:

1. Pick your career carefully. Do your research and don't just take the recruiter's word for it. There are many jobs in the armed forces that have nothing to do with killing people. Choose the right job for you.

2. The military is a big commitment. If you decide that it's not to your liking, it's not that easy to simply pick up and leave without there being some serious consequences.

3. Don't lie. If you have a diagnosis or are on meds, come clean at MEPS. If they have to do a background check for a security clearance, or if they happen to find out for any reason, it's called "fraudulent enlistment." Yes, you can get in trouble for it.

Other than that, it really depends on you. I've had good times, and I've had bad times. I've also learned that an active flightline isn't the best place for ME. Good luck.

Being in (J)ROTC and an Eagle Scout is gonna rank you up in the military of any kind

If you can handle high school, you can probably handle the military.

Don't be surprised if a diagnosis of an ASD precludes you from joining nowadays though.

i hated the regimentation, it made me feel like a prisoner.

If you go to college, try a semester of ROTC. That way you can explore the military without having to make a commitment.

If you desire routine, you may do well.