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Getting into the military with epilepsy.
Tue, 03/25/2008 - 17:45Comments
Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.
Submitted by jderry on Fri, 2008-09-26 - 08:48
Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.
Submitted by saylove12 on Thu, 2008-11-13 - 04:54
I was dx with epilepsy over a year ago and still serving in the Navy, however, I'm in the process of being discharged. I'm waiting on my informal medical board, which I'm sure will come back as recommending me to the permanently disabled list. Then theres the formal board, which I can drag on for years but have no intention doing.
Even though I have been seizure free and not on meds for the last year...they still don't want me. And to tell you the truth I don't want them much either. Given the fact that we are still "at war", and I have been without incident, having not missed a day of work, I am fully capable of doing my job. After 13 years, they have beaten me down; taking me off of the watchbill, reducing my responsibilities, not allowing me to do my job, they are forcing me out. I have given everything to my country and the Navy. I have served in war, saved lives and never complained. I may not be deployable but there is a billet out there that I can fill. Waivers happen everday in the military. When they want you out, that's it, no waiver, no nothing.
I speak from expierence, I'm a Physician Assistant. I have had several patients who have had strokes, heart attacks, diabetes...they still serve. At this point in my career, I'm ready to move on. I'm done fighting...
So, the answer to the question is, NO, you cannot serve your country, on active duty, with epilepsy. I encourage you parents to make sure your sons and daughter do not make the mistake of joining. Even if they have been seizure free, we have no guesstimate as to when another one might occur. The last thing anyone wants is to have their child put themselves in harms way or anyone else for that matter.
Thanks for listening,
Proudly serving, for now
I was dx with epilepsy over a year ago and still serving in the Navy, however, I'm in the process of being discharged. I'm waiting on my informal medical board, which I'm sure will come back as recommending me to the permanently disabled list. Then theres the formal board, which I can drag on for years but have no intention doing.
Even though I have been seizure free and not on meds for the last year...they still don't want me. And to tell you the truth I don't want them much either. Given the fact that we are still "at war", and I have been without incident, having not missed a day of work, I am fully capable of doing my job. After 13 years, they have beaten me down; taking me off of the watchbill, reducing my responsibilities, not allowing me to do my job, they are forcing me out. I have given everything to my country and the Navy. I have served in war, saved lives and never complained. I may not be deployable but there is a billet out there that I can fill. Waivers happen everday in the military. When they want you out, that's it, no waiver, no nothing.
I speak from expierence, I'm a Physician Assistant. I have had several patients who have had strokes, heart attacks, diabetes...they still serve. At this point in my career, I'm ready to move on. I'm done fighting...
So, the answer to the question is, NO, you cannot serve your country, on active duty, with epilepsy. I encourage you parents to make sure your sons and daughter do not make the mistake of joining. Even if they have been seizure free, we have no guesstimate as to when another one might occur. The last thing anyone wants is to have their child put themselves in harms way or anyone else for that matter.
Thanks for listening,
Proudly serving, for now
Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.
Submitted by jencas16 on Thu, 2008-09-25 - 23:27
I was in my first semester of college on a full ride from the Air Force ROTC scholarship when I had my first grand mal and was diagnosed. It only took a matter of weeks for them to revoke my scholarship and say "thanks but no thanks". The college kicked in and replaced the scolarship with their own, but it was still a horrible thing to happen. I had plans for a career. So, the answer is a most definate NO for the air force, and I am pretty sure that most other services would be the same way.
JME - Diagnosed in 2000
I was in my first semester of college on a full ride from the Air Force ROTC scholarship when I had my first grand mal and was diagnosed. It only took a matter of weeks for them to revoke my scholarship and say "thanks but no thanks". The college kicked in and replaced the scolarship with their own, but it was still a horrible thing to happen. I had plans for a career. So, the answer is a most definate NO for the air force, and I am pretty sure that most other services would be the same way.
JME - Diagnosed in 2000