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Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Tue, 03/25/2008 - 17:45
Topic: Living With Epilepsy - Adults
Hello, I tried to get into the Army when I was 18 but they denied me because they couldn't guarentee that I would or could get my medication on a daily basis!  It makes sense!  Now my 17 year old son has plans of joining the Navy.  I've told him what I went through and what they told me but he's already talked to recruiters that have told him that he could get in.  Do different branches have different rules for enlistment?  I've already made my son promise me that he wouldn't enlist until after Bush is out, but Bush has created such a mess it's going to take years to clean up his mess and to get our troops out safely!  My son's grades aren't good and I've already been told that the Navy won't take him unless he has at least a C average, so that sets my mind at ease!  Does anybody have any first hand knowledge regarding getting into the armed forces with E. 

Comments

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by tonialpha on Thu, 2009-11-12 - 09:07

:0

Worked in stress in a police dept. setting, did not tell them of my sz.  You are in a different pressure setting and the need of medication.  One time had to do a double duty w/ no food and no medication  and no sleep and I was strong and felt I could do anything.  I could do it a few times and then one time I woke up in a hospital setting and did not know where I was, and found out I had status. Beware  I do not mean to  put you down I changed my mine and ended my field of work and ended in a work in the health field that is in demand and you get health insurance,  my Neurologist gave me suggestions on where to start and now I am married and have 2 children. I have a sz disorder.  I lived in Oceanside near a Marine Base.  Now I live on the East coast and see a lot of injuries of the dedicated soldiers of terrible injuries.  

If you feel it is your duty go for it! 

:0

Worked in stress in a police dept. setting, did not tell them of my sz.  You are in a different pressure setting and the need of medication.  One time had to do a double duty w/ no food and no medication  and no sleep and I was strong and felt I could do anything.  I could do it a few times and then one time I woke up in a hospital setting and did not know where I was, and found out I had status. Beware  I do not mean to  put you down I changed my mine and ended my field of work and ended in a work in the health field that is in demand and you get health insurance,  my Neurologist gave me suggestions on where to start and now I am married and have 2 children. I have a sz disorder.  I lived in Oceanside near a Marine Base.  Now I live on the East coast and see a lot of injuries of the dedicated soldiers of terrible injuries.  

If you feel it is your duty go for it! 

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by wakim on Thu, 2009-12-17 - 14:14
You can try to get waivers, if your son scores high on the asvab and does exceeding well on the physical fitness tests and they really need him they could push for a waiver.  That's my plan today actually, but due to issues with my most recent seizures I also got a whole new diagnosis, new medication and am finally myocholonic jerk free, and feel no auras when I miss a single dose, drink too much, or am exposed to stress.  My second to the last seizure occured in the work place from stress, combined with a single missed dose.  I work retail and had a knife pulled on me after I pursued a man trying to pass a fake a traveler's check in my store.  Then had a chain of events afterward happen that just made the whole night a pain.  Then all of a sudden I woke up and there was an ambulance and another one of the managers jumping out of a car in front of the store totally drunk telling me he had the store that night...lol.  I've learned to keep meds on me at all times.  Anyway I'm hoping I can get the waiver just based on my college experience, work experience, physical fitness, and a high asvab score.

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by mjb_02 on Tue, 2009-01-20 - 11:18

The only real thing to do is go to the Navy recruiter. I have had 2 seizures one when i was 14 and the other when I was 15. I went to the Navy recruiter and he was able to get me a waiver in a day. the important thing to have is documents stating that your son is clear of epilepsy!!has he had a normal tests nothing abnormal? If so then just go get another one done and see a neurologist and have him clear your son then take that documentation to  the recruiter and he should be able to get you a waiver thats what i did when I got into the Navy. Good Luck it's a little bit harder to get into the other branches if you've had seizures.

 

The only real thing to do is go to the Navy recruiter. I have had 2 seizures one when i was 14 and the other when I was 15. I went to the Navy recruiter and he was able to get me a waiver in a day. the important thing to have is documents stating that your son is clear of epilepsy!!has he had a normal tests nothing abnormal? If so then just go get another one done and see a neurologist and have him clear your son then take that documentation to  the recruiter and he should be able to get you a waiver thats what i did when I got into the Navy. Good Luck it's a little bit harder to get into the other branches if you've had seizures.

 

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