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Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Tue, 03/25/2008 - 17:45
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 2sides2everystory on Tue, 2010-01-26 - 21:59

         That's not true. You have to be seizure free for five years without medication and you still have to tell them because if they find out you lied... The only place not telling about your epilepsy applies is certain states for your driver's license. The reason for the military denying epileplic personnel is they can not ensure that they can get medication to any personnal should they be deployed, even those deployed in the states, such as for disasters.

        I'm 17 and I was diagnosised with epilepsy after having my first seizure two and half years ago. I've been seizure free for a year. I wanted to join the military since just before I started having seizures but I, too, thought I could never get in to any military. However, I did my research and I hope to speak to a recruiter soon to clarify if you have to be without medication for all five of those years or does the five years start when you are medication free. I don't see why it would be the latter but either way, at the latest, I could join after college and get money to pay my college loans. Now I'm planning on joining the national guard.

       It took some time but I realized that sometimes you have to wait. So I'm taking my medication, following a healthy diet, staying fit by military standards, and working on getting a high grade point average. I may not be able to join as soon as I want but I can be prepared to join when I can. That's all I can say to you. Even without epilepsy, people still aren't accepted for other reasons so instead of pouting and complaining and raling, I try to avoid any other reason for them to deny me later down the line.

         That's not true. You have to be seizure free for five years without medication and you still have to tell them because if they find out you lied... The only place not telling about your epilepsy applies is certain states for your driver's license. The reason for the military denying epileplic personnel is they can not ensure that they can get medication to any personnal should they be deployed, even those deployed in the states, such as for disasters.

        I'm 17 and I was diagnosised with epilepsy after having my first seizure two and half years ago. I've been seizure free for a year. I wanted to join the military since just before I started having seizures but I, too, thought I could never get in to any military. However, I did my research and I hope to speak to a recruiter soon to clarify if you have to be without medication for all five of those years or does the five years start when you are medication free. I don't see why it would be the latter but either way, at the latest, I could join after college and get money to pay my college loans. Now I'm planning on joining the national guard.

       It took some time but I realized that sometimes you have to wait. So I'm taking my medication, following a healthy diet, staying fit by military standards, and working on getting a high grade point average. I may not be able to join as soon as I want but I can be prepared to join when I can. That's all I can say to you. Even without epilepsy, people still aren't accepted for other reasons so instead of pouting and complaining and raling, I try to avoid any other reason for them to deny me later down the line.

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by angelacarwile on Wed, 2010-01-27 - 13:45

I am a retired Navy Career Counselor Chief; a career recruiter for 9 years, forced to retire due to Epilepsy. I served more than 13 years and out of the blue I started having seizures. Due to my newly developed seizure disorder I was no longer eligible to serve in any compacity. It's true that if you're seizure free for 5 years, without medication for 5 years and without the diagnosis of E, you MAY be eligible with a medical waiver from BUMED IF it seems to be an isolated incident and with treatment records from your Neurologist clearing you of the diagnosis. If you've been dagnosed with E and on meds, there's no chance for a waiver and this goes for ALL branches of the military including the Natl. Guard, regardless if your seizure free or not. I'm sorry to be the barer of bad news, but I don't want someone filling your head with lies and crushing your hopes after 5 years of waiting. I'm still on the Temporary DIsabled Retired list until I'm able to permanently retire in 2013. I have to be evaluated every 18 months to see if I'm eligible for duty, but with Epilepsy it's just red tape until I can be placed on the PDRL. I would love to still be in the Navy, but God had other plans for me just as he does for you. Although you're not eligible to serve in the military, you can serve your country in many other ways. I commend your hard work and I wish you nothing but the best in your future.

Take Care and God Bless!

NCC Angela Powers, US Navy (Retired)

I am a retired Navy Career Counselor Chief; a career recruiter for 9 years, forced to retire due to Epilepsy. I served more than 13 years and out of the blue I started having seizures. Due to my newly developed seizure disorder I was no longer eligible to serve in any compacity. It's true that if you're seizure free for 5 years, without medication for 5 years and without the diagnosis of E, you MAY be eligible with a medical waiver from BUMED IF it seems to be an isolated incident and with treatment records from your Neurologist clearing you of the diagnosis. If you've been dagnosed with E and on meds, there's no chance for a waiver and this goes for ALL branches of the military including the Natl. Guard, regardless if your seizure free or not. I'm sorry to be the barer of bad news, but I don't want someone filling your head with lies and crushing your hopes after 5 years of waiting. I'm still on the Temporary DIsabled Retired list until I'm able to permanently retire in 2013. I have to be evaluated every 18 months to see if I'm eligible for duty, but with Epilepsy it's just red tape until I can be placed on the PDRL. I would love to still be in the Navy, but God had other plans for me just as he does for you. Although you're not eligible to serve in the military, you can serve your country in many other ways. I commend your hard work and I wish you nothing but the best in your future.

Take Care and God Bless!

NCC Angela Powers, US Navy (Retired)

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by whitetigrus on Wed, 2010-01-27 - 15:29

Thank you for being so honest Angela.  The statement from Joan really got me fired up after stating that one should "try to sneak in or hide the fact that they have E."  What happened to honesty's the best policy, that's how I live my life and from the sounds of it others need to also!!!  I also want to thank you about the National Guard part because that was the next step.  lol

Thank you again NCC Angela Powers!

Common sense is not so common!

Thank you for being so honest Angela.  The statement from Joan really got me fired up after stating that one should "try to sneak in or hide the fact that they have E."  What happened to honesty's the best policy, that's how I live my life and from the sounds of it others need to also!!!  I also want to thank you about the National Guard part because that was the next step.  lol

Thank you again NCC Angela Powers!

Common sense is not so common!

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