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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 whitetigrus on Sun, 2010-01-31 - 00:18
No you can not get into any branch of the military after being diagnosed with epilepsy!  It's for your own good and safety.  I know the dissapointment, as I stated I tried to get into the Army and I couldn't, now my son has tried all branches and just for the record (my son is not hiding the fact that he has E. nor is he trying to "sneak" in to the Navy, WTF")  Stay on the right track in life, go to college for something that you like to do and are good at or go for something that you've always dreamed of.  Only you can make your dreams come true!  Good luck to you my friend!

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by wolf14016 on Mon, 2010-07-19 - 21:06

I found this while surfing the web, and thought I'd weigh in.

I'm 24 years old. I had a handful of seizures from the time I was 13 to the time I was about 18. It's been a little over six years since my last seizure, and I've been off medications the entire time. My neurologist told me it wasn't unusual for kids to grow out of their seizures (I think he called it Rolandic or Childhood Epilepsy, something like that)

Over the past six or seven months, I've been going through the process of working with a recruiter to join the Army. It's been a trying experience. I had to get all of my medical history, go back to my neurologist and get him to write a letter stating that I had been seizure free and off meds for more then 5 years, and then had to get an EEG. (The results, as expected, were normal). 

So after all that, last week I went into MEPS, did all the tests (found out I was slightly nearsighted, evidently), and found out I'd need a waiver for the seizures, which wasn't surprising. It turned out too that I was *1* pound over the weight limit, so I can't even apply for the waiver until I go back the first week of August. 

So now I wait. My recruiter thinks my chances are pretty good, since I've got a bachelor's degree and scored a 94 on the ASVAB. My medical records arn't 100% complete - evidently the insurance company lost some of them - and that's my biggest concern. 

But after all the crap I've been through - endless amounts of paperwork and bureacracy - I'm not gonna get upset if I get denied. It's the military's loss, as far as I'm concerned. I met their requirements (5 years, normal EEG), and that's all I can do. 

The only thing that bothers me is that  there are kids with drug convictions, DUI's, and other crap that can get in, but I might get denied because of a childhood thing that no longer afflicts me. 

Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest.

I found this while surfing the web, and thought I'd weigh in.

I'm 24 years old. I had a handful of seizures from the time I was 13 to the time I was about 18. It's been a little over six years since my last seizure, and I've been off medications the entire time. My neurologist told me it wasn't unusual for kids to grow out of their seizures (I think he called it Rolandic or Childhood Epilepsy, something like that)

Over the past six or seven months, I've been going through the process of working with a recruiter to join the Army. It's been a trying experience. I had to get all of my medical history, go back to my neurologist and get him to write a letter stating that I had been seizure free and off meds for more then 5 years, and then had to get an EEG. (The results, as expected, were normal). 

So after all that, last week I went into MEPS, did all the tests (found out I was slightly nearsighted, evidently), and found out I'd need a waiver for the seizures, which wasn't surprising. It turned out too that I was *1* pound over the weight limit, so I can't even apply for the waiver until I go back the first week of August. 

So now I wait. My recruiter thinks my chances are pretty good, since I've got a bachelor's degree and scored a 94 on the ASVAB. My medical records arn't 100% complete - evidently the insurance company lost some of them - and that's my biggest concern. 

But after all the crap I've been through - endless amounts of paperwork and bureacracy - I'm not gonna get upset if I get denied. It's the military's loss, as far as I'm concerned. I met their requirements (5 years, normal EEG), and that's all I can do. 

The only thing that bothers me is that  there are kids with drug convictions, DUI's, and other crap that can get in, but I might get denied because of a childhood thing that no longer afflicts me. 

Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest.

Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.

Submitted by the patriot on Tue, 2011-01-18 - 20:22
You can get into the U.S. military with epilepsy. You have to be seizure free for five years without medications. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was about 13 and I have always wanted to serve my country. I recently took an EEG which was normal, now all I have to do is wait five years and I will be able to join the army. To all those like me who wish to serve their country, it is possible. I was told by doctors and even members of my own family that I would never join the military. It is possible, never give up hope, I havent, and on January 5, 2016, it will enlist (if all goes well).

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