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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 shantie on Thu, 2011-01-20 - 10:41
Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.
Submitted by angelacarwile on Thu, 2011-01-20 - 11:29
Thank you! I don't understand why some recruiters give these kids false hope. It kills me! As a Career Recruiter and Station Commander, I made sure my guys knew the regulations and if they didn't know, they knew where to look. Some recruiters misunderstand the situation and in some cases the kids don't tell the "whole" truth. It doesn't matter what they say, it all boils down to medical records. Then MEPS will send the kid for another series of testing and make him/her see a MEPS Neuro or a contracted referral. We all know a diagnosis of E is uncertain - we could be seizure free 10+ years then BAM, seizures start up again. Not to mention, a military environment in itself is very stressful; especially for the new guys. That kind of environment could push the start-up button for seizures all over again.
I was in the perfection of health when I joined the Navy in 95 - I had never really been sick a day in my life. Then months before my 30th birthday and 13 years service, I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Epilepsy with unknown etiology. I was forced to medically retire in 2008. I've told this story over and over, yet kids still think they can "beat the system". It's horrible and I hate it for them, but there are so many other ways for them to serve their country. I miss the Navy every day, but I know I'm a safety risk and could never perform the duties I once did or at the same level.
Thank you! I don't understand why some recruiters give these kids false hope. It kills me! As a Career Recruiter and Station Commander, I made sure my guys knew the regulations and if they didn't know, they knew where to look. Some recruiters misunderstand the situation and in some cases the kids don't tell the "whole" truth. It doesn't matter what they say, it all boils down to medical records. Then MEPS will send the kid for another series of testing and make him/her see a MEPS Neuro or a contracted referral. We all know a diagnosis of E is uncertain - we could be seizure free 10+ years then BAM, seizures start up again. Not to mention, a military environment in itself is very stressful; especially for the new guys. That kind of environment could push the start-up button for seizures all over again.
I was in the perfection of health when I joined the Navy in 95 - I had never really been sick a day in my life. Then months before my 30th birthday and 13 years service, I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Epilepsy with unknown etiology. I was forced to medically retire in 2008. I've told this story over and over, yet kids still think they can "beat the system". It's horrible and I hate it for them, but there are so many other ways for them to serve their country. I miss the Navy every day, but I know I'm a safety risk and could never perform the duties I once did or at the same level.
Re: Getting into the military with epilepsy.
Submitted by angelacarwile on Wed, 2011-01-19 - 08:47
With all due respect, no you can't. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I recruited for over 9 years. I was forced to retire after 13 years due to a diagnosis of Epilepsy. Is it true you can join after an isolated seizure, "without" the diagnosis of Epilepsy? Yes. However, you must be seizure free for 5 years, "without" medication. If the diagnosis is present (whether active or inactive) and you've had more than one "unprovoked" seizure, then I'm sorry hun, you won't be eligible.
I wish it weren't true, but with a diagnosis of E, you and I both know our future is uncertain in regard to how long we'll stay seizure free. You could be seizure free for 5 and a half years, then out of the blue another seizure strikes. We're a liability, not just for our own safety, but for the safety of others. You have to abide by the driving laws in the state in which you reside (stationed). The military cannot be responsible for supervising you (medically and on a daily 24/7 basis) or drive you to work every day until you're seizure free for the period of time required by the state. It's unfortunate; it took me a long time to come to terms with it. I've been retired for almost 3 years now and there's not a day that goes by I don't miss it. Believe me, if there was a way that I could still be active, I would be. I was a Chief (E7) in the Navy, please understand - if the Army recruiter said you were eligible with a diagnosis of E, he's wrong. I won't jump on the bandwagon and say he lied, but maybe he misunderstood.
I keep in close contact with a lot of my Navy friends. I'll email one of the Master Chief's I used to work with to see if anything's changed (He's the Chief Recruiter of his entire District), but I highly doubt it. If that were the case, I would have been able to stay and finish my 20 years.
Please don't think I'm trying to be mean; that's not my intention. I just don't want you to get your hopes up - go thru the entire process just to be rejected during the medical portion of the exam.
Angela
With all due respect, no you can't. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I recruited for over 9 years. I was forced to retire after 13 years due to a diagnosis of Epilepsy. Is it true you can join after an isolated seizure, "without" the diagnosis of Epilepsy? Yes. However, you must be seizure free for 5 years, "without" medication. If the diagnosis is present (whether active or inactive) and you've had more than one "unprovoked" seizure, then I'm sorry hun, you won't be eligible.
I wish it weren't true, but with a diagnosis of E, you and I both know our future is uncertain in regard to how long we'll stay seizure free. You could be seizure free for 5 and a half years, then out of the blue another seizure strikes. We're a liability, not just for our own safety, but for the safety of others. You have to abide by the driving laws in the state in which you reside (stationed). The military cannot be responsible for supervising you (medically and on a daily 24/7 basis) or drive you to work every day until you're seizure free for the period of time required by the state. It's unfortunate; it took me a long time to come to terms with it. I've been retired for almost 3 years now and there's not a day that goes by I don't miss it. Believe me, if there was a way that I could still be active, I would be. I was a Chief (E7) in the Navy, please understand - if the Army recruiter said you were eligible with a diagnosis of E, he's wrong. I won't jump on the bandwagon and say he lied, but maybe he misunderstood.
I keep in close contact with a lot of my Navy friends. I'll email one of the Master Chief's I used to work with to see if anything's changed (He's the Chief Recruiter of his entire District), but I highly doubt it. If that were the case, I would have been able to stay and finish my 20 years.
Please don't think I'm trying to be mean; that's not my intention. I just don't want you to get your hopes up - go thru the entire process just to be rejected during the medical portion of the exam.
Angela