Asperger's, Air Force, and Careers

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I joined the Airforce and went to basic in December of '06. For me, it was hell! I couldn't stand constantly being around so many people.I made it through basic and about half way through tech school before I pretty much shut down mentally. They gave me a psych eval and they brought up Schizoid and Avoidant PD. They also mentioned AS, but I didn't really know or care about what it was at the time. I just wanted to get out of there.

I had no issues with the studying or the classes, (I did absolutely no studying outside of class and never got below 90% on my exams) it was the "non stop" and "team" environment. My drill instructor once said "Your good, but you need to work with your wingmen." I usually want\ need to work alone.

I got an "administrative discharge" in April '07

Well yes, should "become a decent gig" but that's because people including recruiters "should" not lie, but oftentimes, they do and it does not become a decent gig. Quite the opposite in fact. Thus, the difficult-to-break contract.

If you live in the US, you can complete a FAFSA form online, and the government/in cooperation with its handmaidens (the banks) will grant & loan you the money to get an education, the lower your income the more this is true. With the specific career goals you have in mind, I believe this would be a better choice than the military.

Sorry to disappear so long between posts.... forgot......

I'm in the Air Force as a computer/network technician and joining was the best decision of my entire life. I just passed my 1 year mark a few months ago!

I had a tough time at basic training adjusting to the military and the stress but once I got to technical training school I really have done very well. I've now been in for about a year and I love it. I highly encourage others with Asperger's to consider joining as long as you can get a job that suits your interest/ability.

It gets much easier once you're done your initial basic training/tech school and it honestly feels pretty similar to a normal job though I'm in uniform. I now have a room to myself with no room mates, I can decompress much easier, etc. You just have to hold on and as long as you don't give up, I feel like most people will cut you some slack in the Air Force.

I've been in the navy 6 years. I've suspected myself of having AS, and have never heard of it until this year. The only issues I have had is fear in failing at something, and most of those times I've been able to do my job right, but sometimes I have felt nearvous when it was operation that I've never done or gotten used to. I'm soft spoken, my voice is deep and had to learn how to speak up more often. If you feel like you can handle it you'll be fine.

I did 4 years in the Air Force with what was then undiagnosed AS. I looked at my time as a vehicle to pay for college and to travel. There was also this kind of appeal in going to training to become a respected working member of society. I didn't know then why I found day to day tasks so difficult and this was appealing because I knew it would be hard but I thought I'd come out at least close to how I always wanted to be. The reality was that my social, perception and sensory issues made my military days very difficult. I also didn't know at the time I have ADHD and OCD so perhaps you will not have the same level of struggles as I did. I liked the structure. I liked that I felt taken care of and supported. I am glad I did my service. That was how I met my husband and how I matured in many ways. But I wouldn't personally recommend the Air Force to someone with AS. I don't know what it's like being in any other branch but I'm going to bluntly say the Air Force thinks they are better than the other branches. There are many snobs in their ranks and they will find people who are different and they bully them because they don't want the image of being the best to be tarnished. You can't say anything about it because you are supposed to be a soldier but I'm telling you I wish I'd gone Army instead. I know from my Dad that is no picnic either. However, my husband has just been medically discharged with over a decade of service and the AF is changing drastically right now so everything I've said could be false by the time you go to Basic.

I did 4 years in the Air Force with what was then undiagnosed AS. I looked at my time as a vehicle to pay for college and to travel. There was also this kind of appeal in going to training to become a respected working member of society. I didn't know then why I found day to day tasks so difficult and this was appealing because I knew it would be hard but I thought I'd come out at least close to how I always wanted to be. The reality was that my social, perception and sensory issues made my military days very difficult. I also didn't know at the time I have ADHD and OCD so perhaps you will not have the same level of struggles as I did. I liked the structure. I liked that I felt taken care of and supported. I am glad I did my service. That was how I met my husband and how I matured in many ways. But I wouldn't personally recommend the Air Force to someone with AS. I don't know what it's like being in any other branch but I'm going to bluntly say the Air Force thinks they are better than the other branches. There are many snobs in their ranks and they will find people who are different and they bully them because they don't want the image of being the best to be tarnished. You can't say anything about it because you are supposed to be a soldier but I'm telling you I wish I'd gone Army instead. I know from my Dad that is no picnic either. However, my husband has just been medically discharged with over a decade of service and the AF is changing drastically right now so everything I've said could be false by the time you go to Basic.