Hey, I need advice/have question about something. (Military)

Post Reply New Topic

Hello all. This is my first post in a VERY long time. I used to frequent the chat back when QuirkyCarla was around (Not sure if she still is or not). Was not sure were to post this, so if this is in the wrong place please move.

Anyways, hi.

So, heres the deal. I am an 18 year old with Aspergers. Yay for me. As for many people with Aspergers, social life has sucked for me. I finally made it through HS (ended up with a GED, but did well on it). So now I am out of HS, and kind of stuck.

I have considered college, but I am not sure I could hack it right now. I don't want to get a dead end job though. Not because I think I am better then that or anything, but because I know I will be unhappy.

I have never been able to... well, lets just say I have had in the past abit of an authority problem. Teacher says "do this" and I reply "Why do I need to complete this piece of work" and of course it just goes downhill.

So, it may come to a surprise to you (though most likely not, since you don't know me) that I am considering the Military. E-@#$%^&*-gads.

So, my question is can somebody with Aspergers (high functioning) get into the Military? I don't expect it will be easy if I got in, I don't think I would have any extra support, and I KNOW it would be stressful. But am I even eligible?

The following directions thing is big in the armed forces. I honestly think I could do it, and not ask too many questions. I mean, on the battlefront, if you pause you ask most likely your dead.

One thing the Military provides is structure. That is something I seek.

Another thing is I work well on team. A side perk is that I am a weapons fan (borderline obsessive), and the Army and such is a great place to go if you like things that go bang.

I am not sure my reasons really. I don't have a deep sense of patriotism. I guess I want to experience more of life. See the world, stuff like that. I sort of do want to serve for the reason of doing my part so to speak as well.

Of course, there is a good chance of getting blown up/shot while on duty. I don't really fear death though. I mean, the question is not IF you die, it's WHEN you die. If I die young so be it, but I rather die young and have had a real experience then live till 80+ and be a miserable person.

I think it would be good for me. I really do. But I wanted to know what you guys thought and if any of you had any experience with this type of thing.

So, can I even get in? I am not on any medication, nor do I have any mental problems besides mild depression. Does Aspergers (my only diagnosis) disqualify you?

Thanks.

I suspect you can get into the military. Whether or not you'd do well in the military life is difficult to say. Several people on WP are current or ex-military. I'm not, though because of my work I've known a variety of people all branches of the U.S. armed services, from nocom linguists to officer nurses, as well as officer researchers in the army and air force. None of them had AS, and each was distinct in terms of personality.

I'd suggest talking closely with Aspies who have served, as well as lurking in some military forums to find out more. Tony Atwood discusses the military as a career path in his primary book on AS, saying it's an option but often not a good one, especially if you have sensory issues, difficulty taking orders without having to know the why behind them, or trouble not having control over your life.

http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf

See particularly 13-15, (pages 23-25 of the .pdf) for neurological, and learning, psychiatric and behavioural disorders.

Autism spectrum and Asperger's in particular are not specifically mentioned. However, your history may present consistencies with other disqualifying conditions. The best option is to speak to your doctor about your medical history, and review the medical disqualifications. Your doctor can advise you about your likelihood of qualifying.

You don't want a "dead end" job but, that is exactly what you will get with the military. With the deadly fighting in Afghanistan,
you are likely to end up dead or severely disabled. But then, I guess you don't really value your life anyways.

Ok, was that a personal attack at the end? Jesus, I spend 10 freaking minutes on a new forum and I am getting attacked. Oh well, nothing new.

Not all military jobs involve combat. Infact quite a few do not.

Also, what the hell makes you think I don't value my life? I hold high value on my life and on others. I don't know why you have a problem with it. This post was to ask a question, not for your views on how people in the military value their lives.

At any rate, I found out a formal diagnosis disqualifies me completely. So, I will look into other things. It was just one option I was considering at any rate.

IIRC Aspergers will disqualify you. But they let a lot of people into the military in many cases. I wouldn't do it as I hate hierachy, authority, etc. Bad idea dude :O

Indeed. As stated, I just wanted opinions, I was not going to just make a choice.

I was in the military for a while many years ago, and one of my problems there was what I perceived as a general lack of "military intelligence"! Many day-to-day ways-and-means seemed rather illogical to me. But if you can get a waiver, if necessary, and then find a nice spot doing something you actually enjoy, maybe you would do well there.

23-25 make it seem as if practically everyone would be disqualified...

If you don't tell them you suspect you have AS and you have not been Dxed with AS, you could likely get in.

If you can get yourself to understand that orders are to be followed and not questioned, you might get through it fairly intact.

The military can open a lot of doors for you if you do your job well and get some useful job skill training.

However, if it goes badly, it can be ugly.

Normally I'd advise someone to wait until they are more mature (20-21) before thinking of joining. That might be ever more so with those with AS...more time to learn adaptation and coping skills before joining, but that means finding a way to get by until then.

I happen to be in the US Air Force right now. And it's both a good and a bad choice. First off, if you join don't even consider the Navy, Army or Marines. I was in a somewhat unique position when I joined and I had ample oppurtunity to view the quality of life and structure of all four branches. I went to the linguist tech school which is Army run and all branches of the DOD attend, including NSA, CIA, DIA, SS and foreign nationals. Of all the military (excluding the civilians, though I learned with them as well) the AF had it by far the best. Simple things like PT times, dorms, treatment, responsibilities, chow hall food (Lmao@army chow) as well as deployments. The Army and Navy quite often deploys on a 2 to 1 ratio, that is 2 times deployed as often as on station. Whereas the opposite is true with AF (and marines oddly enough). Lastly, the tech you get in the AF far far outstrips what you'll see in the other branches.

As for actual lifestyle in the military with AS. Well, depending on your job it could go well or not. If you get into something highly technical that suits your interest (do NOT enlist without a guarenteed job, open general is the WORST idea you can do, you WILL get security forces or services) you will most likely be OK, the downsides can be greatly diminished by that one fact. However, another big part is your chain of command, in particular your direct supervisor, flight chief, First Sergeant and OIC. If they're all cool and good your life will be pretty good. If they're a**holes, like my flight chief and First Sergeant are, then it sucks.

There is one big unfortunate thing in the military. It is a highly social career. I've managed to avoid the great majority of it myself because my former First sergeant let me "ban" myself from any social outing with alcohol. Which pretty much every single one has. The military is very fond of its ceremonies and its social outings for morale (which everyone else enjoys, it makes rational sense) and its alcohol.

There are also obvious benefits for enlisting, the post 9-11 GI bill is amazing, as is 100% free healthcare and the military will do one thing very well, and that is take care of your base needs. You will never have to worry about room and board, nor discrimination. Every base hospital (in the AF at least) also has a mental health detachment that you can go to if needed. I'm currently going to mine right now weekly, and it was here that I was diagnosed in fact. Most mil doctors are either really bad that couldn't get a job elsewhere, or really good and patriotic. My psychologist happens to be the latter and it's been a huge helpt in my life.

That said, I'm still getting out after my 6 years and using my GI bill to go to school full time at a University somewhere while getting Staff Sergeant base allowance for housing in addition to full tuition and books paid.

In the UK diagnosis generally bars but apparently exceptions can be made so perhaps do not give up hope for Canada. I guess it would be based largely upon the rest of your mental health being sound, which certainly bars me.

If I could live my life over again, I would definately have taken the military option. Even if only for, say, three years, before going onto university.

I was in the Navy for five years, but in a highly technical area where AS was probably advantageous. Of course, this was also long before AS was widely recognized. I doubt it would be a problem, even today.

If you are high-functioning, I'd expect you'll do well, because self-discipline is extremely important.