Jamie Barkshire: "Why won't they let me join the army?&

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Keep in mind, I can only speak for the US Army's policies. I don't know about the UK armed forced acceptance policies. Some countries would consider it unethical to know a government employee (as all people in a country's armed forces are...) has a condition which requires treatment--even if the person themselves claims they do not require it--and not have it provided for them. Then, another department might require a diagnosis to treat. It's a catch 22.

As to them not speaking to you after you threatened legal action: it is the policy of many organizations to break contact with anyone threatening a lawsuit. I've been employed with three companies who make use of this policy. It's not meant to offend in most cases. Number one, it's utilized to ensure that anyone untrained to deal with legal matters doesn't screw things up worse; number two, most people you would speak to are not legally trained and are taught not to give any advice (procedural, mundane, anything...) in regards to legal or medical matters. They're not doctors or lawyers, and giving legal or medical advice without a medical or legal degree can be interpreted as impersonating a doctor or lawyer, which is a serious crime with punishment that can range from large fines, to prison terms, to probation, and everything in between.

The fact of the matter is that they should have thought about what they were saying before they said it...

does it depend purely on the severity of your condition??? because i'm hoping to be a royal marine and i'll be gutted if I don't get in. But tbh I don't think my aspergers is that bad for them to reject me, I mean I can read facial expressions perfectly and my behaviour in school has improved drastically. Just hope they actually assess the severity rather than reject straight away just for having aspergers.

I heard about that guy.

And thank goodness they *Don't* let us. Because if there was a draft, we'd be screwed. 99.9% of aspies would not be able to deal with the army, or war. I know I sure wouldn't be able to deal with it. It would kill me, literally.

... Wooow. Okay. When I was a little kid, y'know, I really wanted to join. Thankfully, I saw reason... Also, I figured out I was gay. Does a double-negative make a positive? I suppose I have nothing to fear from a draft, even if Obama does ever repeal DADT - which he probably never will, at this rate, but that's a whole other rant...

Annoying, but I can see why they'd not let him in, in this case. The military's all perfectionist about who they let join. Except, y'know, who they let guard US embassies in Afghanistan and stuff... Of course, if they had some sort of more report-the-morons-FFS people there, it'd've been whistleblown faster. And most Aspies are not known for their promotion of mad partying. So, y'know.

I can get why they wouldn't let Aspies join, but they already let /morons/ join, so I don't know how much difference it would make, honestly.

As I have said before Freddie-J, is not the fact that they rejected me that is resulting in legal action.
It's the treatment I have recieved that is resulting in legal action. Why should they be allowed to
get away with it all... I wonder how many people they have done this to and continue to do so.

Even a solicitor who I seeked legal advice from aknowledges that I havent exactly been treated
fairly... Hence the decision to sue them in the County Courts.

Wow I think I might have seen Jamie (vaguely), being local :O

It is sad that it happend. Perhaps he just shouldn't have disclosed it. I do know another local aspie in this area* who has successfully finished being in the Army Cadets.

*In Norwich, our college has the best aspie services in the country, it has even won national awards for it.

Jamie_B, you've been to Norwich City College?

Yes I have actually. And, no, I am not Local to Coventry.

I was there in 2008. Not sure if you saw me or not...

What the Army doesn't get is that they are his obsession and therfore he will probably be the best soldier they ever had. Aspies develop intenmsely good skills from their obsessions.


I never thought an ASD would prevent anyone from joining the military!

I have an update on my case with the MoD.

Today I recieved an order from the county courts in my favor against the MoD to the tune of £120,000!