Does the repeal of Dont ask dont tell apply to AS?

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I used to serve in the United States Navy. When it became too stressful and had meltdowns every other day, I decided to get help. I told the counselor that the base provided me that I had Asperger's, that way he could get a better understanding and be able to help me out. But instead of getting help, I got honorable discharge due to medical reasons. I knew the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy applied to one's sexuality, but I had no idea it applied to one's mental conditions as well. After all, one of my ship-mates was bi-polar and was taking medication, but she still stayed in the Navy, so why couldn't an Aspie?
That happened two years ago.
Now that Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed, I want to know if Aspies can openly join the military too (not that I want to go back, I'm just curious.) But every article I've read only mentions gays & bis. Nothing about Aspies, Auties, or any mental condition.
I was wondering if anybody here knows about it or can help me find out.

Good question. I want to know the answer as well. As an RPCV, I know that I would have never been allowed to do what I did had I divulged my condition. Why would anyone want to get diagnosed or tell anyone about it if it means professional ruin? It's frustrating.

I'm pretty sure we're still barred from rendering service to this country. That's fine; why give your life to protect a country that oppresses you and your fellows?

as far as i know, the US Army has a permanent ban on anyone with Asperger syndrome

ANOTHER one of my pet peeves! Homosexuals were NOT allowed to join. They could be investigated, and rejected. It was a COMPROMISE that said they were allowed as long as they didn't make it an issue or obvious. THEN, they make it sound like DADT was a BAD thing for them and claimed they "repealed" it. It wasn't repealed, the original rule was overturned. This really only allowed the homosexuals to make it an issue.

Anyway, it was "PC" to allow homosexuals in. AS people really have no such protection, and will probably even have LESS, with all those idiots claiming they committed some murder, etc... because they SUPPSEDLY had AS.

I AM shocked that they let true manic depressives in. I have KNOWN people that have acted in the stereotypical way. If they do that in an enemy land, it could endanger the entire base. SURE it can be prevented by medicine, but NOT reliably. And what if they decide not to take the meds?

Being gay doesn't interfere with your life in the same way that AS does.

DADT was a gay-centered policy. Its repeal means nothing for people with AS.

Like anyplace else, if you don't want your AS held against you, don't tell anyone and don't have a formal Dx on record anywhere.

If they don't want people with AS, that's their policy.

No. D.A.D.T. pertains to sexual orientation.

ruveyn

I had no idea that autistic people could be kicked out of the military. I would imagine that if somebody with autism were to enlist in the military, then they must be convinced enough of their capability of functioning properly in the military.

I served in both the Army and the USMC so I know that Aspies can serve..... BUT with the liklihood of meltdowns due to anxiety it probably is the fact that they should not serve. From my experience most of us probably cannot really do well when the high stress part of the job (ie war) happens.

Hello, I have the answer. Don't Ask Don't Tell only concerns one's sexual preference, not neurological make-up but I wish that were the case. However, Asperger's was just officially included last summer in the Department of Defense policy on health issues barring one from enlisting or serving in the Armed Forces.

Here is the actual document: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corr ... 13003p.pdf

See pg. 42, specifically:
c. Pervasive developmental disorders (299 series) including Asperger Syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders, and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (299.9).

I found all this when I was undergoing the diagnosis process last summer. The military health officials weren't even aware of it. I've served in the U.S. military for over ten years now and am writing this post from Afghanistan. My chain of command knows about my AS but are "looking the other way" if you will, as long as it doesn't become an apparent problem (which it hasn't for the past decade). Luckily, as far as sensory issues go, I'm hyposensitive to loud noises, light flashes, etc, so the warzone doesn't affect me in ways it might other autistics.

I hope this information helps.