Expert: Howard Lorenz - 3/15/2008

Question
Hi,

Recently i was considering a career in the military, but previous health umm barriers have lead me to ask some questions before/if i go to see a recruiter. I was in a hospital as a young teenager, im almost 21 now, for bi-polar disorder. My parents put me in as i had no real choice in the matter, i thought i was fine but parents will be parents. My current physician seems to think that this diagnosis of bi-polar was just a pubescent phase in which i have outgrown. I was wondering how this would affect my enrollment into the military. Also ive heard about medical waivers and have had friends with some what of the same issue who have served, what would i have to do to get a waiver if all goes wrong?

Answer
If the doctor seems to think that it was a pubescent thing...then make him write a memo for record that reflects that decision... the treatment of any that you were under while being seen etc.. The CMO at the MEPS is a deciding factor, but the more complex cases that can not be decided by the CMO are referred to the Surgeon General. This doc seems that it was a pubescent thing...tells me that you didn't have it...Bipolar is not something that you can just get rid of..Are you taking medications? There are a lot of factors there. As a norm...Bipolar disorder is a disqualifying factor....The ones that served, I would be asking how they did it... All the Bipolar folks that I had to deal with were taking meds...You cant be taking meds and go into the military... You have to be off them for 2 years...

Just be sure that you are ready to cope with any decisions that the Military gives you in regards to what you have....or don't have...

If you don't have it...then it doesn't need to be said that you do...Right?