Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/30/2009

Question
i am ADD and been told im borderline bipolar and i have been off medication for almost three years and everyone sees that being off medication has helped me and since im borderline bipolar will this disqualify me to join army?

Answer
Michael,
Unfortunately, yes.  Both conditions are disqualifiers for the military, mostly because of the medications used to treat them.
ADD is usually treated by Ritalin or Concerta, both of which are controlled drugs with considerable "abuse potential."
Current use of ADD drugs is a permanent disqualifier for joining the military, because the drugs are a central nervous system stimulant and it is considered behavior modifying.  The implications are these are nasty drugs with lasting psychological side affects which could make you a hazard to themselves and others.   While you probably could function normally in the military during peace time, the psycholgical aspects of combat could bring about all sorts of unknowns.  The psychological stress of miltiary service is quite unlike the day to day life of a civlian.

Because you will have to sign paperwork asking if you have EVER had ADD/ADHD they'll disqualify you because you might cost the government a lot of money in health care treatment down the road.

If you have ADD or ADHD and do NOT treat it with drugs then you are also disqualified.  Like the old saying goes, "You're damned if you do and damned if you don't."  

Thanks for wanting to join the military.  Good luck in whatever other career you choose.
Colonel H