Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/23/2009

Question
Hello my name is Mitch, i was considering on joing the Army reserve. But im not shure if i can because i have Bipolor. I have been stable for 7 years. and im wornding if i slowly work my way off my meddication I will be able to join the reaserv. Or if i need to stop taking them at all. thank you
Mitch Johson.


Answer
Mitch,
If you are actively bipolar, and are currently under medication for such a condition, it is a disqualifying medical condition.  Even if you go off the medication, you'll also be asked to sign paperwork swearing that you've never had it.  If you lie on that then it's a federal offense and possible prison.  Unfortunately, it's also a condition that's rarely waived because military members are subject to deployment, with no notice, at any time, to many areas of the world.  These areas often do not have full-medical facilities, or the ability to issue medications, or the ability to observe someone to make sure the medications are effective, if they are available.

When a person's illness follows the classic pattern, diagnosing bipolar disorder is relatively easy.  But bipolar disorder can be sneaky.  Symptoms can defy the expected manic-depressive sequence.  Stress tends to activate this disorder.  Those who were borderline bipolar may never know it until a stressful event brings it to the surface.  Unfortunately, Basic Military Training is good at that.  Some people with no history of mental health problems go to pieces in recruit training.  Just the excitement of being there and wanting to do well at it, can involuntarily cause bipolar to rear it's ugly head.  According to the medical regs,  the causes for disqualification are:

"a.  Personality, conduct, or behavior disorders that demonstrate the degree of immaturity, instability, personality inadequacy, impulsiveness, or dependency , will seriously interfere with adjustment in the military as demonstrated by repeated inability to maintain reasonable adjustment with employers and fellow workers, and with other social groups and are tangible evidence of impaired capacity to adapt to military service.
b.  Other behavior disorders including but not limited to encopresis, sleepwalking, or eating disorders that are habitual or persistent, or stammering of such a degree that the individual is normally unable to express himself or herself clearly or to repeat commands.
c.  Specific academic skills defects, chronic history of academic skills or perceptual defects, secondary to organic or functional mental disorders that interfere with work. Current use of medication to improve or maintain academic skills.
d.  Suicide, history of attempted or suicidal behavior."

So I'm sorry but the military won't take you , not even in the Reserves.  However, have you considered Federal Civil Service?  They're in all the Services working right alongside military folks, even overseas, the only difference is they don't wear uniforms.  You can't beat a steady government paycheck.  It may be worth your while to check into it at:  http://www.usajobs.gov/
Best of luck in whatever you choose, and thanks for wanting to serve your country in uniform.
Colonel H