Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 9/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: My son is on his way MEPS today.  His gp that he's only seen twice has suggested that he may have ADD.  This was a couple months ago.  We did go to a mental health clinic to see what they said and he was prescribed a stimulant medication, which he only took for a week because it made his heart race and it didn't provide any benefits.  We never really believed he had ADD, but we were just trying all avenues available.  My son has had a pretty easy life thus far (our fault) and has maintained just below average grades.  He hasn't been in any real trouble.  I think he has just been spoiled and doesn't want to grow up and take responsibility for himself yet, not that he has ADD.  We were just throwing everything at the board and hoping something stuck to explain his behavior.  He did not disclose this to the recruiter based on suggestions online saying that they only know what you tell them, and the fact that we all feel it was a misdiagnosis anyway.  Is this something they are going to find out even if he doesn't disclose the doctors involved?  Will they have access to our insurance company info even though he is on our insurance and never had his own.  His prescription was put through it.  I'm not sure what they best course of action is since he is already on his way to MEPS today.  Also, if they come across this info later is there a way to explain it then or are you just disqualified from service for the future?  I'd hate for him to mess up his chances for getting in because this is the first positive step he's taken for himself in a long time.

ANSWER: Sarah,
It's not so much as having ADD, it's the medicine used to treat it.

ADD is usually treated by Ritalin or Concerta which are controlled drugs with considerable "abuse potential."  They are central nervous system stimulants and are considered behavior modifying.

The implications are these are nasty drugs with lasting psychological side-affects which could make him a hazard to himself and others.   While he probably could function normally in the military during peace time, the psychological aspects of combat could bring about all sorts of unknowns.  The psychological stress of military service, even in peacetime, is quite unlike the day-to-day life of a civilian.

The entrance examination at the MEPS includes a physical exam performed by a physician.  They want to ensure everyone entering the military is in good health to endure the challenges of basic training and military service.  It is a quick "in general" exam in which the doctors look for any obvious medical conditions requiring continuing care.  The psych test is a joke.  A psychologist talks to him for about 5 minutes and supposedly can tell if he's crazy or not just by looking at him and judging his answers to questions like, "Have you ever had thoughts of suicide; any depression, etc."  It's not wise to volunteer information.

The process that a person has to go through to prove to the doctors that they are off ADD drugs is so involved that a lot of people find it to be too much bother and simply just don't admit to ever having used them.  In your son's case he's never really been on any so it will not show up in any sort of test.  His only problem may be on the written questionnaire part of the medical physical.  If he's on his way today then his processing won't begin until tomorrow morning.  If he calls you from the hotel tonight, advise him not to answer YES to anything on the questionnaire.  If he admits to taking ADD medication, he'll most likely not be allowed to join the Navy.  In his case, he's not telling a lie.  They're looking for long-term usage and he only tried it for a week.  During tomorrow's instruction period they'll try to scare him to death by saying things like he'll go to jail if he even tells a fib, and his first-born will be a mutant.  Tell him to just laugh it off because this is his first taste of military life and what it will be like for the next few months (only).  If he says YES he won't be given a chance to explain, they'll just disqualify him.

No, they're not going to investigate him so deeply as to dig into whose insurance policy he's on.  They don't really care and besides they don't have the time and money to do that.

The Navy's new fiscal year begins October 1st so then they'll be begging for recruits.  If he should fail at MEPS he can usually retry after a waiting period (normally 45 days).

Don't expect him to come home knowing if he passed or failed.  Normally, MEPS will send the results to his recruiter within a few days and his recruiter will tell him the results.

I've seen lots of young recruits with the aptitude and abilities you described that turned into excellent military men.  It's like they finally found their niche in life, something they excel at.

I hope you read this in time.

I salute him for wanting to join the military and I hope all goes well.
Please send  me a follow-up sometime and let me know how it goes for him.
Colonel H




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much Colonel H!  You put my mind at ease that he was doing the right thing at MEPS.  I didn't have a chance to speak with him before his processing, but he didn't mention anything about his ADD misdiagnosis anyway.  He did get his results that day, but there were no jobs available at this time.  I passed along the info you had given me about Oct. 1st being the start of their new fiscal year so hopefully something will become available then.  I do have one more question for you.  One of the jobs he said he'd take was MA.  I know from research that this position requires another level of security clearance.  I'm wondering if you think he'd be wise to stay away from having to go through any additional clearances right now due to the ADD and prescription given.  I hate to see him disqualified for any jobs if it came up.  He was looking into BM and CS as well.  I can't see where BM would transfer to the civilian sector much, but from the job description it looks like something he would enjoy more than CS or MA.  Thanks in advance for your time!  You have been a big help!
Sarah

Answer
Comment - Thank you for all of your knowledge and advice.  He is really getting excited about joining the Navy now and has been doing alot of research.  Still waiting for a job to open up, but he's determined to go for it!

Sincerely,
Sarah

Sarah,
Glad to hear everything's going well so far.  Let me know when he gets a job.
Colonel H