Expert: John L - 9/25/2009

Question
My 17 yrold son followed his recruiters advice and did not put down on his app that he had counseling 3/4 years ago for "anger management" but did disclose it to the MEPS doctor asking questions.  The recruiter has now asked us to provide a statement from the attending doctor stating he saw our son from X to X and that based on a review of the records, sees no issues with military service.  In addition he wants us to provide his medical records from that time. During the time in question, my son completed anger mgmt classes and saw the doc for some additional couseling after the classes.  There have been no issues in the time since.  No legal issues at all either.  The doctor cannot write any letter based on his medical groups policy of not writing fitness for duty or predictive-type reports.  My questions are:  1.  What is the effect of this on his entry to the Army (wants to be Army Ranger)?  2.  If I can't get the doctor to write the letter, what else should we try to provide or will MEPS do their own evaluation?  3.  What are the effects of his not disclosing on his app? Thank you for your time and feedback.

Answer
They will evaluate his records that you provide and send him to a psyciatriac consult with a doctor, where they will disqualify him for service (standard procedure)  He will then require a waiver.  They will most likley discharge him form DEP for lying on his application.  If nothing was siad before, I don't know why he is asking for them now.  This is a big deal with the military right now when it comes to mental health issues.

My question is, why does the recruiter want them now, if he alsready passed a meps physical, what is the point?  The recruiter can get in trouble for encourages his recruit not to disclose these issues, so what does meps know?  Nothing I am sure.

Anger management at age 14 should not be an issue.  The doctors notes from when he was being seen are suffecient, but usually very damaging.  I would have the recruiter come over to your house, look you in the eye and tell you why is is asking for them now after he told your son not to disclose them.  Don't let him sweet talk his way out and if you suspect he is lying, call him out.  You got him  telling your son to lie hanging over his head.