Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/ADD and Warrant Officer Selection

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Expert: Rod Powers - 11/15/2007


Question
Hello. I am interested in submitting my package for warrant officer aviator, but I am concerned about being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. My Primary Care Manager told me that having ADD/ADHD in the military was not a problem, and would not even require a med board. However he did mention that it might be a problem when I tried to submit my package for Flight. I have already passed my AFAST, but I do not want to shoot myself in the foot by going to the doctor for a medical condition! So I guess my question is; Does having ADHD/ADD prevent a service member from becoming a warrant officer aviator,any warrant officer, or commissioned officer?

Answer
Hi Patrick,

I'm afraid your "Primary Care Manager," has little knowledge when it comes to the requirements of Military Service.

You didn't mention whether or not you have been on medication for ADD/ADHD. You may wish to read the accession standards on my site for ADD/ADHD at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/asthma.htm

Under previous standards, any history of ADD/ADHD was disqualifying. A few years ago, DOD changed their standards in accordance with the above mentioned article.

However, this change is primarily for enlistment. It is highly doubtful that one who has been previously diagnosed with ADD/ADHD would qualiify for the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program.

Army Helicopters cost between $100,000 and a few million dollars each (depending on the helicopter type). In addition, Army helicoper pilots are responsible for the lives of the crew and passengers aboard, and the lives of any "friendly forces" which may be in a target area (for attack choppers). To be an Army Aviator, one must be in pretty much excellent physical and mental health condition. The Army can't afford to take chances that one of their pilots may not have the ability to apply the high degree of concentration that flying helicopters in combat require.

For more information about the U.S. Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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Rod Powers

Expertise

Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.

Experience

Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.

Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

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