Expert: Rod Powers - 10/10/2007

Question
Sir, if after 12 years in the AF and now I am a TSgt, what is the chance that if I am diagnosed with ADHD , the AF will move to MEB me and kick me out with out anything? I do not want this to occur. I want to stay in 20+ yrs, but lately three LOC's and one LOR in 6 months, I feel that I am missing something. I want to be a good supervisor but it seems that I just can't " get it". I was a SrA that went into Recruiting in 2000 with a line number for SSgt. I stayed in recruiting nearly 6 yrs and made TSgt as I left Recruiting. I now supervise SSgt that have people under them and I keep screwing up. I don't regularly check up on my people and their suspenses. I don't follow up on them after I tell them to to something. I went to a Base organization meeting of which I am an officer on this past Friday when I should have stayed with my NCO's because of a vehicle inspection they were doing. I feel frustrated that I cannot seem to get it and without a doubt my boss is too now with this LOR I just got today 10 Oct 07. I never got paperwork until this year and so I am really down about that as well. I scheduled a doctor appt for 22 oct 07 to be evaluated for ADHD, but I am afraid that if I do have it, then that may ruin my career. I had hoped to return to recruiting, because I felt that there I was okay. I struggled but it was not like now.

Answer
Hi Ken,

I'm not a doctor or a psychiatrist, so I don't know the possibility(ies) that your condition is ADHD. The fact that something is going on is evident, and I strongly suggest that you be examined.

There is no "go/no-go" list when it comes to discharge. The PEB and MEB (if it even comes to that), will examine your condition and determine whether or not it's incompatible with continued Military service. That depends on the severity of the condition and whether or not it responds to medication and treatment. For details, see my article about the MEB/PEB process at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/medseparation.htm

In any event, it's important that you get checked out by the medical folks. It's quite possible that you have a condition which can be easily controlled by medication.

For more information about the United States 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