Expert: Rod Powers - 11/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello. I was prescribed adderall when I was very young at the age of 12 and only took it for one year. Then again at the age of 19 I took it again for three months , to see if it would help me with my study's at school. I did not need it and I had stopped taking it and ended the prescription. I am currently 20 years old a will be graduating college in two years with a degree in Business Finance. I do not take adderall anymore. I am looking to enlist via the SEAL contract challenge in the Navy. This will be when I am 22 years old. This meaning I would have been off the medicine for 3 years . Will any of this hinder my chance of becoming a Navy SEAL?

ANSWER: Hi Kyle,

You forgot the most important part.

It's not so much the medication you were taken, but rather what specific medical condition you were officially diagnosed as having? Was it ADD?

The medication may play a factor, but I can't even give you an "estimate," unless I know what your official diangosis was?

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

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

QUESTION: I was diagnosed with having ADD. The medical records said I was border line ADD and normal I guess you could say. It says like proof of academic progress, may be needed to get a waiver. A college degree would cover that right?Thank you - kyle

Answer
Hi Kyle,

Okay, it's possible you won't even need a waiver. For details, see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/asthma.htm.

If you don't need a waiver, it should not affect your eligibility for the SEAL Challenge Program.

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