Did you know that around 6.1% of all children living in the USA are being treated for ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be diagnosed during childhood but can have an effect on you throughout your adult years.
With millions of young people considering the military as a career, it’s important to understand the military ADHD policy 2023. This policy will let you know how the military views the condition and if you can still qualify to serve in the military with ADHD.
Interested in serving in the military? Here’s what you need to know about the United States Military’s ADHD policy for 2023.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes children to struggle with focusing and paying attention. This results in them being subject to their impulses, acting before thinking in most situations. While there are tons of signs that indicate ADHD, a formal diagnosis is recommended for children and young adults.
The Military ADHD Policy 2023
According to the Department of Defense guidelines, candidates that have ADHD should be disqualified from serving in the military. However, the latest policy for 2023 does include a few conditions that should be met for you to be disqualified.
The main condition that will disqualify you is if you’re currently on medication for ADHD. If you have been on medication in the past but have not taken any for the last two years, you’ll remain eligible to serve.
If your family has a history of mental disorders, this can count against you. Despite this, your performance review is the more influential document as it will let recruiters know if you are fit to serve your country.
Military Medical Waivers
A military medical waiver can be issued for those who don’t meet the requirements but are still fit to serve. These situations are rare, but the military itself will make the application on your behalf. This process is lengthy but carries no guarantees as it’s completely independent.
Should You Declare Your Condition?
Since the military has an ADHD policy, should you declare that you have the disorder? While ADHD is hard to diagnose without the help of a professional, you should always be honest with your diagnosis. If you’re on medication and are ineligible to join the military, there are other ways you can support and serve your country.
However, some branches of the military only require you to be off medication for a certain number of months to gain eligibility. In this way, you can still apply again after the mandatory waiting period has expired.
Learn More About Joining The Military
The military ADHD policy 2023 does not just ban all applicants that have ADHD. The policy is more detailed and only restricts people that are dependent on medication or whose performance suffers directly from the condition. In this way, you can still join the military if you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD in the past.
If you want to learn more about joining the military, visit our website for more insights.
