I Have ADHD. Is the Military Right for Me?

Thinking of joining the military? Wondering if an ADHD diagnosis will affect your enlistment and/or your success in the armed forces?

ADHD alone won’t necessarily disqualify you from enlistment. But whether the military is the right environment for you is another question. You’ll have to be honest with yourself about your strengths, challenges, and how well you cope with ADHD, especially without medication. The first step is to conduct lots of research, including learning as much as you can about the military, its enlistment procedures, the service branches and roles within them that appeal to you, and the pros and cons of military life. Even if you’re set on joining, it’s a great idea to set the foundations for success well before applying.

Can You Join the Military If You Have ADHD?

In the Department of Defense’s (DoD) current guidelines, ADHD disqualifies an applicant from military enlistment if they meet any of the following conditions:

• A recommended or prescribed IEP, 504 Plan, or work accommodations after age 14
• A a history of comorbid mental disorders
• Use of prescribed ADHD medication in the previous 24 months
• Documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance due to ADHD

Applicants with ADHD who meet any of the conditions listed above need a medical waiver to be able to join the military. That being said, DoD guidelines are just that — guidelines — and each branch of service (and even some divisions within them) has its own policies, processes, and approaches (formal and informal) for managing medical waivers and enlistment. Successfully obtaining a waiver, therefore, is not exactly a clear-cut process.

[Learn More About the Military Medical Waiver Process for ADHD Here]

DOD guidelines should not discourage anyone from trying to enlist. Changing perceptions and recruitment challenges, for one, appear to be driving the military to revisit guidelines around mental health conditions like ADHD and to potentially loosen restrictions around enlistment. That may explain why, in 2022, at least 1 in every 6 military recruits was granted a waiver to enter service — the highest percentage in at least 10 years — according to a report by Military Times.

Benefits of Joining the Military: Pros, Cons, and Other Considerations with ADHD

ADHD is probably more prevalent in the military than you realize. In 2018, more than 41,000 active service members had an ADHD diagnosis, according to a study that looked at medical data among service members in a five-year period.¹

Be sure that you understand the pros and cons of joining the military in relation to your personal preferences and from an ADHD perspective.

[Read: Uncle Sam Wants You! (Maybe)]

• Military benefits: From educational benefits and home loans to job skills training and salary stability, the military helps many people stabilize in early adulthood and prepare for the future. But there are penalties for irresponsibly handling these benefits. You’ll have to pay back granted educational funds if you don’t complete or pass a course, and homes can be repossessed if loan payments aren’t managed, for example.
• Travel: A career in the military can take you around the country and the world. But that doesn’t mean you get to choose where to go or when.
• Specialized opportunities: The military offers training in unique and exciting fields like intelligence, linguistics, airborne operations, and more. Some of these fields provide a healthy outlet for thrill-seeking, high-energy risk takers. Another ADHD pro: If you find a field you love, you can pour yourself into it completely. Trainings and jobs, of course, may be rigorous and stressful, especially if you struggle with focusing and concentrating. Being in a stressful environment for too long can also cause chronic stress and impact mental health.
• A structured environment: A disciplined, predictable environment may help you thrive. Then again, it may be difficult for you to adjust to an environment that offers little flexibility regarding when and how things happen.
• Opportunities to develop life skills. You can gain and sharpen organization, problem-solving, leadership, and time-management skills in the military. If you’re a creative, out-of-the-box thinker, this trait will come in handy here and in other aspects of military life.
• Working with people: Speaking of life skills, the military is unparalleled in its success training individuals to work in a team and be part of a close-knit group. But positive social encounters may not be a universal experience, especially for individuals who struggle socially due to ADHD and emotional dysregulation.

So, Should I Join the Military? Questions to Ask Yourself & How to Prepare

The main question you should ask yourself is, “Is the military an environment in which I could thrive?” If you see more cons than pros in the list above, the military may not be a good fit for you. But there are other questions to consider:

1. Am I able to function without medication? Enlisting in any military branch while actively taking ADHD medication is not possible. That’s why many individuals stop taking medication at least 24 months before attempting to enlist. (Again, not all branches have the same approaches; the Air Force, for example, has been known to consider waivers for applicants who have been off medication for at least 15 months.) Take an honest look at your symptoms and how you currently manage ADHD. Military attrition rates may help you understand what’s at stake, as service members with ADHD have higher drop-off rates than do members without ADHD.²

A note on ADHD treatment during active service: As a clinical psychologist in the Army, I can only speak to procedures in this branch. That said, in the Army, it’s possible to receive an ADHD diagnosis and treatment during active service. Commencing treatment, especially stimulant use, may require other role-, training-, and/or division-specific considerations. An Army service member who is treating ADHD with stimulants, for example, may need a waiver to continue to perform certain functions.

2. If I meet any of the disqualifying criteria, what is my plan to demonstrate readiness and improve my chances of obtaining a waiver? If you’re set on stopping medication leading up to enlistment, do so in consultation with your doctor. At the same time, seek out non-pharmacological ways to manage your ADHD (and other conditions, if applicable), like therapy, coaching, and support groups. As you wait to be off medication for the recommended time, consider taking classes, developing technical skills, and taking on or continuing a job. Take the appropriate time — even if that means years (check your preferred branch to see age limits to enlist in active duty) — to demonstrate stability and make a strong case for yourself.

3. How can I set myself up for success in the military?

• What kinds of jobs would be a good fit for me? Do your research and talk to recruiters about the jobs best suited to your strengths and interests. Look into the job environment, too — would you prefer a sedentary job, or something that allows you to be more active?
• How well do I cope with stress, and what strategies can help me? Given ADHD’s overlap with stress, anxiety, and depression, it’s absolutely critical to develop coping skills, especially before entering a stressful environment. From deep-breathing exercises and positive self-talk to journaling and engaging in hobbies, there are many effective ways for dealing with frustration and overwhelm. Be sure to pay attention to your nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits, too. Foster resilience: adopt a problem-solving, growth mindset; practice asking for help; express gratitude and compassion; actualize your dreams by committing to your goals.
• How can I enhance executive functioning? ADHD impacts executive functions — the mental processes that allow us to plan, organize, focus, prioritize, and achieve our goals. You can support EFs in key ways, like breaking large tasks into smaller steps, using visual aids to jog memory, setting reminders, using checklists, having dedicated spaces for items, creating routines, and other methods that will be useful during service.

Remember: You Have Options

With the right planning and preparation, thriving in the military with ADHD is absolutely possible. But if you determine that joining the military isn’t the right path for you, there are other careers that may still allow you to be involved in the military. The DoD employs 950,000 civilians across its many agencies in multiple disciplines and around the world. Click here to learn more about DOD careers for civilians.

Joining the Military with ADHD: Next Steps

• Read: Can You Join the Military with ADHD?
• Read: “I’m a U.S. Army Aviator — and I Have ADHD and Anxiety.”
• Read: The Case for (Working, Maturing) Gap Years

The content for this article was derived, in part, from the ADDitude webinar titled, “Can You Join the Military with ADHD? What Hopeful Service Members Need to Know” [Video Replay & Podcast #457] with Brandi Walker, Ph.D., which was broadcast on June 1, 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

View Article Sources

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest