Nita... as an ADHD researcher, I've sadly heard horror stories like this before. In fact, a MAJOR player in the field of ADHD's son had the same thing happen. I was told that the reason they gave was that if you need meds to focus and there is a problem getting the kid meds then they'll have ADHD symptoms at times when they need to focus and function at maximum capacity. That reason seems ridiculous to me, because then anyone who needs any type of meds shouldn't be serving. If your son's never been tested, would it be worth getting tested to prove he's not ADHD? It's actually rather hard to meet full diagnostic criteria, especially in adulthood. I'm so sorry... let me know if I can help with referrals, suggestions, info, etc.

Sometime these big outfits are like dinosaures, the head doesn't know what the tail is doing. So sorry to hear this Nita.

Hey Nita, I'm really sorry to hear about that. Not to put my own dirty laundry out there, but I actually had this happen to me back in 97 or 98. I can't remember which any more. I had my bag packed and everything. I was actually sitting at the Meps office waiting to go to Basic Training. And suddenly they got the word that it wasn't waived and I was put on a bus and sent back home. I cried the whole way home on the bus. Looking back now, it was a blessing. Since then the Department of Defense has reevaluated their position on me, but I'm sad that it is still happening. I had all the Doctors records and letters from my doctor as well. Saying I was fine without medication. I'm not sure what that part of the process was about. I don't know if it helps to know that he wasn't the only one. And I also had very high ASVAB scores with perfect scores in Physics. LOL. So I don't know what they want. I guess they just want liars who cover that stuff up in order to get what they want. Which is EXACTLY what I was told to do by my recruiter. And if I had, I probably would have a completely different life now. maybe you can have him figure out what he really likes to do and figure out careers that allign with that. Then maybe he can apply for entry positions at companies that offer those positions. Then he can have them pay for school as he moves up. Just a thought. Its what I did. And I ended up owning my own car at 21 and my own house at 24. It may be a blessing for him as well. I'm not saying don't try other methods of getting him in, like the testing and such. If you can thats great. Perhaps I could have tried harder back in the day. If I can do anything, let me know.

Nita, I share with you your thoughts and experiences. I was prescribed Nexium for acid-reflux, although I was never diagnosed "officially" (by endoscopy, PH test or Barium x-rays, EGD, etc...) as having acid-reflux. BUT, I was popping pills although I was never diagnosed. Like other posts/comments, I suggest your son not to disclose anything that is not officially on ANY records. Secondly, the recruiters and the MedCom/MEPS is not going to investigate your kid's civilian medical records. At worst they'll pop a champagne bottle celebrating their recruits quota achievement. I was a former Marine Recon 89-93 and wanted to re-enlist in 2005. I called the local Marines recruiting station and they gave me all kinds of run around, because I disclosed the fact that I was popping Nexium. A year passed and nothing, so I went to Army National Guard recruiters and I was sworn in 2 months later (without disclosing that I take occasionally Nexium). Hey...! if they don't mind my burpings every now and then...all is good. The rule is, once he is in, they will prescibe him whatever he needs to perform at his best. Let them figure it out on the back end, rather than the front end and penalize his chances to serve. Tell your son to visit another recruiting station in 6 months or so, gives him time to be in top physical condition and mental preparedness, and when filling out the less-than-tree-hugging paperwork not to disclose ANYTHING that has not been diagnosed by a professional. Essentially, you/he is not lying, simply not telling everything they don't need to know. If he sucks his thumb at night, don't say anything...it wasn't diagnosed. Your son will be a Great soldier one day, I believe. Good Luck!

I know it's hard to believe that they won't find out, but they process so many recruits (1000s) every month, there is no way they can track the previous entries and/or attempts. As they say: "the fish stinks from the head"... Look when I joined in '89 I was told that I couldn't join the military intelligence (MI) because my family lives abroad. National Security issues...yadiyada... I joined my Marine unit and suddenly the MI Officer-in-Charge notices my foreign accent (I speak 5 languages). The next thing I know I am transitioned into an MI unit (from Admin) supporting the Recon units with a Top Secret clearance...! All the rules and regulations implied when being recruited went out the door the moment I became a Marine on that Parade deck. I am nearly 40, soon going to go to OCS, and my PT scores challenge the 18-21 y.o. It's all about attitude and staying focused. Your son needs to get his foot in the door and everything will be gravy...never look back. The scare tactic speech is mostly aimed at those who used/abused illicit drugs. Your son will be facing a MedCom Physician who will be asking tons of personal questions; this is not a Polygraph exam. Do NOT admit to taking meds for an undiagnosed issue. In fact, what they want to hear for the most part is that you have not been on antibiotics or had any surgery (Lasik, etc..) in the past year. Depending on the type of meds they have a chart that will tell them the "statute of limitation" - say: Aspirin - 2 months. Nexium - 12 months etc... The problem is they won't tell you what the chart says until it's too late, for those of us that are honest, and then you get the boot - goodbye... Look at Lasik surgery for example: if you get a Lasik surgery before enlisting you can't enlist for a minimum of 1 year, but if you enlist and get Lasik surgery while enlisted ALL is Great...Uncle Sam just paid for it....!! Don't try to understand the logic, because it won't make any sense to most of us. You are just dealing with a bunch of trained monkeys who are trained at putting a stamp and an initial in the correct box...the rest they could careless. Make their lives easy and they will make your son's life easy too... it's that simple. (some are Judge-shopping to get away from their crimes - your son needs to be Recruiter-shopping to get what he wants and be happy) Cheers, Stan

Nita

Wish there something I could do as well but at this point, all I can offer is moral support.

I am in the Air Force but dont have a lot of connections in the recruiting world although I have one or two people I could check with just to see if you are getting a legitimate reason

I have had a loosely related experience. I was scheduled to move to Japan a few years ago...we sold our house but had not received our final orders yet (stupid move on my part). At any rate, we had to get family medical clearance to get our orders. Much to my utter shock, my family was denied clearance because my son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. Although his local psychiatrist was vert willing to sign off on the move, the hospital at the base in Japan said no way - could not handle it. And we are talking a major base just 20 minutes from Tokyo. This really threw us for a loop. I was working at the Pentagon at the time; a general was kind enough to make a call on my behalf but no dice. The rationale was that the medical community is spread so thin with deployments that they just dont have the staffs OCONUS to handle even what we consider pretty typical stuff. In the end, it worked out okay but it was a very upsetting experience for us all.

Keep the faith

Dave

Once a young man (born in Denison TX) whose family had moved to Kansas couldn't get an appointment to Annapolis. A compatriot in the Texas Hill Country couldn't get one to West Point. Eventually, each settled for the best they could get from the government , with Mr. Eisenhower heading to West Point and Mr. Nimitz to Annapolis. Even screw-ups sometimes lead to good things!