Can Individuals with ADHD Join the Military?

Finding accurate information about whether individuals with ADHD can serve in the military is a challenge. CHADD and the NRC often receive questions from parents or teenagers who want to know whether having an ADHD diagnosis or taking medication to treat ADHD disqualifies someone from entering military service.

Enlistment in the military is a multifaceted process, and there are numerous eligibility criteria a potential servicemember must meet. These criteria fall into two main categories: skills and aptitude for military service, and physical standards for military service. These criteria are evaluated at the Military Entrance and Processing Station (MEPS) when an applicant seeks to enter the military.

Aptitude

Each enlistee must take and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). This timed test, for which no accommodations are permitted, measures aptitude in ten areas under four domains: verbal, math, science/technical, and spatial. ASVAB scores are used to determine enlistment eligibility and match recruits with jobs that fit their abilities.

Medical Standards

The Department of War sets medical standards for everyone who joins the military. Enlistees must meet the Department of War Instruction 6130.03, Volume 1 Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction. Each applicant’s medical history is reviewed at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). A diagnosis of ADHD does not, by itself, keep someone from joining the military. Under the current standards, ADHD is disqualifying if the applicant has any one of the following:

• An Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, or work accommodations recommended or prescribed after age 14
• A history of other mental health conditions coexisting alongside ADHD
• ADHD medication prescribed in the past 24 months
• Records showing problems with school or work performance

Waivers Available

Applicants who do not meet a medical standard can often ask for a waiver. The reasons for which a waiver may be granted are based on the individual's circumstances and may differ from one branch of the military to another. The Defense Health Agency keeps the list of conditions that cannot be waived at health.mil/AccessionsMedicalStandards.

Now What?

For the young adult with ADHD who has looked forward to a military career, the possibility of being disqualified from such service can be disappointing. However, because ADHD is not always disqualifying, individuals who want to serve in the military are encouraged to pursue this option, along with other career possibilities. In short:

• If you have been diagnosed with ADHD and are interested in military service, talk to a knowledgeable recruiter and apply.
• Be completely honest and open about your medical and educational background. Being disqualified from service now is better than being discharged or even prosecuted for providing false information later.
• If you are disqualified initially on medical grounds, ask how you can apply for a waiver.

Related Resources:

For Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families

Military Resources from the NRC Library