Any advice on joining the US Army

[Tom]

When I looked into a few years back what I interpreted the regs to read was that autism is a disqualifier unless you can get a waiver. I was unable to find out how difficult it was to get the waiver. Not requiring medications for a long time previous was I think one requirement.

They used to have a guaranteed job program which you must enter before you enlist. In other words you only enlist if they agree to give you a certain job. I believe the program is still active but may vary by service. I and my son both enlisted in the AF with that program (we are both undiagnosed). The only affect is it may delay your actually going in by several weeks or months, possibly a year, to await an opening at the pertinent military tech school.

Going in to see an actual recruiter may be the best way to get your questions answered quickly. Don't rule out different services or even different recruiting stations of the same service. The stations have quotas and in the AF at least slots can be filled quickly so you may need to try multiple ones to get an open slot.

The military in general is not automatically going to be one way or another. It depends upon your specific personality and likes/dislikes. Some take to it and some don't. I liked the predictable and clear guidelines, and financial/medical security it afforded (assuming they don't kill you in a war) And you don't have to decide what to wear every day.

 

[Judge]

Don't rule out different services or even different recruiting stations of the same service.

Absolutely! One recruiter may be pickier than the next, especially if they are deficient in filling in their required recruitment quotas.

Not to mention different standards depending on the service in question. It always cracks me up to think of the Navy and Marines who rejected Audie Murphy out of hand. Who went on to the Army to become the most decorated American soldier in WW2.

Probably the biggest concern of recruiters within the last year to my knowledge remains the physical fitness of every candidate. Which increasingly is becoming a real problem. That if you aren't relatively in good shape, you're bound to be facing some serious obstacles to military service from the start.

 

[Peter Morrison]

I support your idea of joining the army. After college, I had no direction. I nearly joined up at an army recruiting station, just because I was without direction. Knowing what life is like, and what the army would have been like, I almost regret not choosing a military experience at a time in my life when I needed discipline, focus, and regimentation. In exchange, you are not free to pursue personal interests and spontaneous decisions, but you get training in areas that have applicability to the real world. The army would have been a good place for me to get the kind of attention and direction I know I needed. I have a strong sense of patriotism, so my heart would have been involved as well.

I am unfamiliar with all the prerequisites for joining up, but I think you should give it a try if you know the army has what you want and need. What makes me laugh a bit is the fact that as one who needs structure, predictability, clear goals, and extreme focus, the army would have been like heaven for me. I wanted the guidance.

 

[Judge]

What makes me laugh a bit is the fact that as one who needs structure, predictability, clear goals, and extreme focus, the army would have been like heaven for me. I wanted the guidance.

Good point. That's the interesting part of the equation. That for some such rigidity can be a very comfortable lifestyle over the long haul.

 

[Crossbreed]

That for some such rigidity can be a very comfortable lifestyle over the long haul.

That reminds me of this Onion article...

Onion Prison Report

 

[Judge]

That reminds me of this Onion article...

Onion Prison Report

Well...let's hope not that rigid.

 

[Ken S.]

@Judge There were some extenuating circumstances in my case that involved high ranking officers giving testimony in my defense. I did have to serve 90 days brig time and got the boot. The boot lieutenant involved got reprimanded and transfered to Okinawa, Japan for his part in the situation. Even if you are in the right striking an officer is (Was at the time) automatic discharge. Long stay in the brig if you are in the wrong.

 

[Judge]

@Judge There were some extenuating circumstances in my case that involved high ranking officers giving testimony in my defense. I did have to serve 90 days brig time and got the boot. The boot lieutenant involved got reprimanded and transfered to Okinawa, Japan for his part in the situation. Even if you are in the right striking an officer is (Was at the time) automatic discharge. Long stay in the brig if you are in the wrong.

Wow...so it wasn't exclusively your fault. Sounds like you were spared the grief that my cousin got in spades. Where he spent years in the brig before being dishonorably discharged. At least he wasn't sent to Portsmouth.

 

[UberScout]

An aspergers patient joining the army would be like Barbara Streisand attempting to give a seminar.

 

[Ken S.]

When I looked into a few years back what I interpreted the regs to read was that autism is a disqualifier unless you can get a waiver. I was unable to find out how difficult it was to get the waiver. Not requiring medications for a long time previous was I think one requirement.

They used to have a guaranteed job program which you must enter before you enlist. In other words you only enlist if they agree to give you a certain job. I believe the program is still active but may vary by service. I and my son both enlisted in the AF with that program (we are both undiagnosed). The only affect is it may delay your actually going in by several weeks or months, possibly a year, to await an opening at the pertinent military tech school.

Going in to see an actual recruiter may be the best way to get your questions answered quickly. Don't rule out different services or even different recruiting stations of the same service. The stations have quotas and in the AF at least slots can be filled quickly so you may need to try multiple ones to get an open slot.

The military in general is not automatically going to be one way or another. It depends upon your specific personality and likes/dislikes. Some take to it and some don't. I liked the predictable and clear guidelines, and financial/medical security it afforded (assuming they don't kill you in a war) And you don't have to decide what to wear every day.

My honest advice as someone who was in the military is if you are going to join the service. Join the Air Force. They get treated better than any other branch.

 

[tducey]

Talk to someone in the Army. Explain to them their challenges, they might be able to make some accommodations for you. Good luck.

 

[WittyAspie]

My advice: DON’T DO IT!!

The Army provides discipline, to an extent, but half the time it felt like swimming in a soup sandwich. Nothing made sense and I was forced to do it anyway. I was happy when I got out.

 

[Gracey]

The aptitude test Was affectionately termed a “dumb-dumb test”

It’s civilian equivalent is along the lines of psychometric testing.
If you’re worried about that part, do as many as you can online to get an idea or a feel for what’s involved.
They’ll be similar (not the same)


Fitness - run. If you don’t run, start.
You may have to run a certain distance in a set time to pass.

Core strength and upper body will be developed during training but there may be a minimum standard required for the selection process.
You would have to check the requirements on the various sites, Army, Navy, RAF.

I got through training (to the utter astonishment of my parents)
Didn’t handle authority well at home.

I couldn’t have disclosed being on the spectrum because at the time of enlisting, I’d never heard of it.

My son got through the training to be a Royal Marine Commando !

You’ll be pushed to your limits and then some during training, it depends on whether or not you relish a challenge.

You’ll be a soldier first and foremost, your specialism, although valuable, will be an aside.
You will be expected to pick up a weapon and fire it at another human should the need arise.


Now lemme see ya war-face

 

[NecroCurator]

Speaking as a person who is anything else but american:

Don't do it man! I don't want to die! They don't need your help on killing us, they are already doing an amazing job of it.

 

[Derp]

What do would you like to do in the army ?
If I were in the army I would definitely train to get in to the 75th Ranger Regiment as a direct fire infantrymen. (Special operations always fascinated me)
Then maybe Ranger School,Special Forces CIF ,Delta Force ?
2 of my dream jobs are Navy SEAL and Army Ranger

 

[joe2006]

The reason I was thinking about joining the army was because they have a lot of computer related jobs. I could get a good job repairing computers or even making programs for the army. They would provide me with the training that would be necessary for the job and a place to stay. I figured if I stayed in the army for a few years I could use that work experience to get a good job with one of these computer businesses that I have been trying to work for all these years.

 

[Crossbreed]

...or even making programs for the army.

The programming side won't likely happen. They are pre-written. I was trained as a Navy Fire Control Tech; maintaining the targeting radar system and associated computer. It would include operating said system (if I had stayed in).

 

[WittyAspie]

MOS 35Q is the only job that is close to what you want to do. But don’t go in expecting to design programs. The Army is nothing like you see in commercials. I was a 35P, so if you have questions about Army intel jobs feel free to send me a message. I am familiar with the strategic and tactical side of things.

 

[Gracey]

Find out who is currently designing programmes for the military.
Apply for a job with them?

As a civilian contractor you’ll still be involved with the military just not as a soldier. Much safer.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

You’ll be pushed to your limits and then some during training, it depends on whether or not you relish a challenge.

Did you watch that programme on paratrooper training recently?

Everybody is called Joe.

Literally. If you're not called Joe you can't be a paratrooper.


or was there another reason?

The point of training is to break you. Wherever your limit is, they wan't to see it break.

Good luck.