Can you join the Army with Aspergers?

2021-05-23T13:37:32-04:00

Hello, my brother wants to join the Army but has Aspergers? Will this disqualify him?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2021 3:39 PM

2021-05-23T15:39:05-04:00

This came up when I searched "can you join the military with aspergers" in Google:

From 2019:

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/09/05/army-launches-inquiry-into-how-teen-with-autism-and-arm-disorders-was-recruited/#:~:text=Army%20applicants%20with%20autism%20spectrum,health%20consultant%2C%20according%20to%20Ferguson.

"Army applicants with autism spectrum disorders are automatically disqualified, per Defense Department accession policy, though sometimes medical enlistment waivers are granted after a visit to a DoD behavioral health consultant, according to Ferguson.

“All waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis, but generally speaking, autism isn’t something normally waived if the diagnosis was appropriately given,” Ferguson said."

A 19-year-old diagnosed with autism and taking anxiety medications says a recruiter encouraged him to enlist but to conceal the diagnosis.

2021-05-23T23:58:56-04:00

You can't join the military with autism, no.