Posted on Mar 18, 2019

Is Attention Deficit Disorder a disqualifier for a contracted cadet in Army ROTC?

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Although it had never been an issue, I was diagnosed earlier this week on 03/12/2019 with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). I just got contracted this year on 01/27/2019 and I have a focus on branching into the Cyber Corps in hopes of being a Cyber Officer, I am unsure as to whether my diagnosis will hinder my chances or disqualify me as a whole. I did some research and found Army Regulation 40-501 mentions ADD in Chapter 2-Physical Standards for Enlistment, Appointment, and Induction paragraph 2-27.

I am currently finishing off the spring semester as an MS2 and will be heading to basic camp this summer. They prescribed me adderall and also listed that I have "Mild ADD" on my medical history. I would also like to point out that my first two years in college I have kept my GPA above a 3.0 and have not fallen below that and currently passing all my classes at the moment with no medication being taken whatsoever.

Are there any officers with an ADD diagnosis that are still servicing with this medication?
Will I lose my contract?

Posted in these groups: Thcapm08l9

ROTC

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

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MAJ Matthew Arnold

Posted >1 y ago

Funny you should mention ADD. I grew up in the day when boys were just boys and some were a little, ah, harder to handle than others. I graduated HS with a 2.8 gpa, but I was starting offensive tackle, Eagle Scout, and learned how to fly in Air Explorers. I served a mission for the LDS Church and delta with all the complications of that service. I graduated from BYU with a 2.6 gpa, but excelled in ROTC and was awarded an RA commission, followed by IOBC, MPLC, ORWAC, AOAC, CAS3. I was a airborne rifle platoon leader, a SFG service company XO, a aviation assault company (UH-1) commander, etc. on up to my highest position as an acting aviation attack battalion (AH-64) XO. All this while coping with ADD, which I did not know I had. (I found out almost by accident, which is another story.) The point is ADD is not an excuse, nor is it a disability, go for it. AND, do not take the meds, they can disqualify you.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

It depends on the severity.

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Capt Daniel Goodman

Posted >1 y ago

I've got other thoughts about other possibilities as well, that aren't cyber, though comp sci (CS)/IT related, if you'd care to hear more, no rush, if you'd wanna chat more, just lemme know, OK?

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Capt Daniel Goodman

Posted >1 y ago

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Also, the forum pages on here are quite good, it's not all-inclusive, certainly, it doesn't cover Army WOCS, which is of course mainly for flight, typically rotary wing, or any of the direct commission indoc OIS type programs, however, I just figured you might find it at least of interest, if nothing else.....

OCS Foundation

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Capt Daniel Goodman

Posted >1 y ago

https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-engineer-dce

I'm uncertain whether USCG might view cyber as suitable for this, however, if you did your bachelors in comp sci (CS), as opposed to cyber, per se, being as they'd certainly be close, if nothing else, I just had run across this in the past, and figured you might possibly care to at least glance at it, you know?

Direct Commission Engineer (DCE) | GoCoastGuard.com

The direct commission engineer (DCE) program provides engineers and technologists with leadership opportunities in program management, implementing systems that enable and support Coast Guard missions. Experienced C4IT engineers are needed to advance our systems infrastructure in a rapidly modernizing organization.

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1SG (Join to see)

>1 y

DoDI 6130.03 applies to the Coast Guard.

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Capt Daniel Goodman

>1 y

I follow...I'd just figured he might've just found knowing about it useful, merely as a possibility, though I of course entirely understand, certainly....

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Capt Daniel Goodman

Posted >1 y ago

https://www.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.html

Also, being as you're Army ROTC, I gather, you might've already seen stuff on this as well, I just figured if you hadn't, and could get the bachelors done, this could be yet another way for you to possibly see if you might ask about, as well....

Cyber Direct Commissioning Program

System admin, web developer, programmer. Put your civilian experience to work and become an officer in the Army through the Cyber Direct Commissioning Program.

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Capt Daniel Goodman

Posted >1 y ago

https://news.usni.org/2018/06/13/navy-implements-warrant-officer-1-rank-for-cyber-specialists

I'm not necessarily saying you'd want this, however, I just figured you might at least care to glance at it...I've got zero clue whether your circumstances might allow it, however, if you could get your bachelors done, or have an associates now, you might perhaps at least care to ask about the program, if, for whatever reason, you couldn't be allowed to finish the ROTC, as I'd said, I have no idea what the rules might be in your case, I just figured you might care to at least know about this, I'd seen it mentioned on here sometime back....