Quote:
I couldn't imagine a mental condition that doesn't present an issue anymore mattering, but I would like to get all of the information that I can.
|
Tourettes not being a psychiatric condition but rather a neurological condition and being fairly well known presents a glimmer of hope ( I am an engineer not an MD). However, just so you don't post up BS as truth, combat and killing real people and being in real situations where you must devalue your own life to zero worth will aggravate any mental condition that is psychiatric in nature. Dehumanizing ones own self and other people creates real internal conflicts that often take a life time to resolve (if one ever actually does resolve them). Combat is not a place for the mentally frail. Even a healthy person has trouble staying sane and stable. Thus the Army has good reason for not allowing certain people in combat.
Now then, the route I went for my profile and to get a waiver was as follows. Once I was rejected for combat arms because of preexisting hearing loss, I went to my ROTC adviser (in your friends case, the recruiter) and begged as piteously as possible while not actually groveling. He then had me retested which I failed again. I then went and grovelled again and he cut orders for me to go to Ft Rucker and be tested by a specialist. I failed again but the MD recognized my desire to be in the Infantry and exercised his authority and issued me a waiver to be approved by my CO (ROTC adviser). My CO obviously was sympathetic and gave me the waiver based upon a medical recommendation. That was all I needed which was good for everything that followed. Just a footnote to history-in the 1969, graduating ROTC class at the University of Alabama I was the only person who selected Infantry as first branch choice.
So, my advice, is to get the recruiter to refer your friend to a qualified Army neurologist (not somebody else but a real board certified neurologist). This person will know the disease and know the long term implications and be able to make the correct recommendation. All you ever need is that one army neurologist to sign his name and you are good to go forever. Once that waiver has been obtained then get an 18X contract. Its been a long time and the army has changed but people and situations are still best handled certain ways. Also many diseases get on lists and never get removed even when new science comes along. It may well be that the neurologist will reject your friend because there are issues that I do not know about. I am merely giving you advice on a process that worked for me long ago.