Anyone currently serving or has served in the military?

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I'm right now been thinking about joining the Navy since not only do they pay for college I do have a bit of fondness with traveling new places especially by sea. Right now I'm getting my G.E.D and then afterwords take a semester at a community college. Then afterwords enlist in the Navy

I was told I cannot serve as a result of disability.

Yes, I am in the air force at the moment. I havn't been diagnosed with AS because I never told anyone about a lot of my symptoms. I never knew how, I figure people will just tell me Im crazy(like psychosis and bipolar) or that Im just wierd and nothing is wrong with me. If you really want to get in, choose a career field you can really absorb yourself in and dont tell the military anything about this. If you bring up any type of counseling or therapy you have had they will mark you as a disability. To be in the military you have to show a clear sense of mind and control. Now after you get accepted and get to boot camp you might find it really difficult to fit in still. You might still stick out, but if you really want this way of life you will just have to deal with it. Most people in the military, just like life, are NT. They wont understand why certain things set you off or give you pain(i.e loud chaotic noises). You WILL have to mask it. And if you make it through basic and tech school, you're pretty much home free. That doesnt mean it wont be hard still, it just means you have your job. It will be difficult to compromise yourself for your country and job in general, but you will have to do it if you want this. Honestly, this is not the life for me. There are very few people who understand me and most people just wish to believe that I want to be the way I am. That I like sticking out because I have a hard time controlling the volume of my voice(not like yelling but speaking too loud and off pitched). That I like not being as social others. I could be in a crowded room of airmen, off duty, and still feel alone. Because I can't talk to them that well. Understand that this will not be the answer for you if you have these types of concerns. They will become a reality. Now you will find your people you can stand and who can stand you and if you can live with that, or ask them for help in areas of life you're not as good in, then you will be fine. Im not trying to tell you not to try, Im telling you to be cautious of your decision. It is very hard to conform to this lifestyle and it is a commitment you will have to keep unless you break down and tell a supervisor or doctor(anyone in the military who can send you to "life skills"(aka mental health)) that you're having these problems. If you can live a life of secrecy than you can make it in the military. If you can't, I suggest you dont even waste your time trying.

Your profile says you're diagnosed. If that's true, then I'm 99% sure you're ineligible.

I'm 100% certain the Air Force will not take aspies , because I happened to talk to an Air Force recruiter about it, who asked the physician. I'm almost certain the other branches, including the Navy, will have the same policy.

And FYI: if you do indeed have an official diagnosis sitting in a psychologist's office somewhere, believe me, the recruiter will find it. Those guys are bloodhounds. My brother is just going into the Navy SEALs , and during his screening process, the recruiter dug up stuff from years ago that even the family didn't remember. They are ruthless and very, very thorough.

And if you do pursue this, don't lie to them. If you lie, get into the service, and they find out, you will be dishonorably discharged. That's like having a fellony criminal record. Afterwords, it makes it difficult to find employment, it impacts your benefits .... everything.

The one shot you might have is to talk to a recruiter and tell them you are interested in becoming a Navy nurse or health technician of some sort. That way, you're not combat personnel, and they are always short of such guys. They might make an exception in that case. It's worth a shot.

Good luck with that. And please let me know what you find out. I have aspies writing me all the time about this stuff, so I like to receive all the info I can get.

My son has tourettes sydrome, but he dosn't have an official diagnoses, so his recruiter said not to put it down. If you are not on any medication then you should be ok. My dad is a retired marine, and he said if what you have dosn't affect your ability to do what the milatary requires then you should be fine. But yeah.....Groovy Druid does have a valid point...wouldn't hurt to try though, see what they say......F.Y.I.my son is in the Air Force Reserves.

The only army I want to be involved in is the one I start up to set myself up as Supreme Emperor.

Err. Forget I said that

I enlisted fifteen years before there was such a thing as a diganosis so I cannot speak on if somone is medically eligeable. I was still on active duty for another seven years after my diagnosis (you can stay on active duty with some disabilities that were incurred in service) and the therapy and training I got has made a complete difference in my life. I left the service much more functional than I entered it.

As far as the environment goes I found it to be comfortably regimented. I always knew what the rules were, what I was supposed to wear, where I was supposed to be, what I was supposed to say to someone. As an Army truckdriver I was mostly left alone in my truck and no one thought it was odd or reclusive because well there was only one driver per truck and you drove all day nothing odd there, right?

I did two combat tours and innumerable field exercises. It's loud, bright, smells bad, chaotic, high pressure and unpredictable. Someone will give you one set of instructions and their counterpart may give you a different set. Then you get yelled at when you don't get them both done at the same time. Unlike most of your peers you will likely not have the easy cameraderie to share your feelings or a good working understanding of the friendly horseplay and such the others engage in to blow off steam. This may make the environment more difficult for you. Eventually (usually within about 3-4 years) you will have to be in charge and tell others what to do and explain to your supervisors what you have done and why. You know your abilities better than I do.

Ultimately you need to remember that people's lives are depending on your ability to do what you are there to do without freezing up or falling apart. Judge yourself honestly and it may be the best decision you ever make.

I was actually thinking going into the clergy with the Navy. They might take me in that field. I was planning to go into the ministry in the United Methodist Church but With the Navy I can help out with religious services while I'm getting my Masters Of Divinity. I checked online the Navy does have their own clergy.

Being in the military sounds like fun. You get good money, you all-expenses-paid trips to exotic places, a gun, and many other things.

Its not as "fun" as you think it would be. It's very pressing and demanding. The pay is not that great. You are loged in a dorm like atmosphere with peers of the same rank. If you dont get along with people, too bad, you're gonna deal with all types. Its very hard on the mind and heart, especially on a person who is autistic in some way. You may think you are mildly autistic, high fuctioning. Your thoughts can change when you are placed in boot camp. You have at least 2 people yelling at you for however long it is. Not too mention your "peers" who want to know why you can't respond to the challenge as easily. Take this from someone who's been in for almost a year, in the AIR FORCE. Its not as easy as you'd think and it can be very draining. You go to work and you go home. Hopefully you get placed at a good base where you have something around you to do that you like, unlike me. I am currently living in ALASKA, near Fairbanks not Anchorage. Not only do I deal day and night with military life, but now I also have to deal with 24 hour days and nights depending on the season.(Yes the sun does stay up for 24 hours pretty much and only comes up for about an hour or so in the winter.) As much of an experience this is, I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy, let alone a friend or stranger. There are other ways to get your education, I dont reccomend this one.

I dunno if what you would call fun. The reason why I like the Navy is because I love the oceans and if I go with the relgious field I doubt that I would be given a gun.
I know that yes you will deal with people you don't like but that is part of life. Being a Christian you just pray for them.

I'm in the RAF, it's been difficult, but worthwhile. I have been to some exotic places (Falkland Islkands, Afghanistan) and I can assure you that having people shooting at you is NOT FUN.
The big thing about the Forces is: they want team players. NTs can be team players, not sure about AS. Personally, I've managed to do what's been required of me, but I haven't progressed far in terms of promotion because of the usual misunderstandings my management during assessments and reviews.

I kinda served J.R.O.T.C. one year navy cadet sea men apperentice if I were in coast guard I'd be level 2 I might go into the coast guard though wouldn't be a bad idea so I am thinking about it

That would solve the problem of not being able to obey orders given by morons. When the boss says "jump", I always say "why?" I'm pretty sure that doesn't work in the military.

Actually I was told by someone who has served that I could also try to Marines. The Air Force from I was told is pretty hard to get in. I was told Because my Asperger is mild I could try the Marines and see. Even if the Marines don't take me now, theirs no question that if we go to war against Korea and Iran that they will look at a case by case basis with those that have Aspergers. Even if I go into a non combat position, it is still a honor to serve this country.

If you become a Chaplian they give you a 9mm. You can't be commisioned in the Marines as a chaplian though. You have to become a Navy chaplian and request being attached to the Marines.