by having ADHD...will it keep me from going into the air force?

ADD/ADHD

Under the old standards, any history of ADD or ADHD was disqualifying. While waivers were sometimes possible, they were among the hardest categories of waivers to get approved. Under the new standards, ADD/ADHD is disqualifying only if the applicant has been treated with ADD/ADHD medication within the previous year and/or they display signs of ADD/ADHD. For applicants with a previous history of ADD/ADHD who have been off medication for more than one year, and they do no demonstrate significant impulsivity or inattention during MEPS processing, the MEPS examining official may find them qualified for military service without submission of a waiver.

Records review is still required. Any history of being evaluated or treated for ADD/ADHD must be documented. As a minimum, all treatment (if any) within the previous three years must be submitted to MEPS, in advance, as part of the medical pre-screening. Full medical records are required if the applicant was ever treated for ADD or ADHD with any medication other than Ritalin, Adderal, or Dexedrine, or if there were any additional psychiatric symptoms, such as, but not limited to, depression.

MEPS may require school transcripts to demonstrate acceptable academic performance for the year without medication. If treatment for ADD/ADHD occurred throughout the school environment, but wasn’t stopped until after the applicant left school, there is still the possibility of waiver consideration.

It would affect your chances to join - you would need a medical waiver to get in. That said if you need the medication take it and get better - that is the most important thing at this moment in time.

The Air Fordce has pretty high standards, and they're not supposed to take you if you have ADHD. However, if it's never been on a medical file and if you don't tell them about it, then you're good. But if you are on medication, they can't take you.

My son just swore in to the Army Reserves and leaves for BCT in Feb, While filling out the mountains of paperwork, the recruiter did advise us to be very cautious about what was filed on all the medical forms. The best thing I can tell you, because the Air Force standards tend to be more stringent than the Army's, I'd keep the ADHD under my hat. If you strongly feel you'll need treatment to complete the training and AIT, I'd check with a random recruiter, not your own. You can walk into any recruiting center and speak to one without putting any personal info, even your name, into their hands and on file. Or, have a family member or friend call a recruiter and ask the question, without putting YOUR name on file. Best of luck to you!

yes. Being on Meds is a DQ. you must be off the meds and function normally for a year( finish school, hold down a job) before a waiver will be considered.

It didn't stop the Navy from taking my husband when he got out of high school. He has ADHD and OCD, and never takes meds.... oh the fun they must have had with him.

you can join as long as you do not have to take medication for it.

if you don't tell them no matter how hard they try to scare you at meps about fraudulent enlistment and don't take meds you are good to go

no, having ADHD will not stop you from joining the air force, my father has ADHD, and he was in the air force for 35 years, and now he has retired, he is also unmedicated for his ADHD.

What they don't know can't hurt