My son has not taken ADHD meds for 6 years & makes straight A's in college but the Air Force denied him!?

otherwise he would have just lied on the premedical questionnaire like most others.....

A very telling statement indeed. It is never a good idea to start a career, where the core values include integrity, based on a lie...

At any rate, the standards are clear that if he has proven academic skills and no medication use in the previous 12 months then he should be qualified. Unless there were psychotic, schizophrenic or other paranoid disorders associated.

You are using an Army Regulation (AR) for enlistment. Your son is trying to get into the Air Force. The Air Force instruction is roughly similar unless you are trying to be a commissioned officer. Then there are different instructions, but based on your narrative he should be fine.

My guess is that they are disqualifying him for something else.

Essentially:

a) because that's what the instruction says

b) being able to handle a job and do well in college does NOT mean you can handle military life, especially once we take away 90% of your sleep for a few days (or weeks) in a row and jack the stress levels up to 11. Yes, these times happens. Not saying your son can't handle it, only that there isn't an equivalent comparison at this point.

c) it's a good checkpoint to set up a baseline standard. Doesn't mean your son may not get a waiver, just that he has some extra work to do. His/your willing to do this work is also a good indicator that you really want it.

Since you've already found AR 40-501 (good job on that, actually), you should know that is universal for all the branches.

You mention that you are looking for more data; I'm guessing that means you are in the waiver process? If so, congratulations-the fight isn't over yet. Like most things in the military, there's a process here. You just have to work through the process.

"Why should he be judged and evaluated for the kid he was and not the young man he is today?"

Because they may indicate other problems down the road. The fact that he had to keep alternating on and off of them may be a warning sign as well. That's why MEPS has smart doctors to decide this thing.

That's tough. I lied about my ADD to the Army and they never found out about it, although that was during the "ramp-up" when they were taking bascially anybody. The MEPS people these days will disqualify you for an ingrown toenail, so I would imagine you and your son can appeal their decision. Get a well-repsected doctor's opinion and perhaps write a paper referencing studies that have been done on ADHD and how most people outgrow it in adulthood. I mention that because I've read it in books on ADD/ADHD, not sure how reputable the studies were but they do exist. If you really need some ammo you can email me and I'll send you the book titles.

On a separate note, this sounds just like the air force. I'm not trying to start a flame war or say one branch is better than the others, but the air force has always been snobby about their recruiting process and other things.... If they really want to deny your intelligent son the opportunity to join them, why not take his talents elsewhere? If it's one thing I know, it's that the military, regardless of branch, is what you make of it. Your son can have an equally successful career in the army, navy, marine corps, etc. The pay structure is virtually identical, and job specialties are generally the same. For example, I was an electronic technician in the Army, but had I joined the air force I could have still worked on electronics, just on different systems. I would recommend talking to some of the other services. The air force guy I spoke to when considering my enlistment was really squirrely and started talking about how I could not get a job specialty guaranteed, but rather a choice of three... etc. I went to the army recruiter, liked what I heard, and the rest is history. I wouldn't change my decision even knowing what I know now. Also, send an email if you need opinions on the job specialties that will challenge your son. good luck!

Air Force is harder to get into, but anything medical is sensitive with the military. MEPS doctors look to find any & everything to try & disqualify an applicant. Since its been over 2 years, he should be able to get a medical waiver if you provide all medical documentation from the past & a recent doctor letter stating what you just said in your question. (I just went through the same thing but for gallbladder surgery & migraines. I was able to get a medical waiver. Enlisting in the US Army)

Write your Congressman if you don't like it!