Brother is being discharged for having ADHD in his past. What happens now?

2021-03-02T16:30:39-05:00

Received a call from my brother a week ago (in basic training) saying he was being discharged from the army because they found out that he has a history of adhd. He told me that he would be sent home that following Monday but that day has already past and and haven’t heard from him since the call last week. Did they decide to keep him? Are the just moving slow in the process? What even is the process for something like this? His base in in our home state (Benning) do I need to pick him up? I’m so in the dark and starting to worry a bit.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Mar 2 at 2021 4:33 PM

2021-03-02T16:33:58-05:00

Wasn't that info available before he reported for training?

Response by COL David Turk made Mar 2 at 2021 4:43 PM

2021-03-02T16:43:51-05:00

I’m definitely not an authority, but I thought they’d have to do a medical review on him. I also thought they’d have to send him back to his HOR.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2021 4:49 PM

2021-03-02T16:49:49-05:00

My understanding is that so long as you haven't taken medication for it within year prior to joining, your recruiter doesn't have to tell MEPS about it. If you haven't heard from him it means they aren't sending him home yet. Basic, in my experience, was excellent at making sure that any trainees that were injured or in trouble while in basic, had made contact with their families promptly.

Hope all is well!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2021 4:56 PM

2021-03-02T16:56:56-05:00

I should also note that in basic the drill sergeants threaten chapters a ton. My SDS threatened to kick me out because I was laughing during the med lanes as I was dragging my 230lb 6'8 best friend from enemy fire and he was screaming telling me about how he had a wife and kid back home. Then 5 minutes later completely forgot about it. It's a part of the experience for many.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Mar 2 at 2021 5:41 PM

2021-03-02T17:41:24-05:00

Sometimes processes take time in the Army. We usually get the "hurry up and wait" mentality. If you know what basic training company he's in, you could call them. I don't know if he sent any mail or told you his company.

If something happened to him, whoever he listed as next of kin would be notified.

He's probably fine. My ex BIL went to basic at Jackson when he signed up for the Reserves. He didn't even make out of reception. He got a failure to adapt discharge or something. I can't remember. But he was there two months while they processed that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2021 6:43 PM

2021-03-02T18:43:00-05:00

If he's being separated for ADHD in Basic it means that he had a behavioral health issue arise that was tied to his previous diagnosis. These separations take time, it's not a priority for the Cadre

Response by CSM Tim Bebus made Mar 2 at 2021 7:41 PM

2021-03-02T19:41:15-05:00

Here is what happened. He went to MEPS and never mentioned having ADHD. If he had he would have had to of gotten a waiver to enlist. Some of these comments are nonsense. There is no 1 year rule then you don't have to tell MEPS. While at training for whatever reason he told the DI or another Cadre or medical that he had taken this medication. It happens all the time. As a result he will now receive a training discharge more than likely uncharachterised. As for him going home, he is currently serving in whats called a holdover company or platoon where he is doing various details until the Army decides to cut orders. This can take a week or a couple months. I have seen kids in this scenario end up being there longer then the class they they were training in. No you do not go there to pick him up the Army will put him on a bus once the orders are cut. Be patient.

Response by SFC Michael Garutti made Mar 3 at 2021 8:16 AM

2021-03-03T08:16:30-05:00

As a former Drill SGT from Sand Hill, FT Benning, I have seen this many times.
If the trainee states he told the recruiter about the ADHD, they will investigate it. But that doesn't clear the trainee. He was asked several times at MEPS to divulge any info asked for, even if the recruiter told them not to.
At the Company level in Basic he will be pulled from training and put in the holdover section with injured trainees, disciplinary trainees, and the "refuse to train" trainees until processing is complete and he's separated, it's a bit of paperwork and legal is involved. I have seen these cases go well beyond the end of the cycle and the trainees get passed around to the next company with holdovers/chapters.
Your brother will be pulling details while in holdover and I will be honest with you its not a good situation. He needs to be where he's told to be at the time he is told and in the proper uniform. The DS's will leave him alone if he isn't the squeaky wheel. Trust me as a DS I was spending most of my time on the disciplinary cases and the trainees that were just in a bad place I left alone and made sure they were good.
And as far as not hearing from him goes, phones are a privilege and the 1SG determines "if" the holdovers get use of their phones.

Response by 1SG Harold Piet made Mar 5 at 2021 2:40 PM

2021-03-05T14:40:49-05:00

He will call you with directions, This process has no time schedule.