Posted on Feb 8, 2020
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As someone with HFA, who served without issue, including two deployments, I wholeheartedly would support a waiver for more to join.
Why the military should consider a waiver for high-functioning autism
Posted from militarytimes.com
Waivers
Training
Government
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 2
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Some people with HFA would do well and others would not. It depends on the individual. There is a waiver system for good reason. I speak as a former recruiting Squadron Commander and the mother of a son with HFA.
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SPC Ryan D.
Lt Col Charlie Brown Agreed. I was not diagnosed and didn’t know at the time so I slipped through and did well. I think it should be allowed with a medical review of course.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
SPC Ryan D. - there are jobs that HFA folks would do incredibly well with. We need a process for them; perhaps a longer evauation system: instead of the traditional 180 days, maybe 240 or a year as the initial eval
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MSgt (Join to see)
Lt Col Charlie Brown - a lot of cyber and other technical positions come to mind. Heck if they tested the cyber command for autism characteristics they might loose a high percentage of people who were previously undiagnosed.
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Everybody feels they deserve to serve and need a waiver. We do need to reevaluate who we let in from time to time but many if they have a DSM-V diagnosis, we need to remain fairly true to current standards. Military service is tough for normal folks and stressing those that already have issues generally does not work out well. What we need to focus on is that there are plenty of options to serve one's community stateside not in the military that are just as important to the nation. Police, fire, and Ems are just as important and really while the military is off on foreign lands, they are our last line of defense.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Certain diagnosis like aspergers didn’t used to be disqualifying years ago but when they lumped it in under “autism” it became disqualifying. This put some service members I know in a bind medically. People who had already deployed successfully suddenly becoming “non deployable”. Certain highly technical career fields might be a good fit for these types of people. An aspie usually makes a heck of a hacker! I think a case by case waiver process and maybe career field restrictions might be an idea.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
MSgt (Join to see) - Personally I believe someday we are going to realize those on the autism spectrum are closer to genius than disabled. We as a society have not figured out how to use them to their fullest and are probably breaking them more than anything. Their brains function different than most of us and once we figure what that is, I believe there is enormous potential.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MAJ Byron Oyler - it is something I think we need to figure out how to tap in to. Aspies= infantry, no; cyber command, yes... Maybe give temporary waivers. If they can successfully make it through boot camp and tech school give them a shot. I would make the waivers only for certain jobs. Do it as a trial program and see how it works. Maybe start with reserves or guard first. The military is looking for better way to utilize their people. Maybe be poll vets and see how many aspies have served successfully and how many haven’t and seen what career fields seem to be good fits.
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