Does the army recruit the mentally ill?

[sugarpie]

I'm wondering if the army knowingly can enlist the mentally ill. My brother attempted suicide a few months back & spent some time in a psych unit. I'm not 100% what his diagnosis is, because he will not allow me to speak to his doctor.

Now he tells me that he thinks the army is the place for him, that the structured lifestyle will be good for him. He says they know all about his history & they don't have a problem with it. They're telling him that if he can't handle it he will be discharged.

I'm really concerned & I don't know what to do.

 

[JunieJay]

I knew a guy who was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid and the army wouldn't take him, even though he was no longer on meds.

That said, this was before the war. With a war going on, they might just take whatever they can get.

There are lots of people in the military on the boards, I'm sure they can answer definitively. Good luck to your brother.

 

[BuckNaked]

I would really be surprised if they are willing to take him with a recent suicide attempt.

 

[Hannathy]

They aren't hurting for recruits and turn down many, many people who apply, so unless he lies on his application I don't think he will get in.

 

[sugarpie]

They aren't hurting for recruits and turn down many, many people who apply, so unless he lies on his application I don't think he will get in.

I'm surprised to hear that they turn people down. They recently raised the age limit to 42, because they don't have enough people enlisting.

As far as lying on the application, the recruiter has pretty much told him that they won't ask questions & he shouldn't volunteer information.

 

[BuckNaked]

As far as lying on the application, the recruiter has pretty much told him that they won't ask questions & he shouldn't volunteer information.

And if he follows that advice, he's begging for a charge of fraudulent enlistment down the line. $10,000 fine and/or 5 years in federal prison.

 

[sugarpie]

And if he follows that advice, he's begging for a charge of fraudulent enlistment down the line. $10,000 fine and/or 5 years in federal prison.

So, what do you think I shoud do?

My brother isn't capable of making a decision like this & he's obviously being lied to.

The recruiter is the one that belongs in jail, in my opinion.

 

[JunieJay]

They aren't hurting for recruits and turn down many, many people who apply, so unless he lies on his application I don't think he will get in.

This article says differently, apparently they take people with criminal records:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251890,00.html

 

[BuckNaked]

So, what do you think I shoud do?

I think he should turn the recruiter in to his superiors.

My brother isn't capable of making a decision like this & he's obviously being lied to.

If he isn't capable of making the decision, then he certainly isn't capable of serving in the Army.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

My brother has been diagnosed of bi-polar and maniac depressive. He has been in the army now for 3 years and has already re-enlisted for 4 more years after that. The army has been GREAT for him. I think they are making him take his meds because he seems like a totally different person. Good luck to your brother. It will probably be good for him too.

 

[sugarpie]

I think he should turn the recruiter in to his superiors.

I wish he would, but he sees this as his out.

If he can't kill himself one way, he'll do it another.

 

[BuckNaked]

I wish he would, but he sees this as his out.

If he can't kill himself one way, he'll do it another.

If he fraudulently enlists, his out will not be what he's looking for.

But that's his problem. You asked for advice, and you got mine.

 

[sugarpie]

If he fraudulently enlists, his out will not be what he's looking for.

But that's his problem. You asked for advice, and you got mine.

But it's o.k. for an official from the army to tell him to lie?

I don't get it.

 

[Anewman]

What is fradulent about "dont ask, dont tell"?

I missed the part where he was told to lie.

 

[sugarpie]

My brother has been diagnosed of bi-polar and maniac depressive. He has been in the army now for 3 years and has already re-enlisted for 4 more years after that. The army has been GREAT for him. I think they are making him take his meds because he seems like a totally different person. Good luck to your brother. It will probably be good for him too.

Did they know his diagnosis when he enlisted?

 

[BuckNaked]

But it's o.k. for an official from the army to tell him to lie?

Of course it's not OK, that's why I said he should turn the recruiter in to his superiors.

But your brother is the one that is going to have to sign the enlistment papers, and if he signs them knowing that he has not been honest, including omitting information that would have possibly excluded him from service, then he has committed a fraud.

 

[BuckNaked]

What is fradulent about "dont ask, dont tell"?

"Don't ask, don't tell" only applies to one issue.

I missed the part where he was told to lie.

If the recruiter is telling him to knowingly omit information that could possibly affect whether or not he is able to come into the Army, it is certainly a lie of omission.

 

[Hoops&YoYo]

I would really be surprised if they are willing to take him with a recent suicide attempt.

I agree.

 

[Anewman]

"Don't ask, don't tell" only applies to one issue.



If the recruiter is telling him to knowingly omit information that could possibly affect whether or not he is able to come into the Army, it is certainly a lie of omission.

I would guess that the military applications are thorough enough to ask questions that would affect all areas of eligibility, as long as he is honest on the questions that are asked I do not see omissions as relevant or else the question would have been asked.

 

[natenapril]

SOme recruiters lie all the time. THey have a quota to meet. I can tell you I was there when the recruiters came to talk to my DH and that recruiter told my DH some big ones. Unfortunately we did not have anyone to tell us the truth. We found out the hard way.

My U(uncle)IL joined the Army when he had a mental condition and tried to harm his whole class . Not good. He was dishonorably discharged and has paid for that mistake for the last 15 years.

My DH is AD Air Force and for his sake and the sake of others I think it wold be better if the military does not allow people with mental handicaps in the Armed Services. These men and women will already have enough trials in their life with the military demands.