Should a Learning Disability be a Military Draft Exemption?
Thursday, January 27th, 2005
If we go back to a military daft by lottery rather than an all volunteer army, will we have the same set of exemptions we had during the Vietnam war?
You could get out of the draft during much of the war in Vietnam by:
1. Being a student enrolled full-time in college
2. Being a conciencious objector with a proveable history of religious and moral opposition to participating in war
3. Leaving the country and changing citizenship (Canada and Sweden are full of Vietnam draft dodgers)
4. Having a medical issue that affected your ability to perform military duties.
The medical exemption is an interesting one in that certain disabilities fall under its umbrella.
Would a learning disability like dyslexia or ADD/ADHD make a person exempt?
What about having a learning disability gets in the way of performing military duties?
Not being a good auditory learner?
Being oppositional?
Not being able to read?
Being fidgety?
I find this topic fascinating in that if “LD” became a way out, I think parents who did not want their kids to serve would flock to get their kids classified much as they do now for accomodations on the SAT.
Rank and LD
Military colleges (West Point, Annapolis) do not accept “flagged” SAT scores. In other words, if you have an accomodation on the SAT you cannot submit those scores to many or all military colleges.
So, what does this mean given the above question?
People classified as LD who serve in the military will serve in ranks below officer unless they serve long enough to work their way up from the inside.
Starting out at officer level by means of attending a military college is off limits to people who use their learning disability as a way to get accomodations and services.
If a draft were started up again, independent of one’s views of the war in Iraq or how we got into it, what would it mean, if anything, to students and young adults with learning disabilities?
ADD has been created by watching too much TV and not healthily channeling our energy. People with ADD can still interact with others and learn how to shoot a gun. You don’t need to be practicing a religion to not want to kill people (in refrence to conciencious objectors)
“You don’t need to be practicing a religion to not want to kill people”
Amen.
my name is Marquis, I have a learning problem, I just tried to get in the Marnies. I failed the test, I can’t help that I have a learning problem,
I want to help the chaplin out in the Marines, I feel I will never pass the written examanation!
But I’m very athletic I want have a problem with the physical part.
Can someone tell how a person with my problem can get in the Miltary! to help the chaplin!
so I can pray for the troops!
I’m amazed the military won’t take you these days; they seem to be taking a lot of people. However, you do need basic literacy skills to pass the test. Have you looked into getting a tutor to help you? Would the Marines give you a practice test to take home and work on? A tutor and a practice test should help a lot.
Apparently if our kids announced they were learning disabled AND gay, they’d be rejected in a heartbeat. I may have my hetero son do just that if they bring back the draft.
This is a very interesting topic. I, myself, am a 21 year old woman who has completed two years of community college while working 30 hours a week at a retail store. In addition to this, I have a learning disability affecting mathematics, as well as my visual-motor skills, and listening comprehension skills. I have considered joining the United States Coast Guard Reserves,(to help put me through the rest of college) but I am afraid I will not pass the mathematics portion of the ASVAB, (you’re talking to someone who only scored a 280 on the Math SAT I.!) as well as have a problem handling weapons during basic training. Anyone have any thoughts?
I ave a learning disability I need more time on the asvab all through high school and college I can have all the time i want to take any test will they give me extra time cause of my disablity
Laura, be careful, your coast guard stint, should you get it, could easily put you in Iraq. If that’s where you want to be no problem but if not, be very careful.
I have an interest in pursuing a career in the military; However, I have a learning disability. Will the military allow me some extra time on the ASVAB, and will this hinder me in achieving the rank of officer?
I don’t know, have you asked at a recruiting office? I’m sure to get the extra time you’ll have to state that you have the learning disability although my guess is there are enough people with LD in the military so that there should be little if any descrimination. But, I really don’t know and I’d recommend calling or walking into a recruiting office and asking.
Hello my name is Andre I’m stationed at naval station Greatlakes hospital corps scool and I have LD and I have learned to work with it. I have been in the military (NAVY SUBMARINE FORCE) for 18 years and it has been gerat. I will retire from the Military in two years, I will start a new life and live on just as I always have. I don’t think about being LD I think I’m just like every one els. Some pepole are more smarter than others can’t be the smartest person all the time. I guess what I’m tring to say is don’t think LD think smart and just go do it!!!!
Andre, absolutely. That’s some of the best advice I’ve seen in a long time.
“Don’t thnk LD, think smart.”
Love it man. Thanks.
Its funny what the first post said about Tv Making kids have ADHD, I am 46 and I have ADHD always have so has the rest of my family and now my two sons also have ADHD and Learning disabilitys (Auditory Processing Disorder) My sons Teacher wrote on the report card, ” He cant focus to save his life” I wouldnt want him in a fox hole next to me , that is for sure.
But, they both are the kindest, nicest kids you will ever meet, Not a mean bone in their bodies.
The drugs they use for ADD and ADHD are narcotics (Ritilan) that is what i think the problem would be if they where in the military?
Sharon
I hope I’m NEVER in a foxhole but if I were, there’s a few people I know who do have learning disabilities and/or ADHD that I absolutely would want near to me, watching my back. Here’s the thing (in my opinion). The variability of individual differences among people with learning disabilities is probably as great as those without LD. I’m sure that there are individuals with LD that would have a hard time with certain aspects of learning military life. But I for one wouldn’t want to see it as an exclusionary category.
If we need military forces, then there are probably too many men and woman who would make great, ethical and talented soldiers who might not get to serve and protect, just because they happened to have LD.
well you know I got something to say I have a learning disability as well. It bother me that I wanted to get into the Navy and one of the Naval officers said to me that I couldn’t cause I had a learning disability and I wanted to work from the bottom up.. I have PDD/NOS which pervasive Development/Not Otherwise specisfied Disorder.. and anyway I was so down and very hurt.. Because my weakest subject is math.. and I am very smart, and very intelligent when it comes to academeics and other things.. it just bother me that they won’t give us people with any type of disability a chance to serve in the either of the 4 divisons.. I just wish if we could pass the test that they would except us.. I tried to get in and they told me no.. but I won’t give up.. and I also feel for you people that have learning disabilities and other types of disabilities I know I have one as well as I said already in the previous paragraph.. It’s just I wish things were different… and I think this a terrific topic that is being discussed I just wish somebody of the 4 divisons with high authority could do something about it. well I read some of the topics and I agree with what they are saying in them… I am a go getter so I would have no problem acheiving my goal as wanting to go in the Navy or any division… well goodnight..
I have a learning disability and I tried to get into the navy and they said no to me and I actually talked to a recruiting officer and I was so unhappy.. I just wish they would give me a chance because I am very smart.. I wish something could be different and changed and I feel ya people that have disabilities I wish the people that have disabilities that they would actually give us a chance to show them that we can do it.. I am go getter and I have no problem achieving my goal..I found high school very hard but I did it.. but I was shot down by the navy when they said no.. I am a very intelligent person.. and I am very smart as well, bright.. very motivated to learn but they don’t want to give me a chance… I hope things change for the better… I am very interested in this topic. If I could get in the navy I would’ve wanted to something with computers I’m very good at that and other much more…
to you guys that have learning disabilites think that you can over come it because you can and don’t let anybody tell you differently…
I am 23 and have been in the Army for 5 yrs I am a Specialist and I also have a job as a 25 U. I work with everythig from computers to radios. i was identified as having a LD when I was in 1st grade. I have succeeded and have been to Iraq twice. I do not believe that having a LD should keep you out of anything. Check out LTC Taylor Beattie he is a LTC in the Special Forces and here is his story
http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx?r=552 (just copy and paste this into your browser window then hit enter) If he and I can succeed then anyone with a LD can. I still get help with mine from time to time from my military counselor and NCO’s and family.
SO DON”T PUT YOURSELF OUT OF AN OPPORTUNITY B/C OF WHAT SOME ELSE TOLD YOU!!!
Have a HOOAH Day.
SPC Van Buren
Karen,
I dont’ think claiming your son/daughter will keep them out. Many of my friends that have a learning disablity serve this country. Secondly, when people say they have a disablity or have a disablity and use it to get out of something they can do. It makdes it harder for people who need accomadtions to get them.
I have a source that says you can’t enlist in the military if you verbally identify that you have a LD. Also you can’t use accomodations on your entrance exam. Does this mean that it is pretty much “dont ask, dont tell”?
-confused??
Mr. Pink. I’ve not heard of this and I doubt it’s true. I’m not sure about the accommodations but I’m pretty sure that many people in the military have various kinds of leaning issues. Only one way to find out: call an army recruiter and ask.
4. Having a medical issue that affected your ability to perform military duties.
The medical exemption is an interesting one in that certain disabilities fall under its umbrella.
Would a learning disability like dyslexia or ADD/ADHD make a person exempt?
What about having a learning disability gets in the way of performing military duties?
This surly depends on the extent of the disability. Some people with minor LD might actually want to join the military and of course be dam good at what they do.
Discrimination could in my view happen on both sides, firstly by being refused the option and secondly deined it. Not an easy one to call but i’m guessing it would be done very much on an individual level.
I have LD and I have been in military for over 9 years. For those who are trying to get into any service, it’s the simple “OVER COME & ADAPT” style. Get help, work hard and continue to work hard! Take the ASVAB test again and you will be fine. Once your in the service don’t let LD be the determining factor of your life nor should you express it in public. Just work hard!
Fantastic Rio. I think your advice is good for anyone with LD doing anything, in the military or out.
Thanks for taking the time to share it.
We have a 18 year old grandson living with us, he wishes to join the Navy when he graduates in 2009. He has ADHD on medication and under control. Medadateis the medicine he is taking. Would this stop him getting into the Navy?
Doris: I don’t know the answer to that question. Best to call a local Navy recruiter.