Military Medical Standards For Enlistment And Commission

Mental health in the military is taken very seriously, not just for the admission into the services, but also staying in the services as well. There are many disqualifying medical conditions to entry and continued service into the military, including several that concern mental health and illness. Taking medications for any of the below conditions could also prevent you from serving even if later you are found to have been misdiagnosed as a child or teenager prior to seeking to serve in the military.

The disqualifying medical conditions are listed below. The International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes are listed in parentheses following each standard. The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction (without an approved waiver) are an authenticated history of:

• Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Perceptual/Learning Disorder(s) (315) is disqualifying unless the applicant can demonstrate passing academic performance and there has been no use of medication in the previous 12 months. Newer regulations may allow for waivers on a case-by-case basis.
• ADD / ADHD could have been misdiagnosed as a child or young teenager and medicated regardless. Because of the subjectivity to the diagnosis, some leniency has been applied to the recruitment process of the military in recent years.
• Current or history of academic skills or perceptual defects secondary to organic or functional mental disorders, including, but not limited to dyslexia, that interfere with school or employment, are disqualifying. However, applicants demonstrating passing academic and employment performance without academic and/ or work accommodations at any time in the previous 12 months may be qualified.
• Current or history of disorders with psychotic features such as schizophrenia (295), paranoid disorder (297), and other unspecified psychosis (298) is disqualifying.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, psychoses, and other unspecified depressive issues are disqualifying. Any history of mood disorders requiring medication and/or outpatient care for longer than six months by a mental health professional is also disqualifying. Also, any symptoms of mood and mental issues that affect social ability, school, and learning, or work efficiency are disqualifying. This one is serious and unlikely to be eligible for the waiver process for acceptance into the military.

Current or history of adjustment disorders within the previous three months is disqualifying.

Behavioral Disorders

Behavioral disorders history in school and with law enforcement agencies having to get involved due to dangerous behavior to self or others is disqualifying. Antisocial attitudes or behaviors are disqualifying as people who exhibit these symptoms are typically not adaptive to military service. 

Any history of personality disorder that is demonstrated by documented and recurring inability to remain in a school environment, work with employers or fellow employees, social groups are disqualifying.

If a person has a current or history of behavior disorders that include but not limited to the following conditions:

• Enuresis or encopresis after the 13th birthday is disqualifying.
• Sleepwalking after 13th birthday is disqualifying. 
• Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or other unspecified eating disorders lasting longer than three months and occurring after the 14th birthday is also disqualifying. 

Speech Affected Disorders

Any speech impediment, stammering, stuttering or other receptive or expressive language disorder that may significantly interfere with the ability to repeat commands is disqualifying. 

Anxiety, Self-Harm, and Phobias

Any history of suicidal behavior, that includes discussions, gestures, or the actual attempt is disqualifying. A history of self-mutilation is also disqualifying.

Anxiety issues, either current or historical, or panic, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, other acute reactions to stress, and post-traumatic stress are disqualifying for entry into the service.

Any history or current disorder of being dissociative or de-personalization are disqualifying.

Any history or current somatoform disorders, including, but not limited to hypochondriasis or chronic pain disorder, are disqualifying.

Any history or current issue with alcohol dependence, drug dependence, alcohol abuse, or other drug abuse is disqualifying.

Of all the medical issues that disqualify a person from being in the service, the mental health side is most rigid in its stance, even if some diagnoses can be highly subjective.