I am trying to join the military, should I tell them I am a recovering alcoholic?

Robert B

When I enlisted in the Navy in 1957 I was given a list of questions to answer by checking a box in a 'yes' or 'no'.

Read these questions very carefully. They'll ask you about sleep walking, bed wetting, not getting along with a teacher,ect. A 'yes' answer will raise a red flag so save yourself some aggrivation and answer 'no' to these kind of questions.

I'm a recovering alcoholic too. I go to AA meetings on a regular basis.

Being an alcoholic is something most freinds of Bill W. discover about themselves.

No doctor ever laid his healing hands upon an alcoholic and made the diagnosis; "YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC !"

They may have suggested it, but it would be tantamount to malpractice if they made such a declaration.

You are not a doctor. Even if you are a self-diagnosis would have to be concurred. So you're not qualified to declar yourself an alcoholic. Considering yourself an alcoholic is between you and your higher power and is the first step in your recovery. Therefore you will NOT be lying by checking off 'NO' to any questions about alcoholism.

Good luck on your enlistment and attend an AA meeting whenever and wherever you can. You're only sober one-day-at-a-time and I gurantee you; you meet a lot of recovering alcoholics in the Navy.

Olan Black

well, you have a moral dilemma. if you tell them, more than likely, you will not be able to join. if you don't and they do a records check, and you have been hospitalized, you will get kicked out.

talk to your recruiter, and explain the issue, and he will be able to make the determination. if you have treatment records, he will have to list it. however if you went to a self help group, he may have to list it as a pre existing condition.

honestly, the military is not a good place for a recovering alcoholic

you can ask guys that have been in the military, and if they tell you the truth, we drink like fish! (well, I know the guys in the infantry do)

BSherman

If you have a medical history, vehicle accident, or arrest record related to the drinking, then they are going to find out anyway. It's really a question of how serious a problem it was for you.

If you formerly drank a case of beer every weekend and swore it off after waking up on the floor too many times, but never had medical issues or a run-in with the law, then I would ascribe the drinking to youthful indulgence.

George P

Have you ever been arrested because of your addiction to alcohol? Have you ever been admitted into a hospital? Were you ordered by a judge to seek help?

If you did this on your own, then there isn't a need to tell them. Answer the questions honestly, but no need to tell them more than they are asking.
For example, I took a survey and they asked me how often I drank. I don't drink but maybe one beer a year, so I replied sometimes I drink. Then they asked me how many drinks per week do I have, so I replied none. I am not lying, I don't drink, but its how they asked. If they had a more accurate question, then I could answer better.
You could have a question like, how many times in the past 30 days have you drank. Well, if you are recovering, then you probably aren't drinking any, so you can say none.
Its all how the questions are worded.

âŒ¡MacâŒ

Do not lie but do not answer any question that hasn't been asked, do not volunteer any information that you feel does not matter. If a word in a question, such as alcoholic, which has two or more commonly used definition you may use whichever definition you wish unless the person asking the question clarifies the meaning.
But if you are asked a direct question you must give a truthful answer.

shirio

Unless you consider it necesary, they will only know what you tell them. The problem is ... if you have a problem with alcohol later on and they find out that u lied then... you may be in trouble. I would say, tell them, after all you have recovered, right?
It should matter now.

army mom

They do ask allot of questions about your medical history. basically they ask about surgeries you have had in the past. If they don't ask you about your past about alcohol, I would not mention it. You wouldn't be untruthful if they didn't ask, Right?
good luck!!

B G

NO !!!!

KOOL AID

no i would not if you do tell them you might ruin your chances!!!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: