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I would like nothing more for Sammy to be able to join the military when he turns 18. I do not want my child to go into battle, but the structure would be so good for him, in addition to my knowing that he has a place to live and is eating every day.
Foster and adopted children are not excluded from joining the military, but there are some exclusions that may prohibit our “kids” from joining.
The military has a great website that specifically lists the exclusions, or disqualifications as they are called on the website.
For many foster or adopted children the problem can come under some of the behavioral and mental health issues.
Under Neurotic, anxiety, mood, somatoform, dissociative, or factitious disorders the first disqualification listed is admission to a hospital or residential facility.
Whoops. We’ve already had several of those. Sammy has been in two different psychiatric hospitals and is on his third residential treatment center and he still has three years to legal adulthood.
Next up is a question about whether or not the applicant has been under the care of a mental health professional for more than 6 months. Well, pretty much all of his life.
Under personality, conduct and behavioral disorders it lists the following disqualification:
Personality, conduct, or behavior disorders where it is evident by history, interview, or psychological testing that the degree of immaturity, instability, personality inadequacy, impulsiveness, or dependency will seriously interfere with adjustment in the Army as demonstrated by repeated inability to maintain reasonable adjustment in school, with employers and fellow workers, and with other social groups.
Well, you’ve pretty much summed up my son’s issues in one paragraph. This is the reason he’s been hospitalized and in residential treatment.
There is a long list of physical disorders and conditions that would exclude someone from military service, but for most of our kids it is the behavioral and mental health issues that will disqualify them from joining the service.
Post-traumatic stress disorder in and of itself does not exclude someone from serving in the military but seizures and black outs that occur from PTSD do disqualify someone. Since many of our children do have PTSD, this is an area that you should discuss with a recruiter if your child has expressed an interest in joining the military.
Additionally, there are some neurological issues that will disqualify someone from serving. Some of those listed are a result of injury to the skull or brain. Check your child’s records to see if there are any brain or skull injuries listed. In cases of abuse, especially of younger children, there could have been injuries that may come into play during the screening process.
Many of our kids who are “comfortable” or do well in residential centers would find the structure, consistency and routine of military life exactly what they need, but those same factors could be what excludes them from military service at all.
That’s odd as lots of kids in residential facilities are recruited heavily by the military.
My son spent 4 years in residential and had no problems getting into the military. His RTC was in a town that was mostly a military town. He was not on any medication.
My other son was asked about previous counseling and answered honestly. This did NOT prevent him from serving in the military.
My other son was told he would need to be med free for 2 years. He changed his interest before that time was up.
Hello everyone,
I am new at posting blogs. I am also anxious to adopt three wonderful children whom I’ve recently had the pleasure of spending time with. I would like to know if any military personnel have used the Bair Foundation? I am interested in Fostering-to-Adopt. I have located the children that I would like to adopt and just simply wanted to know of other’s experiences from a military perspective. Thank you for your time and consideration.
God bless