Okayfine... Coupla things...
I _really_ liked working with the military.
1) We need them, like it or not. If you don't think so, then you, or your family, has never been in a case where you needed them.
2) They have all sortsa cool toys. REALLY cool toys...
bogie
DINFOS Trained Killer
and every April and October, I'm at...
http://www.machinegunshoot.com
In the right branch, and in the right MOS (or whatever they're calling it these days, an aspie would be in geek heaven. In fact, I suspect that more than a few are. I know that I had The Best darkroom equipment that I'd want, back in The Day (like, if you're keeping score, Leitz and Besseler).
Wow...
I served in the Army, and if that guy was MY cav. scout, my sergeant would (hopefully) have the common sense to either shield him or get him out of the Army.
I enjoyed the Army! I did computer work, filed a lot of paperwork, and no supervisor breathing down my neck. I was working in a records dept. with 4 civil servants. we never talked, it was great.
I feel the same way about autistics in the military as I do about gays or women in the military--just because I don't agree with military policy, or this war, or this administration, doesn't mean I think discrimination is okay. I would never want to join the military. But if, for whatever reason, I did want to, I should not be excluded because I am autistic, I should not be limited because I am female, and, if I were gay, I should not be excluded for that either. The standard should be ability to do the job. If an autistic person can do the job, more power to him (or her). We should not condone discrimination just because we don't like the institution.
I agree!
But my only worry is that as supplies of NTs shrink, they'll have to modify standards.
When I joined, it was no major juvy record, HS grad, no voluntary homosexual encounters(they DID ask! I appreciated the voluntary clause on the question too!)
Now if you don't speak English well, and have not graduated HS and are not a citizen, you can Be All That You Can Be!
You ever see the movie GLORY? In it on pay day, the black soldiers are muttering about low pay. One of them says, "A colored solder stop a bullet just as good as a white soldier can, and fo less money too!"
at least Uncle Sam doesn't discrimanate THAT openly anymore!
Hmmmm , if I did not get married, I had planned to join the Navy during the Vietnam war. I wanted to be a Jag. I did not know I had Aspergers until 2 months ago and I resent my aspergers being referred as mental ill. I think whoever refered to him as mentally ill IS mentally ill themselves. My daugher feels I would have been an admiral by now... and I agree
If I were the son , I would sue my family. Also, most my friends cannot believe I am an aspie! With Some, I have to let down my NT mask, and prove it.. Its shocking to them.
Yes, some are looking at me oddly now... Amazing what one word can do.. "Asperger's" How ignorant our society is. I think a few discrimination lawsuits will take care of that attitude if it harms an aspie.
An trust me.. I am an excellent warrior, I use my brain. Good warriors are intelligent.
Pertaining to myself, I can tell you that I would be a liability in combat. My vocal tics sound worse than a crying saddle. I'd alert the enemy to my, and my comrades at arm's presence. The only capacity I could possibly serve in would be non-combatant. But that's what WAC was set up for. So as a man with Tourette Syndrome, and perhaps Asperger as well, I do not feel duty bound to take part in the military. Especialy since I'm also physicaly unfit, and I oppose the war. And yeah, I'm also a "Communist liberal".
Pertaining to myself, I can tell you that I would be a liability in combat. My vocal tics sound worse than a crying saddle. I'd alert the enemy to my, and my comrades at arm's presence. The only capacity I could possibly serve in would be non-combatant. But that's what WAC was set up for. So as a man with Tourette Syndrome, and perhaps Asperger as well, I do not feel duty bound to take part in the military. Especialy since I'm also physicaly unfit, and I oppose the war. And yeah, I'm also a "Communist liberal".
Naw! they would use you as a fake bomb with your "Ticks" ... IT would scare the pajeebies out of the enemy in hand to hand.... A lost grenade perhaps? LOL
it is messed up, although I survived and it was before my diagnosis when I was just troubled and scrappy! Now I'm AS and troubled...
It was rough, but I did survive - just barely. I got into a lot of fights and had some discipline problems.
if I hadn't gotten out when I did, with both legs broken, etc... I'd of prob. been worse.
I think they should let Jared go. He passed the first exam, so he is obviously competent enough. The parents are being overprotective and I think it's really just because they're frightened he'll be shot- if they had other children who joined they'd probably want to stop them too, but wouldn't be able to as they had n legal backup.
As for no autistics in the army, that's one of the most stupid rules I've ever heard. Autism does not make people unaware of their actions, and most can make legit and planned decidions for themselves.
Actually, banning learning disablities and psychiatric conditions is daft as well. I think people should be treated as individuals when being signed up, and whether they are competent should be decided by their personal abilities, not what it says in a book.
Don't like the war though. Are all national leaders deaf? When Blair said he was sending people out to help America in the war, there were huge pro-peace protests all over London. Did Blair listen? No.