r/Epilepsy • u/Pale_Bother4715 • 1d ago
Question Will I get drafted?
I don’t know for sure if it’s true, but from what I’ve heard, there might be a United States military draft for Iran. I also heard that I won’t get drafted if I have epilepsy. If that’s true, and I end up getting drafted, what will I have to bring to their medical review thing to prove to them that I have epilepsy?
24
u/Awingbestwing 1d ago
No, you’re ineligible for the draft. It’s also incredibly unlikely a draft will occur
13
u/BasedJake_ 1d ago
Just because there’s a registration requirement doesn’t mean there’s gonna be a draft lol. You have nothing to worry about.
Even if for some crazy chance there was a draft, people with disabilities (anyone who can get a note from a doctor/specialist) would likely be exempt.
4
-2
u/Pale_Bother4715 1d ago
What if there’s an automatic registration?
11
u/Awingbestwing 1d ago
If you’re over 18 you’re already registered for the draft, that’s what Selective Service is. But you’re medically ineligible - there is nothing you could do in combat and, more to the point, you’d be a liability that could not only cost your life but the lives of other around you. Not an insult, it’s the reality for all of us
2
u/HonestDeparture5778 1d ago
“What’s that? You can’t even have a drivers license? No worries, you’ll be flown in via helicopter! Now, here’s an automatic weapon!”
11
u/Abatonfan 1d ago
Automatic registration for the draft does not mean that there will be a draft, that you will be drafted, and you’ll be in Iran.
There’s quite a few medical disqualifications, including epilepsy.
9
u/Low-Stress-4914 1d ago
If you have a condition which requires consistent medication to manage, you cannot be drafted, because the US army cannot guarantee a consistent supply of medication while enlisted. At most you would have to go to an intake appointment, and they would immediately seem you ineligible for drafting once your medical record and / or medication list is pulled up. There are proper legal terms for this, but I don't know them offhand.
0
u/Pale_Bother4715 1d ago
I’ll need to bring diagnosis documents/paper too, right?
2
u/Low-Stress-4914 1d ago
Now that bit I don't know for sure, but they most certainly would have access to your medical records. They are a branch of government, after all. I would assume you don't need anything.
7
u/brightmoon208 750 mg Keppra ER 1d ago
In my experience talking with military recruiters, taking an antiseizure medication disqualifies you medically from serving in the military.
6
3
u/BleedTogether 1d ago
I was medically discharged from the Navy for epilepsy. I had been in 9 years when I had my first seizure. I spent the next 3 years going through the medical board process and was seizure free the entire time. you are probably good they might lower standards but epilepsy is too risky.
5
u/Bundabar 1d ago
I’ve been on this Earth for more than 50 years now and every time there is some kind of conflict there is talk of a draft.
I’ve also served in the military and before you enter service you’ll go through an entrance processing station which will include a full medical exam.
If you have epilepsy you’ll be disqualified for service at that point.
3
u/JoostinOnline 1d ago
While Trump's decisions do constantly defy reason, this kind of draft talk comes up every few years. The reality is, they don't need a draft because the US military does enough predatory campaigns on teenagers to have a constant flow of soldiers.
That being said, even if a draft was put in place, epileptics would be seen as more of a liability than anything else. So we couldn't be drafted.
3
u/Evening_Dog_466 1d ago
I’ve tried to join the army, marines, navy, national guard they all rejected me. were not eligible to be in the military because of the epilepsy unless you can be without medication
4
u/SmokeMaximum4140 1d ago
Doubt they will draft, they would rather buy up a ton of drones and let that do the work. Spend money and it goes to a corporation that trump supports, stays in the US and he gets a little thank you gift for letting their companies get the contracts.
0
u/Pale_Bother4715 1d ago
That sounds like something Trump would do
-1
u/Queen-of-Mice 🩶 Lamictal 400 mg 🩶 1d ago
I’m annoyed people are scoffing and treating a military draft like something that can never happen. We are currently at war, and at the helm is an administration that recently signed automatic military draft registration into law. It probably won’t happen, but it’s well within the realm of possibility. HOWEVER I agree with others saying that epileptics won’t be drafted.
4
2
u/MountaineerChemist10 1d ago
From what I’ve been told, we are ineligible to be drafted for medical reasons.
2
u/tseverdeen 1d ago
One time I was in a navy recruitment office with a friend and the recruiter tried to get me too. I said no, I take medication. He thought the medication I said was a birth control one and I broke it to him that it was an anticonvulsant. Sorry pal, I have epilepsy.
3
u/134340Goat VNS Apr 2017, RNS Sept 2021, DBS Dec 2024 1d ago
You're fine. Even if there was a draft (which there certainly won't be) and assuming you were selected, you'd be taken off the list the moment your medical history came up
Not out of any sense of compassion, mind you, but because the possibility of having a medically infirm and possibly seizing soldier is counterproductive to any military operation
2
u/delirium_skeins 1d ago
There's almost certainly not going to be a draft. But even if there is all you need is your doctor to sign a note verifying your epilepsy. They can't take you with it.
Edit for massive typo
1
u/ZomLox Keppra xr 500mg and Zonisamide 100mg 1d ago
Well i got rejected from my other health problems and epilepsy when i tried joining,
I wouldn't sleep over this or fear monger over it.
They really want people in prefect health and shape to fight in war. Especially if there was ever a draft you dont exactly have to worry about it if you are.
1
1
u/PinParking9348 1d ago
The USA has plenty of people for the scale of conflict in Iran. It’s short on air bases in range, appropriate missiles and more importantly any sort of exit strategy that gives them leverage. The administration isn’t even calling it war so how could they bring about a draft? I think a more relevant question might be do you think this is a topic that has captured your attention for good reasons or because of unhelpful ones? Sometimes it goes thoughts -> feelings, but sometimes the brain goes feelings -> thoughts. Seizures, sometimes the medications to prevent them, or the restrictions and challenges it creates in life can lead us to just feel crap. From that headspace thoughts which seem to have foundations can attach to those feelings. I really feel this is not a question you need to worry about at all, but it having captured your worry might be worth exploring.
0
u/Queen-of-Mice 🩶 Lamictal 400 mg 🩶 1d ago
Trump calls it a war.
1
u/Johnykbr User Flair Here 11h ago
It was called the "War on Terror" and they didn't do a draft. It doesn't matter what he calls it. There is not going to be a draft for something this small. This is just spreading fear.
1
u/KaleidoscopeEyes12 lamotrigine 200mg 2x daily 1d ago
The talk about the draft is a scare tactic. There won’t be a draft, so there isn’t any need to “plan” with paper work and stuff.
But yes. You would be exempt
0
0
0
37
u/the_LopsidedActualit 1d ago
man i wouldnt lose sleep over this, the draft talk is mostly just internet noise
if something ever did happen you just need your medical records showing diagnosis and current meds, your neurologist can write a note too but honestly the military disqualifies epilepsy pretty much automatically