Joining the RAF with a personality disorder?
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Joining the RAF with a personality disorder?
Sorry if someone has already made a similar thread, but I just want to ask anyone out there if you can join the RAF with a personality disorder.
I know there are some disorders/mental health issues which you cannot join the military, the last i know of you cannot join the RAF if you suffer from a form of obsessive compulsion or schizophrenia.
I suffer from Schizoid Personality Disorder (not Avoidant Personality Disorder or direct links to schizoidphrenia) and would like to consider joining the RAF... as a pilot or engineer.
I have been searching for some time on this issue and have nothing from it, I know I should be talking to a person from the armed forces career centre, but would like to know from independant people who can answer this issue.
I would also want to say that my actual disorder does not affect me doing a job, in fact the doctor who diagnosed me said i should be doing a meaningful job, preferably something that is relevant to what i know and like; in my case i love aircrafts, technology/engineering and especially flying.
I know there are some disorders/mental health issues which you cannot join the military, the last i know of you cannot join the RAF if you suffer from a form of obsessive compulsion or schizophrenia.
I suffer from Schizoid Personality Disorder (not Avoidant Personality Disorder or direct links to schizoidphrenia) and would like to consider joining the RAF... as a pilot or engineer.
I have been searching for some time on this issue and have nothing from it, I know I should be talking to a person from the armed forces career centre, but would like to know from independant people who can answer this issue.
I would also want to say that my actual disorder does not affect me doing a job, in fact the doctor who diagnosed me said i should be doing a meaningful job, preferably something that is relevant to what i know and like; in my case i love aircrafts, technology/engineering and especially flying.
I should imagine only the relevant authorities would be able to give you a definitive answer, but my gut feeling is that you will find it difficult to unstick the label that has been placed upon you.
Whilst acknowledging your doctors advice, it does have to be said that the authorities would be more concerned with the needs of the service, rather than your individual needs.
Good luck.
If you really want to pursue things, question when, how,why, and by whom the diagnosis was made.
Whilst acknowledging your doctors advice, it does have to be said that the authorities would be more concerned with the needs of the service, rather than your individual needs.
Good luck.
If you really want to pursue things, question when, how,why, and by whom the diagnosis was made.
Last edited by gingernut; 16th Apr 2008 at 20:25.
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I just want to make a few more things clearer since the last post that I made.
Even though I have this diagnosis, it did not stop me from being an Air Cadet who has used a rifle (even got a marksman ship and even took responsibility (teaching other cadets)), given opportunities to fly on every occassion, and even taken direct leadership of an NCO group and constantly annoying my officers for being better than themselves.
Even though I have this disorder, surely it does not mean I am not capable of being an officer or performing important tasks.
I should also point out that at most, people with mental health issues are not necessarily a bad thing for any organisation, and if any thing sometimes my own disorder made me better, but so far as the RAF's concern, if I decide to join, would they accept me?
Even though I have this diagnosis, it did not stop me from being an Air Cadet who has used a rifle (even got a marksman ship and even took responsibility (teaching other cadets)), given opportunities to fly on every occassion, and even taken direct leadership of an NCO group and constantly annoying my officers for being better than themselves.
Even though I have this disorder, surely it does not mean I am not capable of being an officer or performing important tasks.
I should also point out that at most, people with mental health issues are not necessarily a bad thing for any organisation, and if any thing sometimes my own disorder made me better, but so far as the RAF's concern, if I decide to join, would they accept me?
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Joining the RAF with a personality disorder?
Thought it was a pre-requisite!!! 
Sorry, I couldn't resist that; inter-service rivalry and all that nonsense!
Seriously, only ONE doctor has made your diagnosis? Get a second opinion but not until you have all the facts which can be gleaned from the military medics at Cranwell. If you want to do it anonymously, get your mate who doesn't want to join the RAF to write on your behalf.
My flying career was nearly over a couple of years ago because of poor wording on a diagnosis.
What they had meant to say was that my symptoms (which turned out to be an unexpected side effect of medication) were similar to XYZ but their wording insinuated that I suffered with XYZ.
This meant I had to go for private consultancy (luckily for me the consultant understood the balls-up and did the hospital tests on the NHS and saved me a small fortune) and obtain a very carefully and ACCURATELY worded private report.
It still cost me a fair whack - not much change out of a Grand!!
Sorry, I couldn't resist that; inter-service rivalry and all that nonsense!
Seriously, only ONE doctor has made your diagnosis? Get a second opinion but not until you have all the facts which can be gleaned from the military medics at Cranwell. If you want to do it anonymously, get your mate who doesn't want to join the RAF to write on your behalf.
My flying career was nearly over a couple of years ago because of poor wording on a diagnosis.
What they had meant to say was that my symptoms (which turned out to be an unexpected side effect of medication) were similar to XYZ but their wording insinuated that I suffered with XYZ.
This meant I had to go for private consultancy (luckily for me the consultant understood the balls-up and did the hospital tests on the NHS and saved me a small fortune) and obtain a very carefully and ACCURATELY worded private report.
It still cost me a fair whack - not much change out of a Grand!!
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2Close, thanks for the reply, I did get diagnosed initially by one doctor, but was confirmed by a second and it was on the NHS.
The interesting thing is that I don't take any medication, and I do have a long winded report by the doctor who did say I should be working on something worthwile, and for me someone who actually studied in aviation it seems the next best thing.
I was merely concerned about being rejected on that particular basis and there is not alot of information out there.
The interesting thing is that I don't take any medication, and I do have a long winded report by the doctor who did say I should be working on something worthwile, and for me someone who actually studied in aviation it seems the next best thing.
I was merely concerned about being rejected on that particular basis and there is not alot of information out there.
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I worked in an AFCO (RAF Careers) for the past 3 years and the amount of 'medical conditions' are endless. If you are serious about a career in the RAF, go along to your local AFCO (Their phone number will be in the book) and submit a medical supplement. The staff will then send this to the Medical Board at RAF Cranwell and they will make the decision to either allow you to continue your application or not, you may be required to attend a specialist review board. The initial process takes a couple of weeks. If you want any more information, send me a PM and I'll be glad to help you out.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
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There is a lot of information available on this disorder, and it is commendable to do your research first. I think you would find difficulty with certification to fly either privately or militarily with most authorities, however the only way to know for sure is to contact them directly.
I don't think we are going to get much more useful information here.
I don't think we are going to get much more useful information here.
