Stuttering in the Military?

[maureen9004]

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here in a long time :)

I was curious if anyone knew anything about being a stutterer in the military, specifically as an army officer. I'm getting ready to put together my commissioning packet and have read several documents about the military no allowing stutterers in (especially now that they don't really need people due to the economy). And if anyone has any advice about going in front of the board- I'd love to hear it. :)

[howeee]

I have never heard such a thing,,I doubt its true

[DekHog]

I don't know the answer to your question, but can see how it could be hugely detrimental in certain situations that may arise in the military... someone's (or even your own) life on the line, and you block up badly... could easily cost lives... it's all fine demanding equality, but perhaps certain jobs just aren't suited to we who struggle to get the words out easily.

[maureen9004]

As per AR 40-501
paragrapgh 2-27 (i):
i. Any current receptive or expressive language disorder, including, but not limited to any speech impediment,
stammering and stuttering (307.0) of such a degree as to significantly interfere with production of speech or to repeat commands, is disqualifying.

[Tmd]

wow thats pretty sad and makes me angry.

If he has read several army issued documents i think it must be true. But what can you really do about it, its the army they have alot of power to do anything.

[DekHog]

I can see where the problem might lie with jobs like the military and stuttering, but I suppose it depends on the role you wish to occupy in the armed forces... blocking up in a critical situation wouldn't be good, and more than likely highly dangerous for yourself and others...

I was refused a place on a course to be a commercial diver many years ago due to my stammer; that was one of the many things that could disqualify you from being accepted to participate.

[maureen9004]

I'm not a severe stutterer (I'm a waitress), though I have some fluency problems. Secondly, I'm female so I'm not allowed in combat. I was thinking more of working in the financial or logistic area of the Army. I guess the only way to find out is to try.

[mgeh]

I'm two years in as a U.S. Marine so I can maybe tell you a little of what I've seen.

-There are other stutters in, though I have never met another stutterer in my life. All this is from other who have told me. Though I can carry a conversation it is still a and I try to avoid it.

-Boot camp was fun for me. Yes it truly was, all the Drill Instructors absolutely loved me (Horrible memories).

-Communication is key in the military and I struggled to get to a point where I was comfortable enough to at least pass info both person to person and radio. I had to work things out with my unit so I could perform my job.(One incident was a suspicious Iraqi with a shovel).

-I was infantry but changed billet recently not related to my stutter. I block less when I shout (which I do alot) or cuss enough to make Jesus cry. Also on some words which I would have to use I try finding ways around them (instead of saying move I say "oove") or practice saying them.

-Since your female, applying for as an officer and already are a waitress I don't think you will have much trouble, as you will probaly be far away from combat (you can always hope).
-I will tell you that the military is 96% I should have stayed home, 2% Oh Shit! and 2% I wish I had a f'in camera right now because this is bad ass.

[DKoz]

As per AR 40-501
paragrapgh 2-27 (i):
i. Any current receptive or expressive language disorder, including, but not limited to any speech impediment,
stammering and stuttering (307.0) of such a degree as to significantly interfere with production of speech or to repeat commands, is disqualifying.

Is this for all members of the military or just the officers?

[grantM]

There used to be a poster on this forum who was a highly decorated officer with a PhD also.

[Zachary]

Aye =/

I tried to join up twice, was perma DQd the second time. It s, especially knowing other stutterers who made it in. For instance, the poster Grant is talking about. Its whatever I though I guess. Maybe it is for the better.

[StrategicPause]

I ace'd the ASVAB, meaning I had my choice of any job in the service. Too bad my stuttering DQ'd me from being in anything Communications related. I had a successful career otherwise. Best time of my life really.

[jamesm]

This may just be me, but if a job that I was curious about had "rules" disqualifying stutterers from certain things I would simply say F%#K YOU! to that job and anyone who truly believed that stutterers were in some way inferior. I understand that in situations in the military, a speaker MUST be fluent, but it just seems like some sort of bigotry to me.

[jamesm]

I mean, how do you measure a person's stutter anyway. Most stutterers do not stutter in a consistent manner. What if you hardly ever stutter, except for situations such as speaking to a commanding officer (maybe even a single commanding officer), and he/she is the one conducting your review. the rule just seems stupid to me. But if thats what you want to do, go for it, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do anything... ANYTHING! and if you try and they deny it, petition it, wright letters to officials, politicians, to allow you to do what you want in this life, regardless of your stutter.

[StrategicPause]

all I know is I wouldn't want to be the reason an air strike was too late because I couldn't get out the coordinates. Common sense trumps equality.

and Officer/Enlisted billets have two totally separate criteria for enlistment.

[blankman]

I too am in the military and I stutter a lot. I hate standing watch on duty days because I'm constanly answering the phone, passing words over the 1mc. The worst part about it is that I'm a naval ship and we usually have our speakers on outside the skin of the ship so everybody in a 600 yards radius can hear what's been past over the 1mc. That shit s because I don't to be the laughing stock on the pier. But I feel what the guy was saying about being afraid to applied for commision officer. I'm also thinking about putting in a package for officer school.

[liammulcrow]

I applied for the RAF when i left school and failed on communication skills, i could understand their point as i could cost a life, would i really want this on my mind for life( no thanks)

[Zachary]

See, that's what I never understood. I picked operating room specialist as my MOS. I wouldn't think that would require too much communication. I also had secondary and third picks that weren't communication intensive either; intelligence and electrician. On top of that, I pretty much aced the asvab as well. I'll admit, I'm kinda bitter. Serving in the military is one of those things I have wanted to do since I was a kid. But I guess its whatever. Being p3d left me wondering what to do with myself for quite some time.

:confused:

[MarkBulger]

all I know is I wouldn't want to be the reason an air strike was too late because I couldn't get out the coordinates. Common sense trumps equality.



That pretty well sums it up for me. The military is a place where failure means death. A lack of fluent communications seems a perfectly rational basis for discrimination when seconds of silence could result in lives lost.

[Branden]

I was a 2nd class petty officer in the Navy and never let me stutter hold me back although it did create many awkward/embarrassing moments. Let the stutter build your character not break it. Hooyah!

[xterra03]

I joined the ARMY Sep 16, 2001. I went to For Jackson, SC for Basic Combat Training in May 2002. I was later discharged because of my Stuttering. The first two weeks I stuttered nonstop to the Drill Sergeants, but to my fellows recruits I was fluent. This one Drill Sergeant couldn't figure out why and she hated me because of my speech. My MOS was 67U or Mechanic for CH47 Chinook Helicopter. I was deemed a safety hazard and removed from training with a week left before graduation and put in a company with other people that were being dischared. It was horrible, but overall I had fun and I learned a lot that has helped me out in life so far. I have thought about re-enlisting, but Im worried the same thing will happen again. So I don't. I'm proud of my stutter because it tells people that I'm different right away and I really don't care what people think. I'm me and that's AWESOME!!!

[sproket]

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here in a long time :)

I was curious if anyone knew anything about being a stutterer in the military, specifically as an army officer. I'm getting ready to put together my commissioning packet and have read several documents about the military no allowing stutterers in (especially now that they don't really need people due to the economy). And if anyone has any advice about going in front of the board- I'd love to hear it. :)

that'll be me. I'm a field rank specialist officer in the Army.

Before I went regular army i was a Reserve Platoon commander in the infantry. It was only a few years ago that i realised how much i had been held back in my career by my stammer..until then all the sing at my disability had been behind my back and in 'veiled speech" in my reports, but it finally came to a head when I was removed from pre-deployment training, mainly beause of my stammer, and my career ground to a halt. I Have been pretty screwed up since - its been the worst four years of my life, but for the arrival of my baby daughter a couple of years ago I'm not sure i could have made it through.

However, I am finally taking positive action, About a month ago I lodged an action against the Army and the CO in question before the Human Rights Commission for disability discrimination.

I've come on the forum mostly because I think I need some perspectives that noone else in my life can give me - i know no other stammerers. Whilst I have initiated the disability discrimination action (and a new parrallel military investigation being conducted by a 1-Star general) I feel like I am about to be raped again....

Almost 1:00 AM and I can't sleep. My head is too full of crap. You may be seeing me around.

[sproket]

well, my matter finally hit the press, and is about to hit the Federal Court.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/army-officer-major-james-sproles-cls-stutter-discrimination/story-fn59niix-1226103781381

[Wonthushup]

I was in the military. I didn't do officer school but I did do PLDC. Once I had to do morning formation for the entire company. GOD I was so petrified!!! I did have one Drill Sgt get on me about my stuttering back in AIT. He thought I was making it up and I could just drop it, as if I was showing off. Glad to get rid of him. I do remember during morning roll call(sorry I forget the correct terms it was 10yrs ago) in AIT for mail. The Drill SGT would call our names and we had to say "Here Seargant" outloud. Well as a stutter I had been saying it in my head since I got up over and over and over and over again. Got to me nothing but BLOCK. Luckily this friend of mine would say it for me. I don't think they noticed.

My advice is don't say ask for excuses because you stutter. Don't say "excuse me I'm a stutterer". For them that is irrelevant and it should be for you too. If you stutter, just pause take a breath and keep going. Don't make a big deal out of it. If you do than they will too.