i think it depends on the level of their autism. many autistic people are extremely functional and sometimes their specific autism can even be benefit in certain aspects of life
so i think it would depend on where the person falls on the autism spectrum. my brother in law is low on the autism scale. he is one of the smartest, ambitious, rational people i know. i see no reason why he shouldn't be eligible for military service and i guarantee 99% of people wouldn't even know he fell on the autism spectrum
thanks for MHO
Autism is essentially a issue with filter in your brain that's meant to remove un-important information to ensure that your brain isn't overwhelmed...
Autistic people essentially get way to much information in, more then they can process.
I don't think that would be an advantage on the battlefield, more likely it would get them killed...
Do you mean in a form of high sensitivity?
Basically look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo
Basically, if you do what most people when watching this thing you're probably not an autistic person as the filter that allow you to react the way you do (or at least are supposed to) in this test is failing in their brain.
It's not so much about sensitivity, the amount of in-data going to the brain from the outside is the same, but the amount that passes through the filter without being removed as un-important is larger.
This filter can also fail in other ways.
Depression is the filter thinking that negative experiences as more important then positive ones and essentially getting stuck in that pattern making you experience your life as having more negative experiences and memories even in a situation where you with a normal brain would have a 50-50 experience.
And anxiety is something similar but with potential threats instead.
Mind you, all of this is kind of a simplistic representation of the issues that these
I don't get it. Am I supposed to see the gorilla or not?
I got a friend with autism, and she's really nice. A little odd, but still nice. Plus she's a black-belt in judo. She can fight, and she knows to only do it when she's threatened, or someone else is threatened
Answer to all "Should autistic people be allowed to do this?" question:
If they are capable, yes. If not, no. This goes for literally everyone.
No because autistic people need structure in their lives to fully function, and in the military being adaptable is a necessity.
Can you give me an example where you needs to be adaptable in the military?
Have you been to the military? It's about the most structured thing you could imagine ;-)
No, but I am autistic.
I know an autistic girl, and she hates structure
Hating something doesn't mean you don't need it.
She works better without structure. When there's structure, she stresses out
Anyone with mental disorders shouldn't be in the army. Only fully abled people.
Why shouldn't people with diagnoses be allowed in the military?
Good to know that people on here have rational thought. I wouldn't trust someone with a severe mental disorder like autism having my back in combat. Absolute liability that would result in others getting killed.
Mentally ill people are just not fit for combat. Even people with more common disorders like anxiety and depression. A soldier needs to be in perfect health both mental and physical.
I agree.
@Chico_brah Yes and yes. The military isn't a place were "reasonable accommodations" can be made. They are strict with those who can join. Someone with autism? They won't even let someone who needs insulin (diabetic) join. Or, even someone who has tattoos on their hands, face or neck join. Also, if you can't pass the skills test, which a lot of able-bodied people can't pass.. I'm almost certain that most, if not all, Autistic people couldn't pass...
@KnightCastor Spot on. I couldn't agree more and I say that as a veteran.
There's also the fact that a lot of veterans acquire mental illnesses after serving. People who already have those are likely to experience them most severely when they come back.
Bitch you do know that not all autistic people are mentally disabled including me right?
If they want to and fit all the requirements, I don't see why not.
Exactly, thank you.
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No, because people don't have an automatic right to join the military.
The military should be free to determine who best serves its needs, not some SJW pressure group or some judge in Strasbourg.
So you don't think autistic people are suitable to military?
Absolutely not. They're a liability. The military doesn't need anything holding them back and someone with autism is most likely not within the mental capability of handling military stress for obvious reasons. Unit cohesion is a thing and men with autism generally have poor communication skills. They have a lot holding them back and hindering them from being an effective service member and worth the investment of training. I think people need to stop thinking about themselves, and start thinking about what's best for their country. Military is serious business and not everyone is cut out for it. It would not be in the governments best interest to sit there and let people with autism enlist in the military. That would result in a lot of liability and good service members being killed.
Depends. In Israel they have formed a special military unit catered towards autistic people regarding intelligence, where autistic people perform better than normal people. Therefore, it really depends on what the military wants from them. I doubt they could serve in the normal soldier environment but there are surely other tasks (like the intelligence thing in the IDF) where they could do well.
Ofcourse only a small amount of people join that unit, it just shows it is possible
So which tasks to autistic people get in Israel and why do you think a normal soldier environment is more unsuitable for autistic people than non-autistic ones?
In that military unit it is all about picking up patterns and such based on satellite and drone imagery where the autistic people flourish in.
Why do I think regular soldier environment is not as suitable for autistic people? Because people with disorders could prove to be a liability and it comes with far more stress and soforth.
No, they should not, because being in the military requires a great deal of unit cohesion, the ability to correctly interpret orders, the ability to understand others in general, and an absence of a tendency to have meltdowns in stressful situations. People with autism would be absolutely hopeless in battle, they would freeze or panic.
No. Why? Because being in the military requires a solider to be quick on their feet and able to react and think what's going on around and not be a deer in the headlights which can get others around killed.
Autisim causes people to be mentally slow in communication and interaction that = a certain death to themselves and follow soldiers in the battle field.
It depends on the level. Some autism is mild enough that they could easily serve on the front lines. And other people with autism actually become more skilled with jobs like cyber security and stuff.
For sure they should be allowed to serve their country
if the person can do the job, then idgaf if he or her has down syndrome. but that's just me. ofcourse you want to be sure a person won't go mental, because that's when soldiers die
Autism and Downs Syndrome is two different things.
So what do Downs syndrome have with this question?
Yes, unless they're full rain man (and most are far from that, heck most of us know someone who was diagnosed, or could have been diagnosed, without even knowing it).
Dangerous nutters, don't give them guns, they'll run amok killing innocent civilians, and that's against the Geneva Convention.
I've Asperger's syndrome and it wouldn't be smart letting me in the military. Why? Because I wouldn't kill anyone. I'm a pacifist.
In England we have "Trooping The Colour", once a year The Queen gives one of the 6 regiments of The Household Division a new flag, it's on TV, they spend hours marching and playing music while The Queen sits in a coach. What good reads did she do before she was born for which she deserves to be born rich, what did I do that I deserve to be born poor? I hate rich people, if I were one of those soldiers I'd soot the bitch. Why are you a namby pamby limpmwristed pacefist? Didn't injustice make you angry? Why don't you want to kill rich people?
It's well known that aspies do great in fields like science and engineering. Bill Gates is an aspie, for example. I honestly have no clue why we'd be banned from service in your country.
Because the military thinks the social skills autistic people has isn't good enough.
um, why would social skills be all that important in the military? you just shoot rifles and follow orders, right?
I think it depends on what job in the military what spectrum of autism they are on.
No people with a disability shouldn't be in the military
Didn't know autism is considered a disability.
Well it is
Yes we should. Because we're like super focused on things and good with the details. The only jobs we shouldn't be allowed to do are call centre and front desk work (which actually is illegal here...)
Why shouldn't autistic people be allowed to do call centre and front desk work?
Not suited to it. It involves stuff we're not naturally suited to. If you also add in the high noise levels and the stress of dealing with people, it just gets worse and worse. I'm going by what I've been told about the jobs by friends who've had the misery of doing those jobs...
But the military also involves a lot of people (other soldiers), generals shouting and gun sounds.
But, it can help us with team building and, you eventually get used to it. There are also other non-combative roles in the military. For example, the Navy are looking for engineers and the RAF want IT Techs and mechanics.
Depends on how bad it is. If it affects their life very badly, they probably shouldn't.
How is autism really relevant to military performance?
I've only heard that some countries including my country don't want to recruit autistic people. I'm not sure why they have that law. But I thinks it's because of the social skills requirement in the military that makes them make a law like that.
So if I had the Einstein syndrome, would I be able to join?
It depends. It doesn't matter you learns to talk a bit later than the average population as long you can communicate well and talk properly when you joins the military. If you've problems with social skills etc. it's most likely they wouldn't let you join. Especially not in Norway.
Well that's crazy.
I would say yes if said person is fit enough for it then ya some Autistic people are pain sensitive while others can actually be numb from pain.
provided their disability doesn't affect their ability to serve then they should be allowed in
Really depends. Like there's a whole spectrum when it comes to autism.
No I don't because their mental disability would not only mostly put themselves in danger out in battle (at the expense of their own safety) but other military service members as well.
Edit: *I don't think they should*
Absolutely, perhaps not as infantry if they are on the more complicated end of the spectrum as they tend to have sensory issues. However I'm sure there is a role they could take. Every person deserves to feel valued in the community/ society.
i think that there are a lot of people with autism who are good people but they are never predictable especially when in the military the men around you are the men you are trusting with your life.
Yes, everyone deserves a chance to do what they've dreamed of
nope. I would not recommend it even if there were less men.
No, it's extremely unlikely that they would be able to function in a military setting, much less in active service.
Yes, then make an autism squad and send them to the front lines as cannon fodder
not if they don't have the physical and intellectual capabilities to efficiently serve
Absolutely not. They would be a liability.
How?
The military is extremely stressful and I can say that as a veteran. Someone with autism would most likely be discharged due to their failure to adapt.
Socially they are deficient and social skills are needed in leadership and as you promote with time.
Effective communication are needed. Also people with autism get stressed out by little tedious things. They simply would not be able to handle it.
@Chico_brah
Chances are there was at least one aspie in your company, multiple in your battalion, without you ever knowing, as well as people with other disorders (like ADHD, narcissism, etc...), diagnosed or not. With current definitions almost the whole population qualified for at least one diagnosis at some stage of their life.
@JohnDoe3000 I have ADHD lol. A lot of narcissism exist in the Marine Corps, that's forsure. Autism is sort of a deal breaker though. I mean every autistic person I've ever met can't even really function socially in a normal environment, non the less a high stress military environment.
@Chico_brah
Yeah, I wouldn't let Rain Man into the military either. But your regular aspie could function just as well as your regular guy with ADHD. Like I said, you probably served with some of them and never knew the difference.
I Am an Autistic Guy Who Cares About Military, but I Would Rather Not Join the Military
Depends on the person honestly, and on the severity of the case.
No, that proves them mentally unstable
They can become politicians so why shouldn't they also be allowed in the military.
I think they should be able to take the test.
Autistic people with guns? Hell no!
Yes, if they are suited.
It would be impossible to fully train one.
How and why?
Their mental capabilities. (No insult, of course. Just what appears to be true.)
Which one? I would like you to elaborate more. Mental capabilities can also mean intelligence, but Autism doesn't affect the intelligence.
I guess I don't know enough about it to vote, then.
Mentally ill people shouldn't serve...
No (Explain why, please)
Please explain why.
of course!
please no
Why?
I wants to hear your opinion. : ) I thinks it's unhealthy for everyone to go to war and I'm a pacifist.
I thinks no one should go to war. But I wanted to start a discussion, therefor I started this thread. I knows there's a lot of people having opinions about the military.
You can also add your opinion below!
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