2 recruiters disciplined for signing autistic teen

Oregonlive ^ | Thursday, August 10, 2006 | MICHELLE ROBERTS

[Drew68]

Sounds to me like a "lose-lose" situation for the recruiters. They're under quite a bit of pressure to bring in new recruits and damn near half the male population could be found to be "autistic" if they had the right doctor to sign off on the diagnosis.

[308MBR]

Dang! You recruit a few boys who can concentrate on the sight picture and trigger, then THIS happens!

[GSlob]

Well, this one is claimed to have a documented autism history stretching back for 16 years - it does not sound like something concocted for enlistment disqualification purposes. If true, then the recruiters screwed up.

[ASOC]

Don't know if I want to laugh or cry

Min score is 31, the autistic/special ed kid score 43? He must have had some 'help' from the office staff. --

That said, I can image that a military recruiter is the loneliest job in Portland....

[Drew68]

Well, this one is claimed to have a documented autism history stretching back for 16 years - it does not sound like something concocted for enlistment disqualification purposes.

Also says he graduated from high school. Should be good enough to serve his country.

I mean, c'mon! What do we expect every recruit to be a freakin' Rhodes Scholar? Everybody knows that autism diagnoses are given out to practically any young boy who can't sit still in class.

Forrest Gump seemed to do pretty well in the army!

[HiTech RedNeck]

This was continuously documented for 16 years. Try to find a family doctor who will stick around for a quarter as long.

[Drew68]

the autistic/special ed kid score 43? He must have had some 'help' from the office staff.

If he got a 43 on his ASVAB, he is more than qualified to serve. And hanging these E-4 corporals out to dry for signing him up is pretty lousy.

[Drew68]

This was continuously documented for 16 years. Try to find a family doctor who will stick around for a quarter as long.

I can tell you all about autism. I have a family member who was diagnosed. When people think "autism" they think of "Rain Man." Not every autistic child is nearly as affected.

[GSlob]

Graduated from high school - from special ed classes. I would expect every recruit to be able and willing to stand at attention - to receive, understand and carry out his sergeant's orders. That's not being a Rhodes scholar, but a non-negotiable minimum.

[HiTech RedNeck]

So sorry, the military regs spell out that this recruiter was clearly out of bounds.

[Dumpster Baby]

We need to recruit all the killer zombies that pester those small southern towns - they can only be killed by head shots, and don't need any more sleep.

[Choose Ye This Day]

In these tough times, you gotta do what you gotta do.

WHat in the world does that mean?

[Uriah_lost]

Depending on his function level and particular manifestations he might be ideal for certain jobs....I have a friend who is very high functioning and he would be an excellent aerial recon interpreter or really anything that requires high concentration and incredible attention to detail, trouble is, somebody would have to drag him out of his chair once he got started or he'd stay at it through an artillery barrage.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

not exactly sure why its funny

[Wilhelm Tell]

The poor guy spent his life in special education classes and evidently only has the I.Q. to do menial tasks like empty the trash. I'm not an expert, but I think an Army scout has to be able to understand and remember complex orders and may often be in a situation requiring snap decisions. Anyone in the military should have good situational awareness and this guy did not even know there was a war going on? Someone as oblivious as that is likely to wander into trouble. I think he would have been a danger to himself and others.

[PAR35]

The poor guy spent his life in special education classes and evidently only has the I.Q. to do menial tasks like empty the trash.

And start a rock band, and plan to go to college...

[milemark]

In these tough times, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[milemark]

And start a rock band, and plan to go to college

Emptying the trash beats both of those, both in difficulty and usefulness.