Epilepsy and Armed Forces

Objective: The Objective of this paper is to make civilians aware of problem faced by people with epilepsy in armed forces, from enlistment in the services, during the services, retention in the services, and the discharge from the services.

Methods: Having served in armed forces for 24 years first as GDMO and then as a neurologist both in active war and peace time, I am in unique position to present it. Rules and regulations regarding this matter both in Indian army and other armies, such as U.S.A. will be presented.

Results: As far as getting into the Indian army is concerned, if a recruit while giving details of his past illness mentions having epilepsy or fits, he automatically gets disqualified to be recruited. Surprisingly, this is not only unique to Indian army, this perhaps to almost all the armies in the world. Even in the U.S.A., although there are many laws now that protect individuals with disabilities, the armed services are not required to follow them. Instead, the military is exempted from the mandates of nondiscrimination imposed by the civil rights laws on the federal government. If during the service individual has an epilepsy rules regarding the retention in the service in the Indian and the U.S.A. army will be discussed. Recently, there has been a change about retention in the service regarding patient with epilepsy. These changes will be highlighted, and consequences will be discussed. Three services have specific problems retaining people with epilepsy, for example, nobody likes to fly in plane with a pilot having epilepsy.

Conclusion: In armed forces we need young and fit individuals who are capable of fighting a war/battle in any part of the world under difficult circumstances. “Tooth to tail ration” has to be small and effective.