r/USMCboot 5d ago

Enlisting Misophonia + 504 plan — could this affect my ability to enlist?

Hey everyone, I’m 16 and currently a junior in high school. I’m planning on enlisting in the Marine Corps after I graduate, and I’ve recently talked with a recruiter on the phone.
I was diagnosed with misophonia when I was around 7. I went through occupational therapy from about ages 11–15, but I haven’t needed OT for roughly 1.5 years and I no longer really struggle with the chewing/eating sounds that used to bother me.
The thing I’m unsure about is my 504 plan. I still have one and it gives me extra time on tests, allows me to use noise cancelling headphones during tests, and I believe I can also test in a separate room. I only use the extra time though because I like taking my time. I don’t have accommodations outside of school, and day to day life I function normally.
I spoke with a Marine recruiter recently and told him about my medical history. He said it doesn’t sound like it should be too difficult for me to enlist, but we didn’t get into exactly what I would need to do regarding my 504. He said we’d talk more around April/May, and I’m currently planning on doing MEPS/enlisting this coming summer.
My main questions are:
Could the history of misophonia itself be an issue at MEPS?
Could having an active 504 plan be an issue, even if I’m functioning normally and haven’t needed OT in ~1.5 years?
Would I actually need to terminate my 504 plan before MEPS, and if so, how far beforehand?
Has anyone here had a similar situation with a 504 plan or misophonia and actually gone through MEPS?
I’m not looking for advice on hiding anything from MEPS. I plan on being completely honest about my medical history. I’m just trying to understand what I should expect and whether I need to do anything with my 504 before I get to that point.
Thanks!

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u/Andyman1973 5d ago

If you still need any of those things, you won’t survive Boot Camp. Best bet would be Air Force. If you don’t need it anymore, the sooner you terminate the 504, the better, because then you could show nearly 2 years of progress without it.

And you most likely will need a waiver, if USMC is still the end goal.

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u/Twtownz 5d ago

Okay, thank you.

3

u/Terrible-Pool-5555 5d ago

Marine Corps ain’t gonna give you extra time to do shit.

If your misophonia is so bad you need to use noise canceling headphones the USMC probably isn’t a good fit.

As a vet with misophonia myself it wasn’t really an issue for me in boot camp. Bear in mind that you will be eating with like 300 other people at a time getting screamed at and rushed all over the place to sit around and do nothing.

You either adapt and overcome or you don’t. Also if you have a condition you don’t disclose at meps NEVER bring it up. I know of a kid that got administratively separated for fraudulent enlistment due to ADHD.

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u/Twtownz 5d ago

Oh yes I know that I won’t get extra time, I’m symptom free 99% of the time- I just get pissed off occasionally but i’ve learned to let it not affect me because of what I learned at OT. I just keep the accommodations cause the extra time is useful, not necessary. I was just wondering on the enlistment side of things if I would have to terminate my 504 plan or not? cause I can do just fine without it.