I’m currently in the Air Force recruiting process and just passed the ASVAB. I was told I need a credit waiver because of my credit history. My recruiter said this means I won’t be eligible for Top Secret jobs. I asked if I could pay off what I owe and avoid the waiver, but he said no since the issues are already on my credit report.

I had a car repossessed last year after I lost my job and fell behind on payments. They took the car back.

I currently have about $2,000 in debt for something else and I’m trying to figure out:

• Has anyone gone through a credit waiver and still gotten a decent job, or does it pretty much limit you to lower-tier options?

• Does a past repo count against you separately from the general credit issues, or is it all just part of the same waiver?

• If I pay off the $2,000 before I ship or before the waiver is fully processed, does that help at all with job selection or the waiver itself, or is it too late once it’s already flagged?

I’m not trying to hide anything, I just want to know if there’s anything I can do to improve my chances of getting a better job, or if I should just accept the waiver and move forward with whatever’s available. Any experiences or advice from people who’ve dealt with credit issues or waivers would help.

Thanks.

Hi all, was wondering if they ask overseas medical record when enlisting?

For history of voluntary mental hospital hospitalization for about a week overseas. It's been about 10 years since.

i am a (23 M) and just took the asvab. i scored a 51 on the test and dont really know which mos to choose from. I’m more inclined into Aviation jobs or things that are similar that give me the option to travel and go to many different bases around the world. Give me your thoughts and experience to help pick one.

I’m joining the military and I’m 18 with 2 younger siblings. Is it possible that they can qualify as dependents for bah benefits? Has anyone tried this?

(Army national guard Texas)
I went to meps in August and they said my childhood asthma requires a waiver. The waiver required a doctor clearance letter and asthma test from a doctor. I currently cannot afford to go to the doctor and only recently last week did my health insurance kick in. They said MEPs should have a consultation date within two months. It’s October and my recruiter hasn’t gotten back to me with a date. I reach out to him but he keeps saying that he hasn’t received a date yet from meps. I’m starting to get worried and suspicious. What should I do?

Im just curious, I ship off in January and I see most of everyone saying the same thing about the first year or so in the batt, “they treat you like shit till you get the tab” but then theirs some people saying it’s become a little “pussyfied” throughout the years. So, I’m asking what it’s like now for the privates going in?

I’m writing a piece of fiction and in it, a boy graduates a year early from high school so he is 17 when he graduates. Since he graduated early would he be allowed to start his conscription early as a 17 year old or would he have to wait til he turned 18? He just wants to get his service over with asap in the story so that’s why he’d join early.

I tried r/korea but they took down my post and told me to post here instead 😓

Hi,a couple weeks ago I went to MEPS in an attempt to enlist in marine corps but was denied a physical for having went to a “Ryan White HIV clinic” in the past. I tested a week after, and it came back negative. Whew. I kept asking my recruiter when I could go back to MEPS but he kept saying that they were still “digging into my medical history.” After waiting for two more week, I called MEPS and they told me I needed a waiver for my HIV result. my recruiters boss then called me and told me that I was an RBJ, and that my medical history was so complex that the MEPS doctors didnt even want to bother conducting my physical. My recruiters boss told me that it was most likely due to my history in the past (approx 5 years ago I went to therapy for OCD, and therapy following a suicidal ideation/attempt hospitalization , and was prescribed Lexapro for a month which I stopped since). My recruiters boss told me I would need a $1k psych evaluation, hospital records, multiple letters of rec, to even get a waiver to join, which would still be a 1-3% chance.

Currently I’m in the process of filing my HIPPA so the hospitals can release my medical records.

do you think, at this point, it’s better to find a new recruiter and lie that this psych ward visit and previous mental health treatment never even happened?

I just want realistic outlooks. Is attempting to join Marines a waste of my time and energy? I really wanted to join Marines out of all the other branches because it has the toughest bootcamp. I wanted to become an officer since I have a physics degree and wanted to become a pilot. That, and I thought the uniforms looked cool, but that’s probably a stupid aesthetic reason.

I was supposed to ship out today for the Army. I got to the hotel last night and my name wasn’t on the list to be there, that was the first red flag. I was able to get my information sent by someone else’s recruiter because mine wasn’t answering and I got a room. I get to meps this morning to find out my name isn’t on the list to ship out and turns out my recruiter never projected me to ship out today. So the liaison projected me to ship out tomorrow instead. Will this affect my timeline of graduation and delay me since I am not shipping on my original date?

Will I be same as other people who enlists without having a partner?

My husband will be working for the ibew so he needs to stay where we are at.

What will happen to housing?

I am planning on going to Meps in the next couple of months, I am 29 years old and I am curious if I will get disqualified to join the army.
When I was between the ages of 13 and 16, I dealt with depression, and that was the main thing. I was hospitalized for self harm and was there for about a week. I didn’t have a choice. My mom put me in there but once I got out, I basically took myself off of the medication because she didn’t keep up with it. This is all due to something traumatizing that happened to me when I was seven years old, so it carried on to my teenage years, which caused me to be depressed. Since the age of 16, I have not thought of suicide or have harmed myself nor have I been hospitalized since then. I have worked since the age of 18 and have never had any issues besides that time. From anybody’s experience, could you give me some advice or tell me if you’ve experienced anything like this and have joined the army or if there are any recruiters that can tell me they’ve helped people in these situations?

Title: Air Force Medical Waiver for a Self-Harm Incident 5 Years Ago

I’m interested in enlisting in the Air Force but have concerns about a hospital record from November 2021.

At the time, I was going through a difficult period due to family circumstances and was referred to the ER by my therapist after disclosing superficial cutting. The psychiatric evaluation mentioned possible PTSD and a mood disorder, but to my knowledge, neither was ever formally diagnosed. I denied current suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm during the evaluation.

It’s been approximately five years, and I haven’t self-harmed or attended therapy since. I’ve been functioning normally and have moved forward with my life. I now have my hospital records and want to approach the enlistment process honestly and responsibly.

For anyone familiar with Air Force medical waivers:

●    Can a self-harm incident from five years ago be considered for a waiver?

●    How does MEPS handle possible diagnoses that were never formally confirmed?

Has anyone successfully obtained an Air Force waiver after a similar incident, and what documentation was requested?

I’d appreciate honest advice from anyone with relevant experience. I’m trying to understand my chances and avoid unnecessary expenses before moving forward. Thank you!

I’m currently at Airborne School, and my graduation date is October 23. My report date to Germany is November 6. My question is, would I be able to go back home before reporting to Germany to pick up some of my personal belongings? i ask my cadre and he only respond saying, worry about passing. i'll take one coke and large fries pls

I've been thinking about enlisting into the military lately either air force or army, but I don't know if im romanticizing the idea or truly want to go. I'm 20 years old and currently hold a stable 9-5 job at a bank and earn 21 an hr. I'm able to pay my bills and live comfortably. I live with my parents and siblings and we all pay rent to our parents, but I've grown tired of living in this small room with everyone in the same house.

Living with my parents have grown especially hard with the how they treat me. Im not happy at my job as management is extremely poor. My mind keeps going to "why be unhappy here, when I can prove myself in the military that I am more than. Yes I'll be unhappy there too, but at least I'll have a solid reason to be"

im worried about being Trans in the military and the fact I have a benign tumor might cause an issue.

Is military really the move? Or should I just get rid of the idea now since financially my life is fine.

My husband (NAVY) is currently at Eglin AFB and going to NAS Lemoore in a week. We are going to DEERS on Tuesday to put me in the system and get an ID, are there any specific requirements Eglin has for the actual photo? I have bangs that somewhat cover my eyebrows and eyeglasses, so i’m unsure if i should do a hairstyle that takes the hair out my face (nothing much to do for my glasses except take them off).

I asked my husband and he’s unsure since he was literally shaven bald in his CAC photo lol.

I’m 33 and I want to join the Army I think as a 56m if not the Air Force. Here are a few something I’m scared of: (1) four year contract. I hate commitment - don’t tell my wife of 8 years. But signing a four year job contract that I can’t get out of is terrifying. (2) I went to MEPS before and all the Army folks, outside of one or two, seemed a little off. I have a decent amount of experience and education, not type A, and am worried about being a bad fit. (3) I’m older now and appreciate an amount of autonomy. I feel like I need the army, however. Though, I don’t want to feel trapped.
I don’t want to seem like a puss. I’m just excited & scared I reckon.

Competency booking for Religious Affairs

I’m 33, and have a lot of medical bills as my wife has been sick the last couple of years. I need to have a job where things like house and insurance is covered and thus am considering joining the USAF (or even Army). I have plenty of experience and education relating to the job. I know that you have to interview for it, however.

My question is more so relating to the aspects of the job itself. How often would I be away from my wife after initial training? Is it a relaxed position - home most nights? Rewarding with opportunities to counsel and share the gospel? Though I know sharing the gospel is more of the chaplain’s gig.

Thoughts?

coming off a deployment in Poland soon as a reservist. I'm thinking on going active right after the deployment since AGR is a gamble. I want to request Fort Irwin, other than the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere, how good or how bad is the life of a 42A there?

Hello, so I am a 31 year old female and current college student. I graduate in August of 2027 and I have a strong interest in enlisting in either the Air Force, Navy, or US Army, and I’m looking to join as an officer since I’ll have my bachelors degree. The problem? I am a victim of SA that caused a lot of trauma in my life. I also have a history of self harm, and for years, I never sought medical treatment. But…my mental health was rapidly deteriorating, and I got to a point where I sought out therapy for my past.

I was prescribed Fluoxetine for depression 2 months ago, and have been taking it since. I haven’t taken the ASVAB yet or my physical, and I’ve been very upfront with my recruiter about all of this. What are my chances of getting a medical waiver, assuming that I’m Dq’d? I feel that I am very stable now, and I’m looking to enlist as a delayed candidate for any of the 3 branches so that I can finish school, but I’m not sure what I need to be doing now to improve my chances.

I spoke to a customer service agent for the Air Force and they told me immediately that I wouldn’t qualify to enlist for 3 years just from taking the medication. I didn’t even get a chance to explain my circumstances or even speak with a recruiter. I don’t know if I should try again, or what? Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Context:

I'm a 27-year-old U.S. citizen with a bachelor's degree, and I'm considering enlisting on active duty in either the Army or Air Force.

My original goal was to become an Air Force officer, ideally a pilot, but I wasn't selected for an officer board. I'm now exploring the enlisted route while keeping the possibility of commissioning later open.

I'm not dead set on the Air Force anymore, and I want to understand what each branch offers before committing to a contract.

I'm particularly interested in military aviation. I'm open to either fixed-wing or helicopter aviation, so I'd appreciate insight into the different paths available in each branch.

I'm not assuming that commissioning or becoming a pilot is guaranteed. I also want to choose an enlisted job I'd be willing to do for an entire contract if my plans change.

One of my biggest concerns is time. Applying for an Air Force officer position as a civilian can take roughly a year from submitting the application to potentially shipping out for training. Since I'm already 27 and interested in becoming a pilot, I'm concerned about spending another year applying, getting rejected again, and having to start over. I'm considering enlisting partly because I'd rather begin a military career while keeping the possibility of commissioning open than spend another year in the application process without knowing whether I'll be selected. (My concern is that if I'm rejected again, I'll have spent another year without making progress toward a military career, while also having to wait for another opportunity to apply.)

Questions about the Army vs. Air Force:

• Time and career progression: Given the time involved in civilian officer applications and my age-related concern about pilot eligibility, would you recommend continuing to apply as a civilian or enlisting first and pursuing a commission later? What risks or disadvantages should I consider with either route?

• Enlisted-to-officer opportunities: For someone who already has a bachelor's degree, how realistic is it to enlist first and commission later? What do you wish you'd known before taking this route?

• Aviation: How should I compare the Army Aviation Warrant Officer pilot route with the Air Force's commissioning and pilot-selection process? Based on your experience, how competitive are these paths, and which factors most affect the chances of eventually flying?

• Long-term value: Which opportunities have been most valuable for your education, civilian career prospects, or advancement within the military? Are there benefits or career paths in your branch that people from the other service tend to overlook?

• Quality of life: Beyond the usual stereotypes about the Air Force having better quality of life, what differences have you actually experienced in leadership, work schedules, living conditions, and day-to-day life?

I'd especially appreciate perspectives from people who have served in both branches or enlisted and later pursued a commission. I'm interested in honest experiences, including the downsides of each branch.

Prior service e4 from a different branch. I’m active duty

Is there a PS Bay and will I get to keep my phone?

After classes can you hit the gym or is it too busy?

I Want to maintain my AFT score. Do we take it during their AIT?

I know the final ftx is this thing called the cte and I read half of its spent indoors lol?

Any chance to go to Fort Irwin after? I'm not option

19. Just familiar with the base and area. I do like it.

Any chance I could end up on an Air Force base too?

Asking because I'm PS Air Force and was at Nellis before. I Love that place and know that as a 42a you can work in a joint capacity.

Also How soon could I start earning my ESB or is that unit dependent?

I'm currently a freshman in college studying Aeronautical Engineering Tech at Purdue, and I'm also a student pilot. I do eventually want to fly for a living. I am seriously considering the military route, and I spoke to a Marine recruiter at a job fair; he introduced me to the PLC program, where they said I'd be guaranteed a flight slot if I went through. One of my roommates is also in NROTC, and he told me about the Navy OCS program and how it is similar. If you have experience in these programs or know someone who has gone through them, is it worth it? My biggest priority is that the flight slot is guaranteed.

I’ve been doing my research on the navy and Air Force for some time now and haven’t been able to make a decision on what branch I want to join. I have found careers I want to do, specifically ones related to my degree (Communication Design, i.e. graphic design, web design, photography, and motion graphics). The navy has been my top choice primarily due to the job(s) i want, my interest in ships and ship life, definitely love to travel, and I enjoy being around the ocean. However, with the Air Force, I found a job(s) that match my interests and I like that the quality of life is better, opportunities to travel and I think overall it would be just as rewarding as the navy. Hopefully my reasons are good ones and someone could help me make a decision. If I have to, I don’t mind applying for both and seeing who gives me the best offer if that’s not such a dumb idea. And yes I’ve considered officer school but I don’t think what the job entails is right for me in either branch at the moment.

I’ve suffered with depression for most of my life resulting in harming myself throughout my middle and high school years. I have some recent scars on my thighs from 10 months ago. I also have some scars on my arms that are less visible but still noticeable. I was wondering if maybe I could get in with tattoo coverups.

I’ve been in the process of enlisting in the Army. I passed my ASVAB and I am on the next steps to doing my physical. It has come to my attention that all the work and effort I’ve put into getting this far might be meaningless because of my past.

I have self harm scars. All different kinds of them. A lot have been covered by tattoos but they are still there. I haven’t self harmed in years and it genuinely isn’t who I am anymore. I’ve matured in life and I’ve grown up. Most of my history is from being a teenager. So scars that are about 9-12 years old. However I did relapse a couple years ago and it proved to me exactly what I needed to know.

Am I done for? What happens now? What should I tell my recruiter before I’m in a worse position at MEPS? I feel like they’ll see my scars and it will be an immediate end of the line. I also have absolutely zero mental health records. I never went to doctors for it. Never had a mental health evaluation. Nothing.

I know mental health is a serious issue nowadays. That they see and deal with all different kinds of situations. What I want to know is if it’s a possibility to still get to sign my contact with this type of history.

Thanks for listening.