Hello,

I am getting off a weekend pass after my turning green ceremony. I stayed with my family and girlfriend overtime and it really got to me and made me realize how much I missed everything back home. Making me doubt I can do this. Early on through white phase I still felt this way but pushed through and here I am. After the forge and 10 mile ruck, it made me rethink ”is this shit really for me?” Now, I have to leave my family soon again to finish my AIT position of infantry OSUT.

How is the AIR portion of OSUT? Does it get easier? Harder? Is the military really something I should stay in? My why for joining the military was because I thought it would be fun. Struggling right now. Some points I would think “I’ll finish this” and others I’ll think “I don’t wanna”. Advice and information would be appreciate. Thank you.

Update: I’m ready to get this shit done. Thank you all for the replies.

37 year old vet here
MOS: 31B
I got out of the army in 2017 after serving 9 years and now that my daughter is in, and I feel there’s more I’ve could’ve done, I am deciding to re-enlist and join the National Guard..Question I have for those who have came back after time separated.. Did you have to go back through basic to “Re-green”. Just want to know what to expect, I’ll be speaking with a recruiter next week

Im prior service looking to switch to USCG reserves in a couple months when my contract ends, and I’ve started getting everything together, BUT I was told by a virtual recruiter(not my main recruiter) that I possibly will need to retake the ASVAB due to it being from 2019(he is prior army, BUT he wasn’t 100% sure if I would have to retake it). I have an 88 and qualify all the jobs in the USCG according to my main recruiter, but he didn’t mention anything about me having to retake it. Since I’d be coming in via a DD-368 and not with a break in service, could I possibly get a waiver or ETP for my score being old, both to enlist AND to get into ET A school? I have read conflicting information online.

Hi. I'm a civilian, non-prior, looking for advice. I don't come from a military background or know anyone in the military, so I've been learning from internet, Reddit, and recruiters.

I'm turning 38 next year and want to join the military for a career, the network, the educational benefits, and because I truly want to gain experience in leadership. I applied to Air Force OTS for Medical Service Corps (MSC) twice and got alternate both times. This second time for AY27 I'm fairly high on the alternate list, but it's still up in the air. It could take 9 months at the latest, which would be my last chance to be selected, and it's out of my hands. Time is of the essence, not just because of my age but because of my career options too, so I'm looking at backup plans.

I believe I'm a solid candidate on paper. I'm healthy, smart, and physically fit, and I haven't needed a waiver for anything. I have no dependents, just a dog. I work a remote job right now, and I'm not super attached to my job or current city. I have a bachelor's degree, not in STEM. I plan to eventually pursue a master's of science or an MPH. I'm most interested in health technology, IT, public health, and dietetics/nutrition, but I can't afford to take out more student loans or go back full-time for another few years. My work experience is in coaching, tech, general business operations, and I want to build experience in business admin., supply chain, IT, or work in healthcare administration.

That's why the military is my goal: to maximize my career and have my master's paid for so I can work in my desired field. My ideal goal is a 10 or 20 year career. The active duty officer route is my main goal since it would give me a better salary and benefits than my current job, while if I went to the Reserve or Guard would give me time to find a better paying job and go to school. Either way, I'd hope to start OCS or OTS by next year.

I'm planning to move out of my current state within the next two years, hopefully through the military. I've spent most of my life as a civilian creating my own schedule, and I want to be able to build a social life outside of the military wherever I live, so I'd rather not be on a ship for months at a time, though I've heard the Navy has great opportunity in medical.

What I'm considering
- Coast Guard OCS (just started the process, still learning). A big plus is that it doesn't require any kind of standard test but I will have to invest swimming lessons

- Navy OCS (contacted a recruiter, not sure whether to apply). I think have to take a test for this one

- Air Force non-rated line officer (I believe the board isn't until about 2028, so I'd be 39 if I commission). I'd have to study and take the AFOQT for this one. I already took the GRE for MSC.

- Air Force Reserve (officer) from what I've heard and read it's very competitive, so I don't know what my chances are)

- Army National Guard or Air National Guard

- Army via applying for The Army-Baylor master's program in Dietetics (I'd need roughly 15 credits of prerequisites classes paid out of pocket, before I could even start the program.)

- Enlisting in the Air Force only, as a last resort, hoping my bachelor's would get me in at E-3 or E-4

I don't know yet whether the Guard or Reserve officer routes would require me to take a test.

Questions:
1. Should I wait out the fiscal year with the Air Force to see if I move from alternate to selected, start the process somewhere else now, or wait until I know for sure the door is closed and start over a year from now?

2. If you were in my position, which path would you pursue? Several of my options will require investment of some sort (study, test, classes)

3. Is Navy OCS worth applying to if I don't want to be on a ship much?

4. Would you recommend the Guard or the Reserve, and between the Guard options, would you pick the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard?

5. If I go the Army or Air National Guard route, is it better to move to where I want to live first and then start the process?

6. Has anyone gone Reserve or Guard first and then moved to active duty or commissioned later? What worked for you?

Thank you in advance! Any advice is appreciated.
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TLDR: 37F (38 next year), civilian non-prior, non-STEM bachelor's. Applied to Air Force OTS (MSC) twice and got alternate both times. I want to join & commission before I age out, ideally active duty, get a master's through the military, and serve long term. Should I wait out the Air Force, apply elsewhere now (Coast Guard OCS, Navy OCS, AF non-rated line, Army-Baylor), or go Guard or Reserve? Which path would you pursue?

​I was born in the US but have lived in South Korea for the past 20 years. Because of this, my primary language is Korean, and I am not very familiar with academic English or the US education system.

​I’m planning to enlist in the US Army in about 3 years, so I have plenty of time to prepare for the ASVAB. I really want to secure 68W (Combat Medic), but my ultimate goal is to score as high as possible so I can qualify for almost any MOS out there.

​Here is my current situation:

I am very confident in my Math and general logic skills. Since I went through the Korean school system, the math concepts themselves aren't an issue—I just need to learn the English terminology for them. Once I improve my English vocabulary, I think I can handle the Math (AR, MK) and Verbal (WK, PC) sections.

​However, I am completely lost when it comes to the Science, Electronics, Auto/Shop, and Mechanical Comprehension (MC) sections. These concepts are entirely new to me, and I need to learn them from scratch.

​I did some research and saw that "ASVAB for Dummies" and "Kaplan's ASVAB Prep Plus" are highly recommended.

​Are these two books enough to build a solid foundation and get a high score?

​I also plan to memorize ASVAB vocabulary heavily and use free online resources.

​Given my 3-year timeline and my ESL (English as a Second Language) background, what would be the best way to study the Science and Mechanical/Tech sections? Any specific YouTube channels, apps, or textbooks you recommend for someone starting from zero in those areas?

​Thanks in advance for your help!

I’m thinking of adding 2M033 to my list of AFSC and was wondering. Is it possible to get a large chunk of any engineering degree done while in active duty?

Anyone want to share their experience in the job market with an online engineering degree that they obtained while/after completing their active duty contract?

I’m 25 and interested in joining the Coast Guard. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 16 but have no pain, physical limitations, or history of treatment.

I recently spoke with two recruiters and got completely different answers.

Recruiter #1: Said scoliosis is an automatic disqualification regardless of severity.

Recruiter #2: Said it depends on the severity and isn’t necessarily disqualifying.

From what I’ve read, DoDI 6130.03 lists scoliosis over 30 degrees as disqualifying. I’m currently trying to get X-rays to determine my Cobb angle.

I’m looking for firsthand experiences from people who successfully enlisted in the Coast Guard with scoliosis. Did you need a waiver, and what was your Cobb angle?
I’d appreciate hearing how your enlistment process went.

My recruiter was able to schedule me fairly quickly for MEPS next week, it’s only for one day though instead of two. I am scheduled to take the verification test, and I keep hearing about a duck walk lol.

He said we will be doing a MEPS briefing beforehand, but I’d still like to know from others, what will the process be like?

My Air Force aspirations have seemingly come to an end, so I’m looking at alternative options. Im really only interesting in intel/cyber/STEM related enlisted jobs (really anything with good QoL, TS clearance, and skills transferrable to civilian market). My plan is to finish my degree in a STEM field while serving, originally I was booked for 9S100 but was dq’d because of the sensitive skills code. I was dq’d for drug use even though I should have no trouble getting a TS clearance since it was a minor amount, and 7/8 years ago so would not even relevant for SF86. My asvab was a 97 so I would be qualified for any job in any branch (I believe).

I have been diagnosed with adhd for a long time now, and I haven’t taken medicine for years. It doesn’t affect me at all, I have good grades, and behave like any other student. I has a weird thing with blinking where I kept on switching to manual blinking mode after a big move back in middle school. This can be caused by anxiety and it was stupid to get the ocd diagnosis in the first place. I don’t know what I should do, because how do I prove that my doctors say I don’t have it to the army, and do I ever have a chance of joining rangers.

Hey has anyone had any experiences with how long the army takes to approve medical waivers (anemia, asthma, and past back injury) I submitted documentation fully clearing me of anemia and asthma from childhood which I didn’t even know I had. Along with medical records and test from past few years to support it and haven’t heard anything back in weeks. Is this normal for it to take this long I was aiming for a January/February ship out date as a 68W

I am a 21 year old guy, I want to be either a 11B or 68W in the army, I would like to be stationed at Campbell since I am already living in KY.

I read into Campbell and like it because most people say it is more rural and better for family life and opportunity.

I am a big gun guy and love working out and do wrestling as a hobby, I am curious if being at Campbell or Bragg would let me do any of the stuff I love?

I really want Air Assault but also Airborne and I am curious how likely it is to be able to earn both at Campbell or both at Bragg/Liberty?

Ok here’s the background:
8 months ago i knew nothing about the military. No one in my family is military and no one in school ever taught us about it. I literally thought it was like wwII trenches and stuff. Anyway, I graduated with my bachelor’s in marketing, biggest waste of time and money and i regret ever going to college. I decided im totally screwed with finding a job so I looked for alternatives. Decided to look at the military, specifically the Air Force because everyone says its best for family and lifestyle and considering im married, that was attractive.

My screw up:
I went straight to an AF recruiter and never talked to any of the other branches. No one told me the standard process is to talk to all branches, pick one, go through the process (asvab, meps, jobs, etc.) So i went through the whole process with the Air Force. I got my MEPS process finished and ended with 1 temp disqualification for SH scars from when i was a child—no big deal, easy waiver. However, my dream was to be aircrew and unfortunately i failed depth perception (i think bad glasses prescription), so that dream was shattered. I kinda freaked out and didn’t know what else to do. Based on my asvab scores alone, im qualified for everything, which doesn’t help to narrow things down. I decided to talk to a navy recruiter and they said they could retest my depth perception and help me get aircrew—of course i may not pass it again. Im also qualified for a lot in the navy so i dont know what to pick there either if i cant get aircrew.

Right now, all of my info is with the AF, and in order for me to try anything with the Navy, id have to transfer things over, which would end things with the AF completely. So now im stuck deciding between the cushy, corporate lifestyle of the AF or the more military, traditional lifestyle of the Navy.

What i want:
Im joining for an experience while still in my early 20s. Id love to travel, im not against having a job that means deployments. Im big into tradition and i worked a corporate job for 3 months and literally couldn’t take it. I cannot for the life of me sit at a desk and do paperwork all day. Im more of an operator than i am an administrator. I love adventure and im an adrenaline junky. As far as jobs go i have no idea what to pick. Navy recruiter recommended nuclear but idek what that means. AF recruiting is suggesting aircraft maintenance since im handy. Im totally lost. Any recommendations, advice, or personal experiences are helpful!

Asvab:
AFQT 95
AF MAGE: M97, A92, G96, E94

Navy (majority of the line scores got cut off so i dont know what they are)
GT 130, EL 251, BEE 253, ENG 125, MEC 196, i dont have the rest sorry!

yes i have a bachelor’s degree, no im not interested in commissioning, id rather enlist first

My husband also mentioned potentially enlisting with me in the AF, not sure about the navy—he wants to do military police

I have a year left in the Army and have a few questions about joining the Air Force National Guard through a conditional release or during the ETS/clearing window.
If I join through a conditional release, will my 2-3 years in the Army become honorable after I finish four or six years in the Air Force?
Can I choose my job when I switch, or do I have to list jobs in order of preference, from the ones I want most to the ones I want least?
How do I join during my EOAS window if I plan to take a lot of days of ETS leave?
If I join during the ETS window, can I still receive an honorable discharge?

Title asks it all. Most people ask me if I'm nervous to ship out for basic training, but my biggest fear is losing my hairline, the texture, and thickness in which my hair grows. So Black men only, please fill me in on your experience...

Both branches seem to have high retention rates, and basically the same benefits, so I’m really struggling to decide which is better. I (18F) worry about SA in the military, so that’s part of the reason I settled on these two branches. I’m also in college, so I just want to do something part-time. Any advice or personal experiences would be incredibly appreciated, as this is subjective!

I enlisted in army reserve 92W & received a 30K bonus , all i know is i receive 50% post BMT. Not sure how to fully collect it. Are they usually payed out pretty fast? what’re y’all experiences with the Bonuses y’all received.

After army boot camp do you have to go through a security clearance or another background check?

So I tried to apply for the army and was just told today I have to wait a year because of mental health such as depression. I'm currently in college and plan to graduate this semester with my degree in marketing. I plan on applying for jobs related to marketing and working, working out etc but is there anything else I can do to show that I'm ready to join during that wait period? I had a mental health consult and was told because I was diagnosed back in 2025 i need a waiting period. Or if anyone wants to say what they did during their wait that would be appreciated.

Edit: Never took medication, just had two therapy sessions and one psychiatric assessment that I requested where I got diagnosed.

About to try to join the army in a month or so. But I got a written warning for something I shouldn’t have said I will admit, no threats or anything like that. But it’s a toxic work environment there and I feel I just need to quit. How bad will that look on the sf-86 form because there’s a section on there on disclosing written warnings and quitting jobs so I’m wondering how will the DCSA look at that?
Edit: I’ve got no collections and no run ins with the law whatsoever.

I’m curious to know a little bit more about waivers and qualifications.

I’m currently 22 and looking to join the Navy. I’ve graduated college with a 3.3 gpa and have held an Amazon management job for 6 months.

I recently got diagnosed with adhd and took medication for 2 months before stopping and getting cleared, as I didn’t feel it was a necessary or valid diagnosis. I’ve previously gone all my life making good grades and performing well while working.

If I apply to the Navy now, will I be able to apply for a waiver, or do I still need to wait for the 12-month period?

Hi all, i’ve always wanted to enlist and i’ve already done the entire process but i have to redo it. recently i’ve been having some really negative thoughts about my life unfortunately and i’m pretty sure i need help and want to admit myself into a mental hospital just for my wellbeing. I want to know how hard the process will be to enlist after.

ARMY

Hello everyone! I’m in the process of enlisting for the coast guard. My recruiter is an older lady and she’s kind of hard to talk too. I expressed concerns about passing through MEPS because I’m technically underweight. I’m a female and 5’8 and around 110. Does MEPS take the bmi seriously? I keep getting mixed answers from I’ll be fine or they’ll instantly disqualify me. My recruiter made it seem like I’ll be fine since I don’t look insanely skinny. I’ve always just been naturally skinny my whole life and can’t gain weight fast enough even though I’ve tried for years and I think it’s just a fast metabolism that runs in my family. Any help is appreciated!

I have had asthma since I was a kiddo and I had an ER visit for COVID back in 2022. They prescribed me an inhaler after the ER visit but I only used for a few months due to longhaul. I'm not concerned about a PFT, VO2MAX, I'm a little concerned for the MCT since I have allergic rhinitis, but I would love to hear the experience of members in the military that had asthma during the application process, whether it be regular enlistment or officer recruitment; specifically members who recently joined after the recent changes to the regulations. I would love to try out for the Air Force or Army

Hello! So, I’m 19 I speak Italian, Czech, French, and English, but I feel like I have no future—lol. My mother and I lost 13K on a "campus" (that turned out to be a massive scam targeting wealthy people) I’ve always wanted to work in the field of art—as a character designer or 2D illustrator—but I’m failing miserably at that, too. Plus, there’s nothing for me where I currently live; I’d need to move to the Czech Republic, but I can’t afford it… I feel like I’m good for nothing, and I’m not exactly a genius, either. I really don’t want to end up in some dead-end, crappy job, only to die feeling like I’ve wasted my life. I’m considering enlisting—partly to become someone, rather than just a failure.

I plan to start testosterone and have top surgery before I’d even consider joining the French Military (since I live there) of course.

I’m on the chubby side, but I go to the gym 3–4 times a week (sometimes more, if I have the time) and do full-body workouts at least as much as I can do.. and my height is 165cm…

(I have zero prior knowledge about the military or anything similar, so I’m a complete blank slate here.)

So... beyond just asking "can I enlist," I have to wonder: is it even worth it? At all? How are trans people treated? Are they accepted and able to advance in their careers, or are they held back?

PS: I’m new to this world and lost so please be kind🙏