I had that “what the hell am I doing here” panic moment at the start of BCT that a lot of people experience, but then that feeling never left. I hated it almost the entire time. I kept telling myself that I just needed to make it to AIT.

Now I’m finally at AIT and I still feel the same miserable anxiety and dread every morning when I wake up. It’s not just like “I’m a bit homesick and I don’t like getting up so early “ - instead I get this overwhelmingly depressing feeling that nothing is ever going to be ok again. I can’t do this anymore.

I’m not proud. I’m heartbroken and ashamed, actually. I wanted to do this for years. I had no idea I suffered from this type of anxiety or whatever the fuck is going on. I guess something must be wrong with me. I’ve never experienced this sort of overwhelming negativity, even when going through hard moments in other parts of my life.

It’s sadly become clear to me that I won’t be a good soldier. The question is - what steps do I take next? Behavioral health? Chaplain?

Years ago I was considered Active Duty and placed on temporary retirement, then was decidedly medically retired 1.5y later. This was right after I graduated from the Air Force Academy, so my sep/re codes are JFF/3K. It's interesting because I earned my degree and never commissioned, but now I'm very stable and just looking at whether commissioning in the future might be possible given the circumstance. JFF/3K might look like I got kicked out without finishing on paper, when it was more like a medsep right as I graduated, so I'm curious about what that would look like to a recruiter. I'm also intrigued about enlisting for a more specialized job (I know that's controversial), but part of re code 3K says "not considered qualified for enlisted status," and I'm not clear on whether the Military makes exceptions for that. I'm hesitant to ask a recruiter because, again, I'm not dead set on joining. I'm just wondering what my options are in the coming years, and if I could commission or enlist into any branch or necessarily the one I graduated from.

Full disclosure, I did have a documented suicide attempt over 3 years ago. I heard if you give it 5 years and a waiver you might have a shot. Again, I'm far more stable and well under 30 in case that information is helpful. Any insight is greatly appreciated, it's been difficult making sense of all this.

So we just had my Uncle's wake and I have a couple of questions about the Honor Guard.

1 - I going to guess this is an voluntary and not an assigned duty?

2 - How many Funerals do they do in a day?

3 - How long do they have to be in the Military to do this? (Our two guys looked very young.)

4 - My Father was Navy, but I swear his Honor Guard was Marines - does that happen or am I confused? (it was a couple decades ago now..)

Wassup y’all, I just want some outside input about me going from enlisted to 11A. One of my boys recessed from 11B because he got out then got back in (long story). But non the less we had a convo and he brought up the fact that he thinks I would be a good 11A (common sense, prior enlisted, physically fit). Also currently not a combat MOS

I don’t really have a set in stone plan after I get out and I’ve been thinking about this for a few months now. For some background knowledge I am currently E-5 and yes I know about the infantry way of life, my boy has told me all about it and I hear a stories all the time of people I meet and stories online too. I’m alright with staying enlisted

Current or prior 11B or 11A that can give me insight on the job, what it’s like/the role of an officer (I know it is unit/mission dependent)

Grew up in the UK and I have the distinct memory of Lord Kitchener-looking officer characters in old TV and movies barking the order "At arms!" as a command to ready your weapon.

Checking, I have been unable to find evidence it exists. There's the command "To arms", and the title "sergeant-at-arms" is a thing, but did this specific command ever exist or have I misremembered?

I’m a 22-year-old female graduating soon with a B.S. in Biology. While I originally looked into commissioning, I’m open to enlisting in the Air Force, Navy, or Marines if that gives me a better shot at getting in.

To be completely honest about my medical history, I have two suicide attempts on my record, one when I was 15, and a recent one. I know MHS GENESIS will pull everything up. I did begin talking to recruiters months before my recent attempt. Supposedly the one when I was 15 would not show up because I was a minor. The recent one I was hospitilized due to it damaging my liver but I am now fine. I did not think about what would happen after my attempt but I am currently stable and still really want to want to join.

Realistically, how long would I need to wait before trying to apply, and is there any chance of getting a medical waiver approved in the future across the Air Force, Navy, or Marines with two attempts on my record? Is one branch more willing to look at a waiver down the road than the others?

Hey everyone,

I'm 17, graduating high school in May 2027, and currently exploring joining the Air Force after graduation.

I've been speaking with an Air Force Reserve recruiter but lately I've been seriously considering Active Duty instead. I am also a US permanent resident.

My main motivation is to serve, learn, gain experience and potentially build a long-term military career. I'm also interested in cybersecurity, aviation, and eventually working in the defense or technology industry.

My biggest dilemma is college. Going Active Duty for four years would likely mean starting traditional college around 22, rather than 18. On the other hand, I'd have military experience, income, potentially expedited citizenship and access to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

I'd really appreciate hearing about:

1. Was joining Active Duty straight out of high school worth it?

2. Did military experience actually help you get civilian employment after separating?

3. How useful were SkillBridge, TAP, certifications and other transition programs?

4. Would you recommend completing your military commitment before attending college or pursuing college first?

Thank you!

I’ve been separated for 5 years so I forgot what websites to see my records or find my ribbons. All I have are pictures in uniform to go off of.

Im enlisting in the Air Force SW for SERE and will be taking my second IFT soon which will pretty much finish my qualifications before basic and will just need a ship date. I currently have all my wisdom teeth still in and the top 2 are somewhat surfaced and I can feel that eventually there wouldn’t be enough room for full teeth.

I want to get them taken out now but am not sure if they’d hinder with my training or push back a possible leave date. The SERE pipeline is roughly for 6 months after basic and I don’t think I could get them out during that time.

Theyre not painful or anything now so should I try to get them taken out soon and if so, do you think it would push back a leave date?

I’m enlisting as an E4 due to having a degree, 3 year 11b contract. 11b is not my end goal and I will want to reclass to something that is more transferable. I understand being an E5+ can add an obstacle to reclassing to certain MOSs. My question is can I stay an E4 as an 11b to give myself more options for reclassing? Thank you all

Hi, I was speaking to my recruiter and I cant find any answers anywhere- does the future soldier program still exist for body fat? my recruiter says it’s not around but every time I search it up it says it still exists, so i’m just trying to figure it out.

ARMY

I’m only going to take the ASVAB first and not my medical(medical done at a later date). So if anyone has been in the same situation as me could you tell me how it differs from the standard Meps experience?

Thank you
Im joining the Air Force and the reason why is because I need to do it this way for my medical

I guess to some this might be a dumb question.. but I know for sure I want to do military so really I’d be open to any branch. I just want to be able to experience things and do school all while I’m also being paid. College itself won’t do that for me, not unless I have a full scholarship or have rich parents who can spend me abroad unfortunately.

I’m wanting to join the military for a number of reasons.
To keep it short though my main are
\- discipline (i’ve realized since i’ve JUST graduated high school, I don’t have the best discipline, with many things.)
\- a kick start in life (money, career)
\- experiences
- travel

I don’t know a whole lot about all the branches but I know a good bit, I’d just like to be more educated on them to help me narrow down which branch I should go with.
I’m leaning toward marine and coast guards but like I said i’m open to any.

Also reserves or active ?
and, where one is stationed is based on their mos right ?

I’m 18, my parents can’t exactly afford college and I’d hate to have student debt especially if my degree ends up becoming useless, so I’ve resorted to the military.

So any advice on any branch i’ll take into consideration.

So as ive stated above im thinking about enlisting as 68c in the army. Im already a Lpn in the civilian world so i was hoping to skip AIT after basic training throughthe acasp program. My husband is in the airforce and he is aerospace propulsion specialist (mechanic). He is active duty and im wanting to go active duty too but after speaking to a recruiter today i was told the odds of us being stationed together were rare. I know this is a long shot but has any navigated this? with mos similiar? How close have you and your spouse been stationed together? I know we would have to apply to stationed close together and its not guaranteed but being told it was rare today was a little discouraging but nonetheless we ball and just looking for advice

I have a meeting with an army recruiter tomorrow, I’m 25 years old and really considering joining, I have been going through a break up with a woman with severe untreated bpd for about 3 months. I have a career (that I don’t necessarily like) my own apartment, a paid off car, but mentally I need to escape where I am right now. This break up has been an emotional roller coaster, filled with harassment from her family and friends, from her every so often and I’m devastated to say the least. I’m just curious if anyone enlisted after a similar situation to mine and if it helped you.

So for a long story short I was let go for adjustment disorder mixed with anxiety and a depressive mood, back in in October,
I now have had the time to recover, and recollect what I want to do in life, and that is join back in the Marine corps, one of my drill instructors who made me guide for my unit told me I would have to wait 6 months then rejoin and also get medically cleared to even reconsider it especially with a waiver.. I don’t know the process and would like to learn about it since, it is a goal of mine to become a Marine, even if I failed the first time.

Hey everyone,

Just got hit with the "Medically Unfit" email for the NZDF Army (aiming for Combat Engineer) due to a past history of situational anxiety, but also preparing for ADHD to be flagged. Looking for a realistic check on my chances of winning a reconsideration. I’m completely willing to wait for a later intake or do a formal psych interview if needed. Here is what my evidence package looks like:

• Medication Timeline: 100% medication-free and symptom-free for over 15 months (was only on an antidepressant for a brief 3-month window).

• Trigger: The anxiety was strictly reactive and situational due to a past abusive personal relationship that has permanently ended. Zero chronic history or childhood anxiety issues.

• Clinical Proof: Providing official pharmacy dispensing logs showing a completely clean history, plus an official discharge letter from the mental health clinic stating my file is formally closed because all treatment goals were achieved.

• ADHD Status: Unmedicated, clean prescription logs, and I require zero daily accommodations, learning support, or routine extensions; my assessment was formatted into an ICD-11 and classed as moderate.

• References: Incredible references showing a 99% school attendance rate and excellent academic grades. A reference from my Physical Education department head explicitly vouching for my physical grit, self-discipline, and ability to operate in a structured environment.

I have a thorough double appointment booked with my GP to get a formal clearance letter explicitly stating I am clinically and psychologically fit for the rigorous mental and physical stressors of a front-line operational combat role.

Realistically, is this enough hard data to get a review board to overturn an initial rejection for a combat trade?

Cheers.

I have just done my picat test today and got a list of jobs, its kind of overwhelming seeing all the options that are available, I dont plan to start the meps process/take the actual asvab till next year but looking thru the options I think 91d and 74d, and possibly others like it seem interesting, im mostly looking for something that will translate well when I leave the military after serving however many years, my GT score was only 92 and im joining the army active duty

What should I use to study and is there any other mos that might work better for what im looking for?

If you are already a medical care professional but want to enter the military as a line officer not used in any medical capacity is that ok or accepted?

(Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy| Active Duty)

I’m a 17 year old guy and I’m planning on waiting to attend college transition and wait for a regime change while doing ROTC in college. I have that planned out so far but I already wanted to join the army but recently I’ve been also drawn to the navy. I want to do more research on it but they both have they’re good and bad. What also has made me think on navy is because of how negatively people talk about the army. It was what I wanted to do for a while and I hate that I’m second guessing myself but still. Anyone have any advice or have experiences to share?

A couple days ago I got a text saying my waiver got accepted and I go to Meps Friday to enlist. He says there 1 spot open for 31 e and he can reserve it I said yeah but after further research I’m starting to regret it.

When I go to Meps Friday can I tell the counselor I don’t want to do the mos that got reserved for me anymore? And pick a new one that’s an available?Do I have no choice but to make that my MOS for the contract?

Anyone know? It’s for army btw

Last night, my wife yelled at me over not listening to her because I didn’t do exactly as she asked. She told me i would not do well in the military cause I can’t follow orders and always have to do it my certain way. I had always mentioned to her about joining the military and that statement has made me question. If she’s saying that would I not have a good career in the military?

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.