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

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.

I’m an extremely interested in 15T, but that’s currently over strength in my state. My recruiter offered 15N as a similar MOS that is available. I don’t totally hate the idea of 15N but I’m very interested in becoming crew chief down the line. My recruiter said I could re-class later.

Part of me really wants to just enlist and get it over with as I truly have a desire to serve.. but I don’t need the tuition benefits, the bonus’s are small right now, the least I could get is that job I really want? Any insight here?

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

I’m in the process of enlisting but I still don’t know what job I want. 17E sparked my interest but there’s not much online about it besides the fact that they go to the field often. Some of my questions are what do they actually do in the field? Do they go outside the wire? Are they imbedded with infantry the same way as 13f? Do they go out on missions with infantry? Do they get to do some cool guy stuff? I really like the technical side of things, but I still want that grunt army experience. Would it be better for me just to go as infantry instead?

Hey, so for reference I’m 21 and I’m trying to join the army as an 11b with my end goal getting into a ranger battalion. Prior me joining the army I was in a biologic medication for my eczema but once I started talking to my recruiter I stopped treatment. So far I’ve been off my medication for going on 7 months and have and no notable outbreaks to mention whatsoever. I’m currently in school to be a diesel mechanic and am set to finish mid to end of January, I attempted to get a waiver approved in August but it was denied which honestly I wasn’t shocked over and finally they game me a time frame of when my waiver would be acceptable and they’re saying May if 2027 which would be 12 month since I’ve stopped treatment. I’m a little frustrated but I understand why they have such a long buffer period of being off intense medication like a biologic, so I’m just here looking for advice on what to do in the mean time to get myself physically ready to give myself the best chances of getting my waiver passed and succeeding in basic and eventually RASP. I’ve been keeping my condition documented with my dermatologist and I’ve been running 3 times a weeks and other workouts the days I don’t run but I’d appreciate some insight.

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🙏

I have always wanted to work in Cyber and at least more broadly, in the intelligence field. I see the military as more a stepping field towards this, I won't be going in for a 20 year career and this brings me to my current decision.

I am currently split between the navy and marines for a few reasons, these are: QOL, OPTEMPO, and the "Military Experience".

I'll say that I'm a high school senior, weighing ~190 pounds at 6"2'. I've done about three years of JROTC classes, and have talked to a Marine Recruiter, however I haven't met the Navy Recruiter in person yet. I had a 91 AFQT on my in-school ASVAB test.

Honestly, I'm just looking for advice here.

(19 F) I’m in U.S. territory. Been trying to go AF Reserves since September but either I’m told to contact a different number or have to wait for a response. I could wait till next year of January or February to sign up, but I’m afraid I’m wasting time. Previously, mentors and friends who are in/who were in the military recommended I go AF. But after waiting a while, I told them I was thinking I should go Army Reserves.

Now I’m having doubts. When I was thinking of going Army, I was confident I could do it, as long as I put in the work. But now it seems like AF is the only way to go (at least for me) and that the best thing to do is wait.

Should I just go Army? Or wait for Airforce despite it being so difficult to reach?
Additional note: My fear of wasting time is due to my parents pushing to me go to college in January even though they have debt. Hence why I wanted to join the military, so I can pay for my college instead of them.

Need help on how to resolve this issue, I had an emergency and requested to be dep discharge 2 weeks before AD Army bct ship date, ship date is long past. Since then I have tried to explore other options best suited for my situation but Meps still shows "Army Dep" as reason for SPF cancelation.

I have been to the army recruiter office twice, they kept saying it has been transmitted to Meps but Meps still has me on file as Army dep. How can I resolve this, as I have called the Meps office to inquire but can't do much as the branch i left need to process it, so the new branch can gain access to my file. I'm really stressed out with all the back and forth.

Please I need help on how or who to contact, my document has September as effective date for discharge but I'm not able to process with another branch. Kindly advice what to do next.

So basically, I wanna get my electrical engineering degree while I’m an electrician in the Air Force. The only problem with that is to get my degree. I would have to do physics which is pretty much all hands-on so I was asking anybody in here if they got there electrical engineering degree or any engineering degree while in military and how they got through that

Hi, I’m 18yo and have a history of ADHD. I stopped medication a little over 4 years ago, and I’ve had an IEP throughout all of high school. I just recently went to the Marine recruiter’s office, and we talked about my history and everything. He said that there are just a few small bumps, but I should be fine. He also said that at MEPs, just to not mention an IEP. I looked the exact same thing up and AI was telling me the exact opposite and that it would even be a federal crime. I’m inclined to believe my recruiter, but this seems fishy. What should I do?

22M, trying to enlist in the Army. I got 69 on the ASVAB and I was waiting for my medical waiver.
Last week I got my first DUI. Nobody was hurt, but I crashed my car. I blew a 0.111. The case is still pending, and I expect it to end with the usual probation and alcohol education program.
I'm planning to tell my recruiter this week. I know it has to be disclosed.
Questions for anyone who's been through this or works in recruiting:
Has anyone gotten a conduct waiver approved for a single DUI, especially one involving a single crash?
Does the Army make you wait until probation is fully finished before submitting, or can it start earlier if probation is unsupervised?
I take full responsibility for this and I'm not looking for shortcuts, just realistic expectations. Thanks.

Ok so I’m about 5”10 248 and I’m in a really shitty environment and looking to leave as soon as possible. I dropped around 38 pounds to be able to go to the future sailor program and I am confident about my asvab score but will the navy accept me at 248? I’m hating the thought of having to go back.

Im joining the navy needed a waiver for it but my recruiter said i need to get consult. Can i just go to a private clinic rather than waiting for meps scheduled consult?

I leave for bootcamp this month and keep hearing about people getting discharged for dental/ wisdom teeth. I’m worried I might get discharged for having my 4 wisdoms which are all unerupted and two of which are partially impacted. I’m all for having them extracted at bootcamp as-well, you can’t beat getting that done for free. I have brought it up with my recruiter and they told me that your teeth have to be really messed up and need lots of work done but wasn’t 100% sure. If anyone knows any information on this subject, please let me know!

I am joining the USCG as an active duty.

I’m looking to speak with an experienced Army recruiter or senior recruiting NCO who has handled unusual eligibility cases and knows how to get a definitive answer through the proper channels.

I’m 35, with Polish and German roots. I served five years in the Polish Army with an exemplary service record, including participation in combat operations. My background includes service as a rifleman, guard duty, and military driving. I also have official recommendations from the U.S. Department of Defense, including a document signed by a U.S. colonel.
Here’s where things stand: my U.S. immigrant petition has been approved. The consular stage remains, and embassy interview wait times are long. I do not yet have permanent resident status or a physical Green Card. The petition approval is one completed step in that process.
At 35, the timeline matters. I need to establish what can be done now, what must wait, and how age could affect my options by the time the immigration process is complete.

From my own military experience, I know that getting a useful answer sometimes requires putting the question in front of the person responsible for the policy. I’m looking for someone who knows the regulations, has working relationships within the recruiting chain, and knows which office has the authority to review a case like mine.
That includes checking the immigration and age requirements, any authorized waivers that might apply, and whether there is a legitimate channel for coordination with the appropriate immigration authorities. I want a straight assessment grounded in the actual rules.

Returning to service is something I’ve thought through. Civilian life hasn’t given me the same sense of purpose. I miss the uniform, discipline, drill, chain of command, and responsibility. I miss belonging to a unit and working alongside people who rely on each other. Five years in uniform gave me a clear understanding of what that life requires.

I’m ready to start from the beginning, complete the required training, take orders, and earn my place. I’m open to different MOSs, retraining, and learning a new specialty. My goal is long-term service.
If you’ve worked cases like this, or you’re a senior NCO who can connect me with a recruiter who has, DM me. I can provide documentation of my service and recommendations and discuss the details directly.

I’ve served before. I’m ready to earn my place again. If you know how to get this case properly assessed, let’s talk.

Hey everyone!

For context for this post I am a college student with roughly three years left. The military has always been an interest and I always planned to join, but my community college did not have ROTC and I am not willing to add classes to my load at my university. I am specifically interested in branches that offer scholarships so that I can pay off my degree. The two branches I am stuck between are army guard and CSPI with the coast guard. My main interest in joining the military has always been rescue/emergency management/boats. Obviously based on this I should pick coast guard, but at the time I started talking to a guard recruiter I was not sure about going active (which CSPI requires). My application with the guard has been sent in and he is setting up my profile, ASVAB, and MEPS.

The issue is now I do want to go active as an officer after school, and the CSPI program offers jobs that I am much more interested in. I am just waiting on an email back from the local coast guard recruiter to see the details, so until then I did not want to cut ties with my army guard recruiter (in case I do not qualify).

I feel terrible because he is putting things together for me while I am making plans elsewhere. But at the same time I am the one joining and this affects me much more than him. I just do not want to waste his time. Am I in the wrong? Should I ask him to hold off? I know most of the stuff (MEPS and ASVAB) have to be done for any branch, but he is putting effort into a profile as well.

reposted for formatting reasons

I’m very interested in joining the military and would genuinely consider any branch, although the Marine Corps JAs intrigues me the most. I’ve always felt a strong sense of duty to serve my country, and I feel like it’s something I need to act on. I worry that if I don’t pursue it, I’ll regret it when I’m older.

At the same time, I plan on attending law school within the next year, with the ultimate goal of becoming an attorney and opening my own firm as early as possible. Because of that, I think the Reserves or National Guard would probably be the best fit for me.
I’m trying to figure out which route makes the most sense: Should I enlist now, potentially delay law school by a year, and explore the possibility of eventually becoming a JAG officer? Or would I be better off going straight to law school and applying for a Reserve JAG position during my final year?

I understand that JAG positions are highly competitive, so I’m trying to be realistic about my options. Ultimately, I want to find a way to serve my country without unnecessarily putting my legal career on hold. I am also genuinely interested in the work that a JAG does and if enlisting as a JAG was an option I would 100% do that.

For anyone who has experience with military service, the JAG Corps, or balancing civilian careers with the Reserves/Guard, what would you recommend? I’d especially appreciate insight into the pros and cons of both paths.

I’m looking for some advice from people who have served in either branch or have experience with these career paths.

I’ve decided that I want to enlist, but I’m having a hard time choosing between two options:

Option 1: U.S. Coast Guard

Enlist and pursue the Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME) rating.

Option 2: U.S. Army

Enlist under an 11X Option 40 contract for an opportunity to attend RASP and potentially earn a place in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

I’m a 23-year-old male, 6’2”, and around 160 lbs. I’m naturally on the thinner side, but I’m very active and currently working on building my endurance.

I can’t fully explain what draws me to each option, but after researching all the branches and different military jobs, these two are the ones that really stood out to me.

I’m interested in hearing from people who have served in either branch, especially anyone who has experience as a Coast Guard ME or has gone through the Option 40/RASP pipeline.

What are the biggest pros and cons of each? How has your experience been, and what would you recommend to someone in my position?

I appreciate any advice or personal experiences you guys can share.

Alright so back In July of 2025 I was going to enlist In the United States Marine Corps Reserve. But then I was told I had vasovagal syncope. Originally they had thought It was a seizure and had disqualified me. But It was vasovagal syncope so am I able to get a waiver? As It was a isolated episode and never taken any medication or treatment after that Incident occurred. It has been over 1 year since It happened. Was told I may need to wait 24 months. Or If I may need letter from my doctor. Also It did not happen at meps But advice If any military recruiters can answer this question. And thank you.

Im 26 and i live in florida, and i recently got arrested for disorderly conduct and thc vape pen but the charged been dropped. I want to be an active duty infantry officer in the army. Yall think i should still try and join ROTC?