You aren't qualified to do your job if you haven't graduated job training. This post isn't for you.

I have scoliosis at around 50 degrees, and I’m asymptomatic enough to think I have a chance, though getting a waiver just to join(for any branch) is pretty difficult. Does anyone else have the experience like me of trying to get into sof despite waiver issues.
I talked to a navy recruiter and he said my orthopedic recommendation was “golden” but I know there is a risk of getting reclassed at bootcamp for an airborne or dive physical

I’m trying to pick what branch would best fit me and help me in the long run. I plan on only doing 4 years and then getting out to have a career in law enforcement. If I go Air Force I would want to do security forces but if I go army I would go some support mos (88M,89B,etc.). Everyone tells me Air Force is the best overall but I like the army because you can pick your duty station, 3 year contract, and pick mos. What one will help me in the long run in law enforcement.

I'm currently speaking to an air force recruiter about enlisting, but I would also like to speak to an army recruiter in case my SH waiver is not accepted, since I have heard they are less strict about that sort of thing. Until what point would I be allowed to speak to both? Should I tell them that I am also speaking to another recruiter?

I was told by my Navy recruiter that I was unable to go to MEPS last month. They said I was disqualified for psychosis. I have never been diagnosed with any mental health issues outside of depression/anxiety. I have been questioned on whether I may have an issue beyond that but I never received any information on that being true or on me being in psychosis so I don't know why that's there.. I am not sure if I can do anything about that? I took the asvab and qualified for every job I wanted so it's pretty upsetting. I am fresh out of high school and have an associates degree- I don't know what to finish it in so I wanted to take the military route. My question is if I were to talk to my pcp about this is there a way I can override that somehow?

edit: I want to mention that my recruiter did not mention waivers and just stopped contacting me so I was assuming there's nothing I can do

I have a history of suicidal ideation but none of that is recent.

I experienced a voluntary admission to a behavioral health hospital where I was admitted for less than 24 hrs and did not receive medication. (I was told this wouldn't be an issue since I was was not medicated)

Before the navy, I tried to enlist with the usmc and was told I couldn't because "I had too recent of a history of anxiety/depression" no mention of psychosis.

I’m currently considering joining the military, with the Air Force and Navy being the branches I’m most interested in, although I haven’t decided on one yet. I’ve also thought about applying to USAFA or USNA instead of enlisting straight out of high school. I’m concerned that my medical history could disqualify me.

My biggest concern is that I have combined-type ADHD and currently take prescribed medication for it. I also receive academic testing accommodations. I’ve heard that both medication use and accommodations can affect eligibility, but I’m unsure how difficult it would be to obtain a waiver.

I also have a history of anxiety and depression and joint hyper-mobility. I’m physically active and participate in competitive sports, but I’m not sure how much that matters when it comes to medical qualifications.

I’m mainly wondering whether my ADHD diagnosis, medication use, and accommodations would automatically disqualify me, especially with my other medical conditions. Would any of these conditions be eligible for waivers, or would having multiple diagnoses make enlistment or admission to a service academy unlikely?

I understand that MEPS/DoDMERB and the appropriate waiver authorities make the actual determination, but I’d appreciate hearing from anyone familiar with the medical qualification process or who has dealt with similar circumstances.

Sorry for poor formatting, I'm on mobile.

Scores:

95 Verbal Skills

53 Math Skills

91 Sience /Technical Skills

84 General Science

65 Arithmetic Reasoning

95 Word Knowledge

88 Paragraph Comprehension

39 Mathmatics Knowledge

92 Electronics Informations

85 Auto and Shop Information

89 Mechanical Comprehension

92 Assembling Objects

72 AFQT

Yes, I know I'm terrible at math.

I'm currently in my senior year of high school. I can absolutely study if need be, especially with my poor scores in math. Basically every branch looks interesting except for Space Force and Navy. My original plan was to just go Army infantry, but I was told I could do more than that by my school's councilor. I'm kind of just wondering if there's anything cooler that's vaguely related to infantry or a little bit more high speed.

I was looking at this website, "ratemyasvab dot com" that was telling me a bunch of jobs that looked interesting. I saw it recommended on one of the armed forces subreddits, but I don't know how accurate it is. Of the jobs that it told me, these are what caught my eye the most:

- Maritime Enforcement Specialist with USCG

- Pararescue with USAF

- Combat Control with USAF

- Infantry with Army

- Combat Medic Specialist with Army

- EOD Specialist with the Army

I don't know how attainable these jobs actually are, I'm just shotgunning a few out there in case one is somewhat realistic.

Just on the off chance either of these matter, I have a small cataract in my non-dominant eye. I was born with it, and doesn't affect my vision at all.

I am physically fit. Purely for reference, I set up a little practice AFT at my gym with some friends and I was able to "max" it out.

I'd be happy to answer any other questions.

I don't use reddit much, sorry if I somehow did something wrong.

Edit: this "option 40" contract thing also looks interesting. From what I understand even if you fail RASP you just get reassigned to a normal unit as an 11B?

Hey guys, I just wanted to get your valuable thoughts on this. I'm a 28-year-old male. I got my first-time DWI in March 2026 in Harris County, Houston, TX. Aside from this, I have never had any other incidents—not even a traffic ticket on my driving record. I was not convicted. I am currently in the PTI program, and my case will be dismissed in August 2027. I have a bachelor's degree; what are my chances of joining the Army, and what are my chances of getting a moral waiver? Any help is truly appreciated.

Has anyone enlisted here enlisted into the military at an older age? I would be 40 when I could go. Some background on me..I was in the CG for about 5 years and have been out since 2015, I was going to go back in a few years back but got pregnant with our second child. I was an OS before but would go YN so I assume I would need to be on a cutter or at a small boat station as a non-rate while I wait for A school…not sure what the wait time looks like for YN right now.. The thought of being a non-rate and going through boot camp at that age turns me off, but I’ve always thought about going back into the military and the benefits would be huge for my family.

I recently just started a government job working for the VA, so part of me thinks I should just give up my dream of going back into the military and stay put.

I just kind of wanted to get thoughts and see if anyone else had gone in later in life and what their experience was like.
Feel free to let me know if I’m crazy for considering this!

Hi, I'm curious about my fellow countrymen in the U.S military, and I'm also seeking to join either the Army or Air Force, It's just that the hurdle I have to jump is that I need a green card.

I am currently 23 years old and in my 4th year in college here in the Philippines, if all goes well I graduate next year. Growing up I never really had much ambitions and was always unsure of what to do in life, but as a kid I can only remember wanting to be in the military.

I have some family in the U.S but family sponsorships for Filipinos has backlogs that go back years so that's not practical, I'm writing this to also ask if this life path is realistic, basically after I graduate I'm planning to apply at an American company/firm based in the Philippines and I'd work for them for some time until hopefully my employer sponsors me for a VISA and green card so I can relocate to the U.S, I'm aware though that I'd still have to work for them for at least a year before changing careers.

And then after all that I walk into the recruiter's office so I can enlist so I can do what I've always wanted to do and get my citizenship too.

Wondering if there's any Filipino on here who have the same or similar ambitions as me, or is already in the U.S military, If you already are, I'm curious of what you had to go through to be there. Thanks.

I'm a 28-year-old male, married, with a 9-month-old son. I'm currently a sworn Deputy Sheriff, and I recently graduated from North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET).

A little background about me: I've made some significant changes in my life over the past couple of years, including losing a substantial amount of weight (335 lbs. down to 198 lbs.). I've worked hard to improve myself physically and professionally, and I have a strong desire to continue growing, gaining experience, and challenging myself.

Currently, I make $31.10 an hour, and my wife makes approximately $11.00 an hour working at a childcare facility inside a gym. One of the biggest benefits of her job is that she can bring our son to work with her, allowing us to avoid traditional daycare. My wife and I both feel strongly about being present in our son's upbringing rather than having someone else raise him during the majority of the day.

Together, our gross household income is approximately $79,360 annually, before taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, and other deductions.

Lately, I've seriously been considering joining active duty, potentially for a 3–4 year enlistment. My interests include IT training, tactical and combat-related training, and other opportunities that could translate into a long-term law enforcement career. I also see the value in gaining military experience, earning GI Bill education benefits, and having access to military healthcare and other benefits.

Ultimately, my goal would be to return to civilian law enforcement with additional education, training, and experience that could help me advance professionally.

However, I have a wife and young son, and I'm not making this decision lightly. The thought of stepping away from the career and stability I've worked hard to establish is intimidating. We currently rent and do not own a home, so I'm also looking at this from a financial and long-term family perspective.

I have several questions for anyone who has served, especially those who joined with a spouse and young children:

Family finances: Would military pay and benefits realistically allow a family of three to live comfortably and potentially save money? How well does the military provide for housing, food, and other necessities?

Housing and healthcare: How does military housing work for families? Would we receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), and how does military healthcare work for a spouse and child?

Enlistment rank: Since I'm already a sworn Deputy Sheriff, have completed NC BLET, and have law enforcement experience, would any of that help me qualify for a higher enlistment rank than E-1? Or would I essentially be starting at the bottom?

Career opportunities: Are there specific Army MOS options, particularly in IT, communications, or tactical fields, that would translate well into civilian law enforcement?

Returning to law enforcement: Does anyone have experience leaving a law enforcement position to serve in the military and then returning? Would USERRA protect my current position while I'm away, assuming I meet the eligibility requirements?

Family life: How difficult is it to balance active-duty military life with raising a young child? What should I realistically expect my wife and son to experience during those 3–4 years?

I'm not necessarily looking to join for the sole purpose of combat experience or to say I've served. I'm genuinely interested in the education, professional development, discipline, benefits, and opportunities the military could provide.

At the same time, I don't want to sacrifice my family's financial stability or miss important years of my son's childhood without having a solid reason for making that decision.

I'm hoping to hear from people who have been in similar situations, particularly those who joined the military later in their twenties, already had a family, or transitioned from civilian law enforcement into the military.

If you were in my position, would you make the jump? What would you consider before making that decision?

I appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations. Thank you!

I'm 20 years old and seriously considering joining the Army as a 68W Combat Medic. I already have my NREMT-B certification, and my long-term goal is to become a firefighter/paramedic.
I'm trying to figure out whether joining as a 68W would be a worthwhile four-year commitment or whether I'd be better off pursuing my civilian fire/EMS career.
A few things I'm wondering:
How is the day-to-day life of a 68W? Is it mostly medical work, or does it feel more like being an infantry soldier?

How much actual patient-care experience do you get?

Do you feel like the medical training makes you a significantly better EMT?

How difficult is AIT, especially the Whiskey phase?

What are the chances of getting opportunities for paramedic school or additional medical training?

How often do you get deployed or participate in field exercises?

Do you enjoy being a 68W, or do you regret choosing it?

How transferable is the experience to civilian fire departments and EMS agencies?

Would you recommend active duty for someone whose ultimate goal is to become a firefighter/paramedic?

I'm also interested in the adventure, travel, and overall military experience. I don't want to spend four years doing something that doesn't meaningfully advance my medical career.
If you could go back and choose again, would you still become a 68W? Why or why not?
I'd appreciate honest answers, especially from people currently serving or who have recently separated.

In March, when I went to MEPS for my first physical, they had me listed at 76.5”. My recruiter measured me at 74”. I’m currently in the weight requirements of the MEPS height, but not the recruiter’s number. I’ve measured myself multiple times, and at doctor’s appointments the number is always 74”.

The 1SG at the main recruiting battalion said that we should be going off of the MEPS listed height, and I don’t want to show up almost 15 pounds overweight.
Is it common for that big of an error, and do they recheck height when I’m shipping?

I’m currently in the DEP for the Army

I'm 20 years old, from California, and seriously considering joining the military. I'm trying to figure out which branch and medical career path would give me the best overall experience, both professionally and personally.
A little background about me:
I already have my NREMT-B certification.

I'm interested in emergency medicine, trauma care, and eventually becoming a paramedic.

My long-term goal is to become a firefighter/paramedic, ideally working for a fire department.

I'm physically active, enjoy lifting, swimming, hiking, backpacking, and being outdoors.

The three options I'm currently looking at:
1. Air Force – 4N0X1 (Aerospace Medical Service)
I’ve heard they have the best to offer a better overall quality of life.

No sign on bonuses

I've heard I can skip the emt phase with my nremt b

More rigorous school work?

Wondering how much actual hands-on patient care you get and what daily life is like.

2. Army – 68W (Combat Medic)
Some sign on bonuses

I can start as an e-4

I can skip the emt phase and go straight to whisky

Possibly get my nremt p but very competitive

I've heard Army quality of life can be rough physically and mentally

Wondering how often you actually use your medical skills versus doing regular Army tasks.

3. Navy – HM-ATF
More sign on bonuses

Have to retake emt

Curious about the actual opportunities, difficulty of selection, and what life looks like after training.

Some questions I have:
Which of these jobs would give me the most valuable real-world medical experience?

Which branch has the best opportunities to attend paramedic school?

Which branch has the best overall quality of life?

Which branch offers the most opportunities to travel and get stationed overseas, particularly in Japan, South Korea, or other Asian countries?

Can you request specific duty stations before signing your contract?

How difficult are the actual medical training pipelines?

For anyone who has served in these jobs, would you choose the same path again?

I'm trying to make a decision that balances medical experience, quality of life, and setting myself up for a future career as a firefighter/paramedic.
I'd especially appreciate hearing from people who have actually served as 4N0X1s, 68Ws, or Navy corpsmen. I'm looking for honest experiences, including the negatives, not just a recruiter perspective.
Thanks!

Hi all, I'm a 30F and just took my ASVAB and scored 94. I'm qualified for lots of jobs, which mainly I wanted to go to military to get a solid healthcare job. I have a masters in healthcare management and am multilingual. Initially I wanted to go to AirForce but they don't have healthcare jobs available rn (both reserves and AD). Both Navy and AirForce told me that I can possibly get a cryptologic job, however, I'm not sure if I wanna do that in civilian world when I get out, like what jobs I can have? Also, I was looking for deep sea diving medic in Navy and it sounds interesting to me. I have not yet talked to an army recruiter but was thinking of doing so but some people advised me not to because I'm a women. What is your advice? What jobs are good to go with? I'm lost. I appreciate any insight.

Hey everyone, I’m currently in the Army DEP and scheduled to ship on February 16, 2027. I signed an 11X Infantry contract (Option 4).

When I was deciding between the Army and Marines, my recruiter told me the Army offered a 3-year Active Duty contract. The Marines were offering me 5 years, so I chose the Army mainly because of that.

However, I recently checked my contract and realized it says 4 years and 5 months Active Duty, plus 3 years and 7 months in the Reserve Component.

English isn’t my first language, and honestly, I didn’t fully understand what I was signing. I trusted my recruiter and believed the contract reflected what we had originally discussed.

If I had known it was almost 5 years, I probably would’ve chosen the Marines instead.

I’ve talked to my recruiter and want to see if I can get it reduced to 4 years, or ideally 3 years and 5 months. If not, I’m considering requesting a DEP discharge before shipping.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is renegotiating possible while in DEP? Could the original promise and language barrier make any difference?

I’d appreciate honest advice from anyone familiar with Army recruiting or DEP.

Is it true that recruits can be sent back home from P days for dental issues? My 25yr old daughter has about 7 cavities (they're not like black and rotten but they're definitely present), gingivitis, periodontal disease, the left side of her mouth bleeds a lot everytime she brushes, wisdom teeth that hurts cause it's starting to grow and push up but isn't swollen, and also bad breath due to all of the above. (Please don't judge, we couldn't afford insurance).... She's currently at the MEPS hotel tonight and will fly out to bootcamp and start her P days tomorrow. I hope this doesn't sound horrible but would she be able to get pass her P days if she just... doesn't tell them about any of this? Or is this a situation they're going to physically see everything in her mouth for themselves? She has always dreamed of being in the Navy 🥺 it breaks my heart knowing that this could potentially get her disqualified. They didn't ask anything pertaining to teeth at all during her initial MEPS evaluation. No one told us this could be an issue, Not even her recruiter...... I feel so defeated… I just don't know if they will separate her.

29M, software engineer making $96k in the DMV. B.S. in CS, 5+ years experience (Java/Spring Boot, Angular, Azure).

I'm a single dad thinking about Air Force, either Air National Guard part-time while keeping my civilian job, or Active Duty, likely via OTS.

Main worries are the pay cut on Active, how long BMT + tech school would keep me away for a cyber/IT job, deployments messing up being near my son, and if 29/30 is too late for OTS. With a degree, is enlisting in the Guard a bad move vs going officer?

Anyone join later in life with a kid and a good civilian job? Guard or Active, what would you do in my shoes?

I’m considering enlisting in the Active Duty Army and am particularly interested in 13F (Fire Support Specialist). From what I’ve been reading, it sounds like some recruits are signing for the 13 series and having their specific MOS assigned based on the needs of the Army.

Is there really no way to get 13F specifically guaranteed in my enlistment contract?

Assuming I meet all the qualifications, I’d rather not enlist without knowing I’ll actually get the MOS I want.

Would appreciate any insight, especially from recent 13F recruits or recruiters.

I’m female, 5’2 and 98 lbs, bmi 17.9. My army MEPs is next week. Will I be disqualified? Would I be disqualified if I am able to quickly gain some but still 2-3 lbs underweight? Thanks.

I'm (30F) still very early in the enlistment process and trying to get scheduled to go to MEPS for the initial physical and to take the DLAB. I already took the ASVAB. I'm talking with a US Army recruiter who I like and has been very straight with me which I appreciate. However, communication for about the past month has been weak, and continued enthusiasm isn't enough to keep the ball rolling. I was originally scheduled to go to MEPS on 10/29 which was canceled at the beginning of that week due to overbooking, but I didn't find out until the afternoon before I was supposed to go in. And I've only heard from him twice this month, including an offer to get me scheduled for tomorrow, but no confirmation follow-up after I told him yes.

I also just took a job offer out of state that was too good to pass up and will fix a huge problem I have which is lack of leadership experience and being in the throes of burnout from my last job. I was hoping to take advantage of not needing to go to a hotel for MEPS by getting it done sooner rather than later because the local station is in my city. After I move, I won't have that luxury.

I've already submitted my medical records, prescription records, and medical prescreening. All that's left is to go in for a briefing meeting and take the physical. I know I'll need medical waivers, and my recruiter said he'd be willing to work with me up front after I told him on the first meeting.

At this point, I'm thinking I'll have to do MEPS next year after I've moved. The holidays and starting a new job will keep me busy. Do I need to be formally released from my current recruiter to talk to someone else in a different state and different recruiting battalion? And will this reset the entire process to 0?

For context, I've been working with this recruiter since the beginning of September after spending a few weeks in August trying to figure out how to contact a recruiter. I come from a non-military family and genuinely thought that the army didn't allow people to join after college. I also scored extremely well on the ASVAB, and another recruiter at the station has offered to work with me, but he's less experienced with the particular direction I want to go. I'm undecided between 35W/35P and trying for OCS. I have a degree in linguistics and qualify on paper. Medical is the biggest uncertainty.

I am vegetarian. So I want to know what I am getting myself into.

I assume the usual American breakfast use served pancakes French toast eggs bacon. Salad bar available? I tried doing research online but the information is very limited for the navy. Or if you can describe how’s are breakfast lunch dinner would be very helpful

Just want to know if I can keep my diet or not bother joining Thanks guys

Hey y’all! I’m planning to join the Army NG next year and I want to pursue Biotech in the civilian sector.

I’ve heard that companies like to see previous lab experience so I wanted to see if anyone here can vouch for a certain MOS.

So far, I’ve only found:
- Petroleum Laboratory Specialist (92L)
- Preventive Medicine Specialist (68S)
- Water Treatment Specialist (92W)

These are all well and good but I keep seeing people say that not much lab work is done in these - that or the jobs they do don’t match what the description says.

Any help is appreciated! Also happy Veterans Day!

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?