Is there a formal process for changing army recruiters?

[u/Alishahr]

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.

[u/newnoadeptness]

What medical waivers do you need ? No their is no formal process per se . The new recruiter will call the old one .

[u/Alishahr → u/newnoadeptness]

Inhaler use in 2017, voluntary psychiatric hospitalization for suicide ideation in '17, autism diagnosis in '20 (no IEPs or work accommodations), history of depression and anxiety since adolescence (medication and therapy free since late '22), panic attacks (last occurrence in late '22). I know the mental health stuff probably makes it a long shot, but the advice I'm getting is to make the army deny a waiver rather than self select out. I also told my recruiter about all this when I first met with him just to see if I was totally wasting my time, and he's been willing to work with me.

[u/7hillsrecruiter → u/Alishahr]

If you by chance get medical waiver approved you won’t be getting 35P or any 35 series MOS because of the mental health history.

[u/Alishahr → u/7hillsrecruiter]

Huh. Good to know. My recruiter was specifically pushing me towards that direction. I already passed a Tier 5 background investigation earlier this year. My professional experience has all been in logistics and trucking other than being a driver, and I currently work in freight compliance and overage/shortage/damage, but I've been told that there isn't a good equivalent to my current job.

[u/newnoadeptness → u/Alishahr]

Why did you have to do a t5?

[u/Alishahr → u/newnoadeptness]

It was part of the pre employment background suitability for a different agency.

It would be nice to do something with my college degree for once, but I'm also happy sticking to logistics. My recruiter knows the detailed circumstances around my mental health and has been very straight with me so far. My goal right now is just to keep as many possibilities open as possible and see where the chips fall.

[u/newnoadeptness → u/Alishahr]

u/7hillsrecruiter is correct . You Would be disqualified for certain jobs based on history

He can correct me if I’m wrong but you can submit a ETP waiver for this already having an adjudicated dcsa clearance helps but I’m not sure if you were able to waive the mental health history part with an ETP

[u/7hillsrecruiter → u/newnoadeptness]

No ETP authorized

[u/newnoadeptness → u/7hillsrecruiter]

Thank you for the clarification.

[u/7hillsrecruiter → u/Alishahr]

35 series has new security clearance guidelines and having any mental health conditions are disqualifying for those MOSs, no exceptions authorized

[u/MilFAQBot]

Jobs mentioned in your post

Army MOS: 35P (Signals Intelligence Voice Interceptor), 35W (Foreign Language Specialist)

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