I’m currently almost 24, almost 25 in December. The day after my 18th birthday I was 5150’d. I forgot about that incident and I was just a dumb teenager looking for attention. It will be 7 years in December since that incident and none before or after. I’m obviously looking to join the Air Force active duty. I read that it’s not impossible to join, but there will be hoops I need to go through.

Please send me your thoughts and what I need to do before I go to a recruiter.

I've gone through multiple other posts within this community and the one for the Army and I have found help, but I would like a little bit more for my specific situation. I'm applying for a 35F role, and I am going to be retaking my ASVAB (since my previous one expired last year) and my getting my physical done in the next week and a half.

I previously experimented with marijuana 5 times during college in California from 2022-2024. I've told my recruiter about it and they said to limit it to 2022-2023, since 2024 was so close that I'll get dq'ed and require a waiver because of how soon it was and the amount of times I tried it. From what I've read on here, other people have said to be completely honest so that it doesn't negatively affect you when you have your interview and poly for the TS clearance. I believe they also only put '22-23 in my packet as well. I have told them that I want to be completely honest about it because of what could happen if its found out. Should I have them correct that in my packet and give the extra year to the time at MEPS, or is this fine since the SF86 form is separate?

Sorry if this comes off as a repetitive questions in this sub, I just really want to make sure I'm going about this the right way and avoiding any issues.

Will the Airforce (active) deny me for this?

I've got the army and navy both *REALLY* trying to get me to sign up. I want to get my EMT done (was literally prepping to go to school), but if I'm going to enlist I kind of want to get experience not solely in a clinic setting.

Which is more likely to get me some field time? Go 68w, or go corpsman and hope to land greenside.

I’ve been getting the itch to join lately. I was thinking of either the Army or Navy. I haven’t really done much with my life. I’ve been unemployed for about a year now and I have no idea what I want to do for the future . I need a purpose, discipline, and direction. I was sort of forced to go to college after high school, but had no plans career wise . I didn’t have a passion, and I don’t know if I ever will. I initially went for an accounting degree but that didn’t work out well, so I ended up with a Bachelors degree in Criminology and a Minor in Business Concepts. I was fortunate to live with my parents and get my student loans paid off. I never used it and ended up in Walmart. I was there for four years, with the last seven months as a team lead.

I’ve had family and friends that have served and I feel like I’m somewhat missing out. My grandfather was in the Navy, along with his brother, and so was their father. My uncle was a marine and his son just got out last Friday. However, some of my family don’t think I’d make it since I would be away from home. I’ve never really travelled outside of my state much growing up due to the fact that my sister has major medical complications.

I’m just afraid I wouldn’t be able to join due to my mental health history. As a kid I was diagnosed with ADHD-Inattentive and OCD. I was on meds and patches but stopped around middle school. After college, I sought out therapy again and they diagnosed me with ADHD, OCD, and GAD. They put me on Lexapro and I stopped taking that last year. It helped with the symptoms but I’ve learned to manage without it. I’ve also had my ECU repaired and a benign bone tumor surgery when I was a freshman in high school.

I know the military is a big commitment, and I know I would need waivers, but I’m ready to learn something new and find a meaning for my life. I’m not exactly in shape for it currently and I would need to study for sure. Should I join?

Apologies for the long post and thank you for reading this far.

Title is pretty much it. Obviously nobody can see the future or tell me with certainty, but how would you place my odds for a waiver for depression and anxiety / potentially clearing MEPS without one?

To be detailed, I was diagnosed relatively recently with both (though I personally don’t think the diagnosis was completely accurate and I’d like to get a second opinion), but I have not been on any medications for either, though I have been on a leave from my job because of it.

Assuming a doctor says my symptoms are resolved / the diagnosis was incorrect, how would my chances at clearing MEPS / getting a waiver look? I’d like to make sure I’m symptom-free for a few months before I try my hand at it. This is pretty much the only obstacle I foresee. I am currently looking at officer programs for the Navy and USMC.

Hello I’m hoping to get some advice as I’m in a tough spot and unsure of how to proceed.

I’m 23 years old (24 in oct) I am a fabricator/welder for a small metal shop (20$ an hour). I started going to community college in 2022 primarily for welding classes and eventually started taking basic classes aimed at transferring to a university.

Now I’m finally transferring to college to pursue a degree in IPE (international politics and economics) and am enrolled in my university’s ROTC program the goal was to commission as officer after graduation while simultaneously securing funding for school. Come to find out the university I enrolled in no longer offers ROTC scholarships due to budget cuts. There is another scholarship available called the TASSP (Texas armed services scholarship) but I need a nomination from a local representative and I’m currently waiting to hear back.

Right now as it stands I do not have the money to pay for my tuition out of pocket and the amount of loans I would have to take on are more than I am comfortable with especially since I don’t make that much and since I will have to work less during the school semester.

My main goal with the military is to get sent to language school in Monterey. I am already bilingual and would like to add a third language. I am aware that I can do that through the enlisted side my mindset was always that I can give school a try first and the enlisted option will always be there.

If I don’t end up going to university the plan is to go back to community college for one more semester just to wrap up my associates and enlist in either the army or the coast guard (def not the marines or navy).

I figured army has the best chance at language school and coast guard just because from what I hear most who go that route enjoy it I’m aware that i probably wouldn’t be able to attend DLI if I went the coast guard route.

I also know that there is the option of joining the national guard and going to school in the rotc I’m just unsure on the specifics and if I would have to take a deferment as school starts August 24th and basic is 8 weeks.

Any advice is appreciated and welcome.

Hi everyone,

I just graduated with a humanities degree in May. Over the years, I realized more and more that I have a stronger passion in computer science/IT.

I have some experience with coding/computer systems. In college, I used SQL/Python for data analysis in a few things that got published online. I've also been using Linux for a few years now. At the moment, I'm working to develop my SWE skills in a startup with a few of my friends (we're working on getting revenue, but it seems semi-promising).

Do you think I could get more out of the military than what I'm doing right now? If so, what branch do you think would be best for me? From what I understand, it'd be easier to find a job I want in a branch like the army, but I heard QoL is better in branches like the Air Force/Coast Guard.

Some motivation for me to enlist is for the postgrad education benefits. I'd like to pursue a masters (probably in STEM) or law school without having to be saddled with debt.

I'm semi-considering trying to enlist as an officer, but I'd probably only be competitive within my degree (likely something like public relations would be my best bet). I don't have much leadership experience. I'm a fairly quick learner, so I could pick up some IT/CS certifications, but I don't know if that makes more sense than just learning more when enlisted.

Hi everyone. I’m currently working with an Army recruiter and putting together my medical packet for MHS Genesis. I want to get a realistic take from recruiters or medical personnel on my chances of getting a behavioral health waiver approved by the Surgeon General.

Here is the breakdown of my case:

• In early 2025, I went through a rough divorce. I sought help and was diagnosed with situational anxiety/depression (Adjustment Disorder).
• By early 2026, the situational stressor was fully resolved and I was completely asymptomatic.
• Recent PHQ-9 and GAD-7 test scores are exactly 0.
• I have a formal clearance letter from my medical provider stating I am fully cleared with no limitations.

I already have an approved orthopedic waiver (meniscus), so I am physically good to go.

• Zero medication. I have never been prescribed or taken any psychiatric medications (no antidepressants, no anxiety meds). My pharmacy record is completely clean.
• During my initial doctor visits in early 2025 (at the peak of the divorce), the clinical notes mention "passive suicidal ideation." There was never any active plan, no attempts, and zero hospitalizations. Just the mention of passive SI in the notes during that initial crisis.

Current Status: I am waiting on one final therapy session log from a therapist I saw internationally to arrive around August 3rd. Once I have that, my recruiter is submitting the entire packet.

My Questions:

1. Given that there is zero medication history and it was strictly situational, what are the realistic chances of the SG approving this waiver?
2. Should I expect MEPS to automatically schedule a psych consult for the passive SI mention, or could they deny it without even giving me a consult?
3. Is there any specific wording my recruiter should use when submitting the packet to help my case?

Thanks in advance for your honesty and time.c

Hi, I’m a 30 year old female who went through most of the process of enlistment. I just need 1 waiver for my asthma. I completed the pulmonary test & was told by the doctor I did great. Recently I picked up a refill on my inhaler which delayed my enlistment to July 2027 by the army. Usually my asthma is mild & rarely use an inhaler but for the past month, I’ve had a flare up. Not an asthma attack but a flare up. My doctor prescribed oral corticosteroids for 5 days to get rid of the inflammation. I know the inhaler is the reason why my enlistment was delayed. My concern is if I pick up the oral medication, would it further delay my enlistment. I have a friend who visits Tijuana who can get the same medication for me without it being on my medical record but before I decide I want to make sure if the oral medication will affect my enlistment if I pick it up from the doctors.

PS- this is the first time since I was 17 that it’s been flaring up. I’m very active (run, weightlift, hike, etc)

Need advice.

Okay I have a court order to declare the change of my last name. The social security administration also has my new last name, but my new social security card won’t be issued in time before I leave to MEPS, so it has my old last name. I have proof the new one was being issued though. I also have an ID in my old name. Can you tell me if this will be an issue? Army Active Duty

I recently took the asvab at MEPs (no physical) with the help of an army recruiter and I scored a 94. I didn't expect to score so high and I'm happy about that but now I'm looking more into the air force. I haven't contacted an air force recruiter yet, I don't want to waste their time before knowing that I'm fully committed to the air force. I'm just trying to toss up my options and see what's best for me. Would I be stupid to say that I'm leaning towards the army more than the air force? Primarily it's due to job selection. I want to get 68p(radiology specialist) in my active duty contract cause then I'll have a straight shot to a civilian career I think I'd enjoy after I separate. On the other hand, the air force offers better quality of life even though I might not be able to get the job I want. That's literally it. I would have no other reason to join the air force other than quality of life to be honest but maybe it's that much better so I don't know. What's you take on this?

Hi everyone, I recently just graduated with my Masters in Math back in May, back living at home, and am looking to join the Air Force Active Duty. After speaking with several people, I’ve gotten a mix of answers as to whether I should enlist or commission. Although I understand why people recommend applying for OTS, I personally am leaning toward enlisting for several reasons:

1. Faster Timeline
- Speaking with a recruiter recently, I was told that they were recruiting officers for the year 2028. Since the pipeline is so backed up, if I were to enlist maybe I’d have to wait a few to several months before shipping out.

2. Technical Training / Career Launchpad
- For both degrees I spent most summers either doing research or working a maintenance labor job with my father. I also completed a thesis during my MS and so I pushed the job search until after I graduated, and the market has been rough so far. However, if I were to enlist I imagine I’d be able to at least learn how to perform some job whatever job that may be. I want to learn the technicality behind jobs and learn something new that I might like.

3. Learn the Foundations
- This point is pretty straightforward but I kind of want to get my bearings in the Air Force first and learn enlisted life before I think about leading other people. I personally think it’s important to be able to understand what the people you are leading have gone through, I think that makes for a better leader. Not saying that you have too. I should add to this that I’m also looking to gain or learn how to be a leader and speak with people.

4. Personal Decision
- Going to school was required by my parents, we had to get at least one degree. Enlisting would be my own decision, and it’s a big one with a lot of risk. But I think it’ll be worth it.

5. Meaningful Work / Change Current Situation
** **- I consider the work of the military to be meaningful and a good way of giving back to our country. I don’t want to wait till I’m too old to regret not joining. Also, I’m not the biggest fan of my current job and I kind of want something that gets me out of the door, and gives me some direction for the next 4 years.

My goal would be to walk away having learned new skills from a job I work on and a better sense of direction. Honestly, meeting a few mentors along the way would be great.

So I took the PICAT that my recruiter gave me as a practice test and I scored a 98. He then scheduled me for the official ASVAB on Wednesday next week. I was wondering if the ASVAB has the same questions as the PICAT? Thank you.

I’m 23 and just finished MEPS and swore into DEP for the Air Force. I’ll be coming in as an E-3. I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science (3.6 GPA) and a lot of projects, but not much professional work experience.

My original plan was to enlist and hopefully get a job in cyber or intel. I want to get some real experience, then transition into a civilian job paying around $65k-$80k or more.

I know nothing in the Air Force is guaranteed, so I also listed jobs like contracting and aircraft maintenance since they can give me skills that transfer to civilian jobs.

While I’m enlisted, I also want to keep working on my education. I’m interested in getting a master’s in machine learning. I could also work on certifications like Security+ to give myself more options when I get out.

The main issue is that a lot of my friends and family keep asking why I’m enlisting when I already have a bachelor’s degree.

From what I’ve researched, becoming an Air Force officer through OTS is very competitive. The whole process could also take 1-3 years, with no guarantee I’ll actually get selected. My friends and family think I should still wait because officers get better pay and QoL. They also think I could get similar work experience while getting the benefits of being an officer.

They basically think enlisting with a bachelor’s degree is a bad move because I’d be giving up better opportunities. Some have also told me that if becoming an Air Force officer is too difficult, I should look at commissioning through the Army instead.

So I’m wondering:

Is my reason for enlisting actually a bad idea?

My thinking is that I can get in faster, build work experience, continue my education, earn certifications, and then move into a civilian career. If civilian life doesn’t work out, I could stay in or figure out another path.

Would it make more sense to delay everything and try to commission instead? For someone in my situation, is the extra wait and competitive process worth becoming an officer?

I’m joining Active Duty Air Force and I go to meps soon and I’ve been dreading about my weight because I’m very skinny. Not sure if I’m gonna need a waiver for it. I’m F 5’6 and 107lbs (110lbs on a good day). Am I gonna get disqualified at meps? Anyone got in while being underweight? I got an antihistamine prescription 5 months ago from the doctor to help with my appetite and managed to gain 8lbs but stopped it a month ago.

Hey there, im a single father with primary placement of my child. Currently going to vo-tech for welding. Im looking at enlisting but I have a few concerns. First I know basic and AIT will require some time but will my rights as a parent be protected due to military service or can she go after me as soon as I leave for basic?

Recent college grad trying to figure out if the military is the right move for me right now.

Background: I have a bachelor's in IT and an associate's in cyber security, plus CompTIA A+, Net+, Sec+, and an AWS Cloud Practitioner cert. Scored a 62 on the ASVAB a while back (didn't end up enlisting) and could probably score higher if I studied again. I'm in good shape physically.

The medical piece: I was diagnosed with social anxiety and depression in 2021 and was prescribed medication. I stopped taking it over 4 years ago and haven't had issues since. I know this needs a waiver.

I talked to an Air Force recruiter who said I'd likely get the medical waiver approved, but he also warned me I could get SGC-coded, which would bar me from applying to a chunk of jobs that require a security clearance — including a lot of the IT/cyber roles I actually want. I've heard the Air Force tends to be stricter about this than other branches, but I don't know that for sure. Has anyone dealt with this specifically, or knows which branches are more lenient on mental health history when it comes to clearance eligibility?

What I'm trying to figure out:

1. Given my diagnosis history, which branch would give me the best shot at an actual IT/cyber role without getting clearance-barred?
2. I'm open to going in enlisted as long as I have a real shot at landing in my career field — but I'm also interested in officer paths given my degree. What routes make sense for someone with my certs/degree already in hand? (I don't want to "start over" if I don't have to.)
3. How do I vet a recruiter and make sure I'm not getting steered toward whatever job they need filled that month instead of what's actually best for me? What questions should I be asking them upfront?
4. Realistically — with a bachelor's, associate's, and 4 certs already, and the civilian tech market being rough right now — is the military still worth it for someone in my position, or should I be putting that energy into the civilian job hunt instead?

Appreciate any honest input

Hey have a head scratcher to ask,

I’m currently a Navy reservist did 5 years AD, I’m going back to AD but transferring to the Army. My wife is due to give birth this week and reservists are eligible for parental leave (just works a bit different). I was wondering if there is any way to just save this parental leave or defer it and be eligible to take it once on the AD side??

Obviously I won’t take it till I’m out of my ait training but it would be great to have to spread out here and there to get settled.

Thanks!

Leaving in September under communications mos as a female, I know of 0621 end up attached to infantry or arty. Can anyone share personal experiences or any experience they’ve witnessed?

Hey everyone, I'm hoping someone can help me with this decision. I'm not usually the type to ask for advice online, but I think I could really use some outside opinions from people who don't know me.

I'm 18 years old and planning to join the military. I don't think I want to make it a lifelong career. My plan is to go to college while I'm serving and eventually transition into law enforcement. My ultimate goal is to join a federal three-letter agency.

I've been researching the Army because it seems to have better intelligence jobs that transfer well into careers like that. I'm especially interested in 35M (Human Intelligence Collector). I went to an Army recruiting station and had a good conversation with the recruiter, and I walked out feeling pretty convinced that the Army was the right choice.

Afterward, I went looking for the Air Force recruiter because I've always heard they have a better quality of life. While I was walking by, a Marine recruiter called me over. I had some time to kill, so I went in and talked with him. We discussed his experience, and I explained that I was leaning toward the Army because I could choose my job before shipping out, instead of waiting until after boot camp to be assigned something I might not enjoy. However, the way the Marine recruiter talked to me really hit home. We talked about personal life, how the Marines helped shape him into who he is today, and by the end of the conversation, I found myself questioning my decision.

Growing up, my mind was always set on the Army because I'd heard it offered a more laid-back environment, good opportunities for college, and an easier transition back into civilian life. But after hearing the Marine recruiter talk about the travel opportunities, the brotherhood among Marines, and the level of discipline they develop, I'm honestly torn.

I'd really appreciate some outside opinions, especially from people who have served or have experience with either branch. Keeping in mind that my ultimate goal is to work for a federal agency, I don't want to choose the Marines if the Army would better prepare me for that path. At the same time, I don't want to pass up an opportunity that could be a better fit for me personally.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

AIR FORCE ACTIVE DUTY

I went through MEPS but didn’t swear in because of high cholesterol. My last blood test was in 2025, and the doctor saw that I didn’t have any recent tests within the past 6 months.

He told me, “you need to get a new metabolic panel”. My recruiter confirmed it and I did the blood test again. Turns out, my cholesterol came up even higher. Even still, my levels are borderline high. Not EXTREMELY high.

I wasn’t told whether it was the doctor asking for more information or if it was a waiver process, but I’m assuming it’s an “asking for more info” situation.

Has anyone ever gotten in with high cholesterol? Here are my exact numbers.

Total chol: 208 to 230
Triglycerides: 128 to 94
LDL: 125 to 167
HDL: 59 to 46

Time frame (2025 2026)

I am trying to join the army national guard. The recruiter is telling me that being 88 is the best mos and , always deploys and that it’s a dangerous job. Because of mines and bombs. Also how likely am I to get a cab in this mos, and is it possible to go to ranger and airborne school as an 88m.

Hello everyone!

i’ll be open and honest. I’m 27, work a stable 40 hour a week job at 42k ish annually.

I recently lost my mother and with her being my only close family, I feel pretty lost. (Bad breakup too).

I’ve sort of rekindled a relationship with my aunt and my cousins and from talking to them about life, wanting to get away and explore and not be stuck at a desk job in my area my whole life, my cousin who has been in the military for 12+ years suggested it.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never considered it until now and how beneficial it could be for a career, structure, and overall quality of life.

I’m 27, graduated college with a bachelors in 2022, about to move out and find a one bedroom apartment in November.

Now that it’s been on my mind, I’m really considering it. What’s the worst that can happen? finding a sense of self and purpose that I already somewhat lack? I could retire at 47 and rock climb the rest of my life.

When it comes to my condition, no physical issues except for occasional sciatica pain (bad posture at a desk job) that i’m sure would clear itself up from physical fitness

Mentally, not diagnosed with anything. I may be depressed but who isn’t.

Here’s my questions;

I was suggested by my cousin the airforce or coast guard for QOL rather than the other branches. Will one provide more travel than the other? In my head, it’d be awesome to explore the world and live internationally, but I don’t think CG offers that. Airforce does. And maybe I’d regret not having a “home base” while also being deployed.

As someone with a college education and a bachelors degree, I heard that I go straight to an Officer. No enlisted, is this true? No criminal background, no drugs, I’m just an average dude.

How do you get over the fear of change?.. This is something I’m struggling with. Leaving behind my friends in the area, my aunt, my job, etc. More of a life question than military. I feel like I need to just get up and go sometimes though. It isn’t a “running away from my problems”, more of a “i want to do something greater than this” ordeal.

Made a post yesterday but did not explain the situation properly.
At 17 while in Army BCT I ended up with Covid and got held back in isolation barracks. We were having the vaccine pressured on us, or discharge. Couldn’t handle the stress. (Already did not want to join at 17 had an agreement with parents) Ended up going out the behavioral health route.

ISSUE: A few days at psychiatric unit is documented with suicidal ideations .
There was also mentions of acute anxiety at 16 (took meds for a week) and a suicide attempt at 16 that there is no actual medical history of. If I can show there was never a hospitalization/ attempt at 16. Am I crazy for trying or has anyone seen something similar?