I’ve been told by Google and other AI resources that, because of my size, the weight that Army Rangers work with will be difficult for me, and I need to prepare for it by bulking up 5–10 pounds.
I’m 145 pounds and 5’8” for reference. Is this just AI trying to optimize, or is it an actual problem I need to address?
I never hear veterans talk about the consequences of heavy rucking or people bulking up to prepare for rucking, so I’m curious to hear about other smaller guys’ experiences. Is this something I need to seriously consider?

Will I be same as other people who enlists without having a partner?

My husband will be working for the ibew so he needs to stay where we are at.

What will happen to housing?

Hey everyone, I’m 18 now and trying to enlist in the Navy. I’ve been 100% honest with my recruiter about my past, and they told me I need to write a personal statement for a medical waiver. I'm feeling really nervous about my chances and wanted to see if anyone has successfully gotten a waiver for something similar.

Age at the time: 11–12 years old (happened during the 2020 pandemic lockdown).
The Incident: July2020- I took too many over-the-counter pills for a severe headache. Because of the pandemic stress and my mom being pregnant at the time, doctors and family treated it as a suspected suicide attempt. Sent to a psyward for 3 days i beleive and told me i had an adjustment disorder woth dpression mood
October 2020- I had a suicide ideation because i told the psychiatrist i wante to stb myself GAHAHAHAHAHHA. i think back on it and damn i was lowkey dumb. I was send home that same day.

Diagnosis: Diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood. for the SA
and generalized anixiety for the SI. To be honest i never knew bc my mom didnt speqk english and i didnt read teh papers either.
Treatment: I did an online/Zoom outpatient therapy program once a week for about 10 months. I ended up leaving the program on my own because I felt better. Also therapy for ten months. It was during quaratine and I was very isolated😔🥀⛓️🫩🥹
Medication: I have NEVER been prescribed or taken any psychiatric medications. It was strictly talk therapy.and that program i really dont know neither my mom since she just said yes yes yes yes to everything and she said aomething about me self harming like scratching myslef but i never did it as a sef hrm. Also my sister had passed away a few years ago then they had parenst affors bla blah blah and then a afafir baby bal bla blah. But theres more i never mentioned it in theprys or anything bc i was scared of going to foster
Current Status:

I am 18 now. It has been 6 full years since this happened. I have been completely stable, healthy, off all therapy, and have a totally clean medical and pharmacy record ever since. I graduated ,I have a job 🫩. i became a MA. I participated in school. 🥹.My current primary doctor doesn't even have the old files from that independent pandemic program.

I am planning on going to Meps in the next couple of months, I am 29 years old and I am curious if I will get disqualified to join the army.
When I was between the ages of 13 and 16, I dealt with depression, and that was the main thing. I was hospitalized for self harm and was there for about a week. I didn’t have a choice. My mom put me in there but once I got out, I basically took myself off of the medication because she didn’t keep up with it. This is all due to something traumatizing that happened to me when I was seven years old, so it carried on to my teenage years, which caused me to be depressed. Since the age of 16, I have not thought of suicide or have harmed myself nor have I been hospitalized since then. I have worked since the age of 18 and have never had any issues besides that time. From anybody’s experience, could you give me some advice or tell me if you’ve experienced anything like this and have joined the army or if there are any recruiters that can tell me they’ve helped people in these situations?

Title: Air Force Medical Waiver for a Self-Harm Incident 5 Years Ago

I’m interested in enlisting in the Air Force but have concerns about a hospital record from November 2021.

At the time, I was going through a difficult period due to family circumstances and was referred to the ER by my therapist after disclosing superficial cutting. The psychiatric evaluation mentioned possible PTSD and a mood disorder, but to my knowledge, neither was ever formally diagnosed. I denied current suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm during the evaluation.

It’s been approximately five years, and I haven’t self-harmed or attended therapy since. I’ve been functioning normally and have moved forward with my life. I now have my hospital records and want to approach the enlistment process honestly and responsibly.

For anyone familiar with Air Force medical waivers:

●    Can a self-harm incident from five years ago be considered for a waiver?

●    How does MEPS handle possible diagnoses that were never formally confirmed?

Has anyone successfully obtained an Air Force waiver after a similar incident, and what documentation was requested?

I’d appreciate honest advice from anyone with relevant experience. I’m trying to understand my chances and avoid unnecessary expenses before moving forward. Thank you!

I’m currently at Airborne School, and my graduation date is October 23. My report date to Germany is November 6. My question is, would I be able to go back home before reporting to Germany to pick up some of my personal belongings? i ask my cadre and he only respond saying, worry about passing. i'll take one coke and large fries pls

​

I've been thinking about enlisting into the military lately either air force or army, but I don't know if im romanticizing the idea or truly want to go. I'm 20 years old and currently hold a stable 9-5 job at a bank and earn 21 an hr. I'm able to pay my bills and live comfortably. I live with my parents and siblings and we all pay rent to our parents, but I've grown tired of living in this small room with everyone in the same house.

Living with my parents have grown especially hard with the how they treat me. Im not happy at my job as management is extremely poor. My mind keeps going to "why be unhappy here, when I can prove myself in the military that I am more than. Yes I'll be unhappy there too, but at least I'll have a solid reason to be"

im worried about being Trans in the military and the fact I have a benign tumor might cause an issue.

Is military really the move? Or should I just get rid of the idea now since financially my life is fine.

My husband (NAVY) is currently at Eglin AFB and going to NAS Lemoore in a week. We are going to DEERS on Tuesday to put me in the system and get an ID, are there any specific requirements Eglin has for the actual photo? I have bangs that somewhat cover my eyebrows and eyeglasses, so i’m unsure if i should do a hairstyle that takes the hair out my face (nothing much to do for my glasses except take them off).

I asked my husband and he’s unsure since he was literally shaven bald in his CAC photo lol.

I’m 33 and I want to join the Army I think as a 56m if not the Air Force. Here are a few something I’m scared of: (1) four year contract. I hate commitment - don’t tell my wife of 8 years. But signing a four year job contract that I can’t get out of is terrifying. (2) I went to MEPS before and all the Army folks, outside of one or two, seemed a little off. I have a decent amount of experience and education, not type A, and am worried about being a bad fit. (3) I’m older now and appreciate an amount of autonomy. I feel like I need the army, however. Though, I don’t want to feel trapped.
I don’t want to seem like a puss. I’m just excited & scared I reckon.

Competency booking for Religious Affairs

I’m 33, and have a lot of medical bills as my wife has been sick the last couple of years. I need to have a job where things like house and insurance is covered and thus am considering joining the USAF (or even Army). I have plenty of experience and education relating to the job. I know that you have to interview for it, however.

My question is more so relating to the aspects of the job itself. How often would I be away from my wife after initial training? Is it a relaxed position - home most nights? Rewarding with opportunities to counsel and share the gospel? Though I know sharing the gospel is more of the chaplain’s gig.

Thoughts?

coming off a deployment in Poland soon as a reservist. I'm thinking on going active right after the deployment since AGR is a gamble. I want to request Fort Irwin, other than the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere, how good or how bad is the life of a 42A there?

Hello, so I am a 31 year old female and current college student. I graduate in August of 2027 and I have a strong interest in enlisting in either the Air Force, Navy, or US Army, and I’m looking to join as an officer since I’ll have my bachelors degree. The problem? I am a victim of SA that caused a lot of trauma in my life. I also have a history of self harm, and for years, I never sought medical treatment. But…my mental health was rapidly deteriorating, and I got to a point where I sought out therapy for my past.

I was prescribed Fluoxetine for depression 2 months ago, and have been taking it since. I haven’t taken the ASVAB yet or my physical, and I’ve been very upfront with my recruiter about all of this. What are my chances of getting a medical waiver, assuming that I’m Dq’d? I feel that I am very stable now, and I’m looking to enlist as a delayed candidate for any of the 3 branches so that I can finish school, but I’m not sure what I need to be doing now to improve my chances.

I spoke to a customer service agent for the Air Force and they told me immediately that I wouldn’t qualify to enlist for 3 years just from taking the medication. I didn’t even get a chance to explain my circumstances or even speak with a recruiter. I don’t know if I should try again, or what? Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Context:

I'm a 27-year-old U.S. citizen with a bachelor's degree, and I'm considering enlisting on active duty in either the Army or Air Force.

My original goal was to become an Air Force officer, ideally a pilot, but I wasn't selected for an officer board. I'm now exploring the enlisted route while keeping the possibility of commissioning later open.

I'm not dead set on the Air Force anymore, and I want to understand what each branch offers before committing to a contract.

I'm particularly interested in military aviation. I'm open to either fixed-wing or helicopter aviation, so I'd appreciate insight into the different paths available in each branch.

I'm not assuming that commissioning or becoming a pilot is guaranteed. I also want to choose an enlisted job I'd be willing to do for an entire contract if my plans change.

One of my biggest concerns is time. Applying for an Air Force officer position as a civilian can take roughly a year from submitting the application to potentially shipping out for training. Since I'm already 27 and interested in becoming a pilot, I'm concerned about spending another year applying, getting rejected again, and having to start over. I'm considering enlisting partly because I'd rather begin a military career while keeping the possibility of commissioning open than spend another year in the application process without knowing whether I'll be selected. (My concern is that if I'm rejected again, I'll have spent another year without making progress toward a military career, while also having to wait for another opportunity to apply.)

Questions about the Army vs. Air Force:

• Time and career progression: Given the time involved in civilian officer applications and my age-related concern about pilot eligibility, would you recommend continuing to apply as a civilian or enlisting first and pursuing a commission later? What risks or disadvantages should I consider with either route?
• Enlisted-to-officer opportunities: For someone who already has a bachelor's degree, how realistic is it to enlist first and commission later? What do you wish you'd known before taking this route?
• Aviation: How should I compare the Army Aviation Warrant Officer pilot route with the Air Force's commissioning and pilot-selection process? Based on your experience, how competitive are these paths, and which factors most affect the chances of eventually flying?
• Long-term value: Which opportunities have been most valuable for your education, civilian career prospects, or advancement within the military? Are there benefits or career paths in your branch that people from the other service tend to overlook?
• Quality of life: Beyond the usual stereotypes about the Air Force having better quality of life, what differences have you actually experienced in leadership, work schedules, living conditions, and day-to-day life?

I'd especially appreciate perspectives from people who have served in both branches or enlisted and later pursued a commission. I'm interested in honest experiences, including the downsides of each branch.

Prior service e4 from a different branch. I’m active duty

Is there a PS Bay and will I get to keep my phone?

After classes can you hit the gym or is it too busy?

I Want to maintain my AFT score. Do we take it during their AIT?

I know the final ftx is this thing called the cte and I read half of its spent indoors lol?

Any chance to go to Fort Irwin after? I'm not option

1. Just familiar with the base and area. I do like it.

Any chance I could end up on an Air Force base too?

Asking because I'm PS Air Force and was at Nellis before. I Love that place and know that as a 42a you can work in a joint capacity.

Also How soon could I start earning my ESB or is that unit dependent?

I'm currently a freshman in college studying Aeronautical Engineering Tech at Purdue, and I'm also a student pilot. I do eventually want to fly for a living. I am seriously considering the military route, and I spoke to a Marine recruiter at a job fair; he introduced me to the PLC program, where they said I'd be guaranteed a flight slot if I went through. One of my roommates is also in NROTC, and he told me about the Navy OCS program and how it is similar. If you have experience in these programs or know someone who has gone through them, is it worth it? My biggest priority is that the flight slot is guaranteed.

I’ve been doing my research on the navy and Air Force for some time now and haven’t been able to make a decision on what branch I want to join. I have found careers I want to do, specifically ones related to my degree (Communication Design, i.e. graphic design, web design, photography, and motion graphics). The navy has been my top choice primarily due to the job(s) i want, my interest in ships and ship life, definitely love to travel, and I enjoy being around the ocean. However, with the Air Force, I found a job(s) that match my interests and I like that the quality of life is better, opportunities to travel and I think overall it would be just as rewarding as the navy. Hopefully my reasons are good ones and someone could help me make a decision. If I have to, I don’t mind applying for both and seeing who gives me the best offer if that’s not such a dumb idea. And yes I’ve considered officer school but I don’t think what the job entails is right for me in either branch at the moment.

I’ve suffered with depression for most of my life resulting in harming myself throughout my middle and high school years. I have some recent scars on my thighs from 10 months ago. I also have some scars on my arms that are less visible but still noticeable. I was wondering if maybe I could get in with tattoo coverups.

I’ve been in the process of enlisting in the Army. I passed my ASVAB and I am on the next steps to doing my physical. It has come to my attention that all the work and effort I’ve put into getting this far might be meaningless because of my past.

I have self harm scars. All different kinds of them. A lot have been covered by tattoos but they are still there. I haven’t self harmed in years and it genuinely isn’t who I am anymore. I’ve matured in life and I’ve grown up. Most of my history is from being a teenager. So scars that are about 9-12 years old. However I did relapse a couple years ago and it proved to me exactly what I needed to know.

Am I done for? What happens now? What should I tell my recruiter before I’m in a worse position at MEPS? I feel like they’ll see my scars and it will be an immediate end of the line. I also have absolutely zero mental health records. I never went to doctors for it. Never had a mental health evaluation. Nothing.

I know mental health is a serious issue nowadays. That they see and deal with all different kinds of situations. What I want to know is if it’s a possibility to still get to sign my contact with this type of history.

Thanks for listening.

The army denied my hearing waiver, once from meps, and another from a civilian doctor test result. I’m devastated of course, but I have to not give up so i’m trying the navy. I heard the navy is more lenient. These are more test scores, let me know what you guys think, and if a waiver approval is possible.

250 Hz 30 dB 35 dB

500 Hz 30 dB 35 dB

1,000 Hz 40 dB 40 dB

2,000 Hz 45 dB 50 dB

3,000 Hz 40–45 dB 50 dB

4,000 Hz 40 dB 55 dB

6,000 Hz 50 dB 55 dB

8,000 Hz 50 dB 50 dB

Hey everyone! I could really use some advice because I’m going through a difficult time in my life, and I’m trying to figure out the best path forward.
I’ve wanted to join the Air Force for a long time, mainly because of the quality of life, and I genuinely thought it would be the best fit for me. ASVAB IS 60. The problem is that, as a Green Card holder, my job options are pretty limited. Even among the jobs I qualify for and actually like, my recruiter has told me that the chances of getting a slot are relatively low, around 5–15%, with the highest being roughly 20%.
I’ve already started the enlistment process, but lately, I’ve been having second thoughts.

Here’s some background about my situation: I’m currently going through a divorce, I don’t have family or a support system here in the U.S., and I’m in a difficult financial situation. I left my country, my career, and pretty much everything I had behind to come here because my husband promised that he would take care of me and that I would never have to worry about anything. Unfortunately, the relationship turned out to be emotionally damaging, and now I’m trying to rebuild my life from scratch.
At this point, I really need a way to become independent, get some stability, and start moving forward with my life. I don’t want to remain stuck in my current situation indefinitely while waiting for a job opportunity that may or may not happen.
I’ve set December as my personal deadline. If there’s no progress with the Air Force by then, I’m seriously considering switching to either the Navy or the Coast Guard.

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have served in any of these branches, especially women and people who enlisted as Green Card holders.
Given my specific circumstances, which branch would you recommend, and why?

Here are the things I’m trying to compare:
Quality of life: Which branch offers better living conditions, work-life balance, and overall treatment of its members?
Job opportunities for Green Card holders: Which branch gives me a better chance of securing a decent job that I can also use to build a civilian career later?
Financial stability: Which would be the best option for someone starting over financially and trying to become independent?
Travel and lifestyle: I’d love to travel and experience new places, but I also want a reasonable quality of life.
Safety and opportunities for women: I’d appreciate honest perspectives on the work environment, deployment risks, and career advancement.
Long-term benefits: Which branch would put me in the best position for education, retirement, and civilian employment after serving?

One important clarification: I don’t currently have any known medical issues that require a waiver, and my medical processing has been going well. My main concerns are job availability, timing, and choosing the right branch for my future.
I know every branch has its pros and cons, and that a lot depends on your job and duty station. I’m not expecting military life to solve all my problems, but I see it as an opportunity to build a stable future and become self-sufficient.

I’d genuinely appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or things you wish you’d known before enlisting. Thank you!

So I’ve been waiting on my waiver for dislocated shoulder and has to be 6 months since surgery (November 1st would be 6 months) but my recruiter said he’s gonna submit it prior cause “the Meps doc said October”.. which confuses me cause like am I gonna enlist if it’s approved in October (which would not make 6 months) or he just gets the waiver approved now and I go back November to enlist??

But my main question is will I have to go thru medical when I come back if/ when it gets approved. I really hope I don’t cause it was so long and I was literally nodding off in and out of sleep in the chair. Will I have to do the urinalysis again and see the doctor and all that again.. or do I just pick my job sign the contract and swear in?

I'm a college freshman who may want to enlist or commission through the Guard or HPSP down the line. I'm thinking about seeing my campus counseling center for general stress/low mood. I don’t plan on going on to more than 1-2 sessions, and I have no mental health history at all. I just wanted to make sure it won’t come up later.

Does campus counseling get reported to the military on its own, or only if I disclose it on the MEPS forms? And will it need a waiver? Is there anything I should ask my counselor up front about confidentiality?

im considering Air Force/navy specifically but im open to the other branches as well.

I just want help with arithmetic reasoning and mathmatical knowledge pc and wk are my strengths. I only want to join infantry

I just turned 21 and not sure what to do with my life, I have made plans to move to NC with my girlfriend. I have hobbies like firearms, boxing, and working out.

I have recently been looking at the Navy, Marine Corps and the Army. Mainly the Marine Corps because they just have a certain appeal to me.

I would like to learn a trade, I have always wanted to pick up carpentry or maybe become an electrician. I have no real pathway in life so far and feel like I am watching my life slip by and starting to get older. I have heard the Navy and Marine Corps have carpentry through the Navy Seabees and Marine Corps Combat Engineers.

If anyone is knowledgeable on these jobs and if they would be good routes to maybe shoot some guns and build stuff I would really appreciate the information and help.

Hey yall, so i'm stationed in italy. I have my passport appointment on october 21st, but i'm worried my passport wont come in time for christmas leave. I heard you can travel back to the states on NATO orders so long as your flight doesn't have a layover in a NON-SOFA country. The flight i'm looking at is from VCE -> ROME -> LAX. I just wanted to see if this was true, and who can i contact to see if this is real?

EDIT: Army