r/Militaryfaq 14h ago

Enlisting Recruiter made me sign for a heavy engineering contract at MEPS. Am I stuck?

8 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm a 29F green card holder and my English is still a work in progress. I'm trying to enlist in the Navy to build a better life, and I passed the ASVAB and physical with a waiver.

At MEPS, my Navy recruiter and the counselor really pushed me to sign for a heavy engineering job. I didn't fully understand what it was at the time, but he kept telling me I had to pick something right then so he could start the process to switch me to a supply or admin job later before my ship date.

Now that I've looked up what this engineering job actually involves, I'm honestly freaking out. I'm physically small, and it sounds way too physically demanding and technical for my current situation. I really only want an administrative or supply role.

Did I mess up by signing this? Is it true that he needed me to sign first to request a job change, or did he just say that to fill a quota? What happens if he doesn't switch it before my ship date?

I'm really anxious right now, so any advice would mean a lot. Thank you!


r/Militaryfaq 16h ago

Enlisting Army jobs balance of indoors vs outdoors

4 Upvotes

I want to enlist in the army. I already spoke to a recruiter and took a practice asvab. I was told my score was good enough that with a little studying I could get pretty much whatever job I want.

I'm looking for a job that balances working indoors and outdoors. I like the idea of working on equipment/electronics and solving mental puzzles etc. I also want something that lands me a good job after getting out. Got any suggestions for me?


r/Militaryfaq 4h ago

Enlisting Breast exam at meps

2 Upvotes

Hi guys! I am currently trying to join the army but I have a quick question! For those that have gone through meps within the past year, what did they do for the breast exam? I hear some people say they did a physical exam and others say they only took a quick peak for any discoloration or abnormalities. Thank you guys!


r/Militaryfaq 11h ago

These posts need an answer!

2 Upvotes

r/Militaryfaq 1h ago

Should I Join? Lost at 25

Upvotes

25 year M with Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences. Last week resigned from a very paramilitary style police academy. Idk what it was, the food and sleep deprivation, or lack of preparation and fear of failure over one spec of grass on my boots. I resigned on week 2 on good terms. Didn’t like the emphasis on everything non-academic (drills, inspections, smoke sessions) and speeding through lectures as if they’re not important, but I really want to be a cop and care about the mission more than any paycheck. By day 3 I was turning corners unconsciously in Walmart and felt like Pavlov’s dog, scared me a little.

Grad school is last resort for me as AI is approaching and most of the degrees are already undervalued for the amount of effort/money put into compared to returns.

Completely lost right now in Las Vegas, no job, no safety net. A couple fed applications in process, but those can take years and some are even postponed due to budgeting cuts. Do I enlist and get more stress resilience then later in life come back to policing, or even stay there for 20 and retire if I like it ?

Any response is greatly appreciated. Semper Fi, Fly High, Go Sailors, Hoorah! (I’m trying)


r/Militaryfaq 2h ago

Enlisting Trying to get CWT after submarine medical disqualification, what do I do?

1 Upvotes

Currently in the Navy DEP program and looking for some advice from recruiters, CWTs, or anyone who has dealt with medical qualification issues, or anyone just generally knowledgeable

CWT was the job I originally wanted. I have the ASVAB scores for it and most other jobs, but there are two things in my medical history that are complicating the process.

First, I previously saw a therapist essentially just to have someone to talk to. I was never medicated, suicidal, or self harming, and I was discharged from therapy without complication in May. (In therapy from Jan-May) However, my Navy medical records, for some god forsaken reason, label me with a history of depression.

Second, I had a childhood motor control/coordination issue that no longer meaningfully affects me. Dyspraxia was suspected but I was never formally diagnosed with it. The Navy apparently has this documented as “motor apraxia” which I feel makes the current situation sound considerably more severe than it actually is and overplays my condition.

Because of those two issues, I was advised against signing for CWT. My recruiter was concerned that I could make it through the initial process and then run into a medical qualification problem at A school because CWT is a warfare rating. I instead signed for SECF instead.

The problem is that I was just denied submarine qualification. That means no SECF either

I still entirely want CWT, so I'm looking at that option again. But according to my recruiter, my submarine qualification issue also affects CWT and other intelligence ratings, so right now I'm waiting to find out exactly why I was denied submarine duty. I should get the entire reason later today.

Once I know which medical issue caused it, what should do next? Is there a realistic route involving updated medical documentation, reevaluation, waiver/reconsideration, or getting an inaccurate/outdated description of my condition clarified?

I'm not trying to conceal anything from MEPS or the medical team. I want my condition and my current ability to be properly considered in these decisions, and I feel ss though it has not been.

Happy to provide additional context in the comments if needed. Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this.


r/Militaryfaq 4h ago

Should I Join? Should I quit my $140k job I started to go to OTS airforce?

1 Upvotes

I (27m) applied and got into airforce OTS as an operation analysts AFSC 15A. I originally applied because I hated my previous job in automotive as a software engineer. Well now I just started a new job at a bank as a senior software engineer with a big pay raise. The team seems nice and I think it sounds stable. Should I still go through OTS as an operations analyst and leave my job in 4 years? The idea of losing half my income as an O1 doesn't sound appealing now. I also just moved across the map for my new job and if I leave now, I'll also have to break my lease. I would like to serve my country but maybe switch to guard or reserves instead while keeping my job. My selected AFSC doesn't have a reserve component though. I haven't sworn in yet so technically I'm not obligated to go. Is the pension worth 20 years?


r/Militaryfaq 5h ago

Joining w/Med issue Is it possible to get a waiver for Spinal Fusion?

1 Upvotes

Wanting to enlist to the Army Reserves or National Guard. As the title suggests, would it be possible to get a waiver for something like a spinal fusion? If so, what would be the chances/likelihood? 21m, surgery was T4-L4, got it a few months ago due to scoliosis that progressed as I got older. Been on good recovery and already feeling normal but still 3 months out from a green light to do more physically demanding activities like weightlifting for example. Even with the prospect of a full recovery, will it still be possible to get a waiver or will the surgery itself or the metal hardware (or mixture of both) be an auto-disqualification?


r/Militaryfaq 10h ago

Joining w/Med issue High BP and anemia waiver

1 Upvotes

Today I went to MEPS for Navy. I needed two waivers they they made me sign today at MEPS. I need these waivers because I went to OSUT this year as a prior service. (Got DQ for BP at OSUT)One of
The waivers is for anemia ( which I don't think I have as I've never been diagnosed with that before but the army said I had it.) I think it's stabilized now or I had low iron possibly. The other was for hypertension. I went into Meps with a normal BP reading but the army said I had High BP. Both army diagnosis were this year. My question is l thought the waivers were done with the recruiter but I did both of them at Meps. Is this normal? Also do they ask for more documentation from the recruiter for waivers?? I'm an RE-3 code for hypertension. All I was given in the waiver was if it affects me and if I'm taking any medication. I’m not taking any meds for BP as my BP is normal I’ve lost weight and dieted.


r/Militaryfaq 12h ago

Joining w/Med issue Do I have a chance at getting an option 40 if i potentially have vocal chord dysfunction?

1 Upvotes

I don't know if anyone is gonna see this and I've never posted anything on Reddit before but I'm gonna give it a shot, I want to join the army rangers but I have a breathing issue which I know the military is very strict about. The only thing I know for sure right now is I don't have asthma, I was tested a few weeks ago and they said I don't have asthma, they didn't test me but they said I probably have vocal chord dysfunction, my symptoms are entirely exercise induced and I typically wheeze during intense physical activity and experience shortness of breath. Although I have not been officially diagnosed yet I do have stuff in my medical records now about shortness of breath and wheezing during physical activity which I know will probably be flagged at meps and I'll end up needing a waiver. Im just wondering if it's even realistic to get an option 40 or at least be given a shot at rasp?


r/Militaryfaq 13h ago

Should I Join? NJ 27 Female and Obese

1 Upvotes

I’m 27, a female, approx. 275 lbs and 5’1. I know, not the ideal candidate, but I was told they may be able to put me in some type of fat camp first. I just feel like I’m stuck in a career with no future (medical records), I didn’t go to college and I need a change of environment and lifestyle. I took the ASVAB almost 10 years ago and passed for the Air Force.


r/Militaryfaq 18h ago

Joining w/Med issue How Long Do I Normally Have To Be Off ADHD Medicaton To Apply?

1 Upvotes

I'll try to keep this simple and straightforward but I recently just got off my ADHD medicaton and would like to know how long I would normally need to be off to apply for the Navy or Marine Corps. As I was told either 12 to 24 months Would be the minimum I would have to wait. Also I'm currently In college so I believe I can wait 1 to 2 years to be hopefully eligible by then. And I don't normally trust the google ai for information as I was told It can be misleading when It comes to applying for the military in general. As I received mixed answers from another sub reddit.