Hey everyone. I'm a 28 y/o female with a bachelors degree in international relations and Spanish, getting my masters in Spanish soon. I'm looking to join the National Guard. I've been wanting to for a while now but I've had to wait until I've been off antidepressants. Should be clear to go now, according to my Army friend. What sort of jobs or fields should I be looking at given my background. I'm also a firefighter and looking to get my EMT.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been seriously considering joining the Army. Unfortunately, after having COVID and dealing with a lot of laziness afterwards, my weight has gotten out of control. My recruiter mentioned something about the Army paying for weight loss, essentially like a paid “fat camp.” Is this true? If so, how does it work?

Another question: If I join the Army, would it eventually be possible to transfer to the Air Force or Space Force? I’m interested in those branches as well, but I don’t know how realistic it is to switch.

Lastly, for those who’ve been through it, what should I expect if I decide to join? I currently work a full-time job, but it just doesn’t pay enough to make ends meet, and I don’t have the money for college. Right now, it feels like my best options are either sticking it out in my current situation or taking the leap and joining the military.

Any advice or insight is appreciated! Thanks in advance!

So I went for the army and came back from MEPS with 17 DQ…and I know it’s alot…all of this was when I was a teen(age 16-19) and im 24 now

BILAT Knee Pain, BILAT Knee Lateral Meniscectomy

History of Allergy to Seafood/Shellfish

GERD with complications

Left Knee Instability

Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder, severe with psychotic features

Suicidality

History of Self Harm

Substance Abuse (ETOH)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

PTSD

Recurrent Altered Consciousness

Seizure History

Chronic Fatigue

Sleep Disorder

Cold Related Disorders

Reactive Airway Disease

Now….my medical records indicates no self harm…i did have thoughts when I was young but in my record it also says “Despite frequent suicidal ideation, he insists that he has no intent to harm himself or another at this time.”…now I was never in a mental health facility or any other hospital…now i been stable for more than 4 years and off meds since 2022…I have better ways to cope with day to day stress by getting my life right with GOD. Also the guy at MEPS decide to say that an outburst that i had last year because a coworker threatened to kill me and it wasn’t his first time…i had an outburst and alot happened, my job decided to do an interview with me to see what took place i told them i don’t fully remember anything after be threaten me…I got upset and stuff happened. They told me to go get checked out and i dont why but MEPS said it was altered Consciousness disorder and then he tried to say he sounded like i had a certain seizure…and im looking at him confused…also this is a lot but i want to call MEPS because i wasn’t given a psych exam and i dont have GERD/acid reflux…i got clearance letters from my primary doctor,orthopedic and gastroenterologist…my question is there anyway that I can fight this? Im more than welcome to explain everything shown above.

Wondering if anyone has any information on being medboarded for a bipolar diagnosis. Specifically in the coast guard.

I'm on my first contract. Have 1.5 years TIS. I really don't want to get out as l have a wife and daughter that I need to support. I was recently given a large lump sum bonus...will I have to pay that back even though I'm being forced out so to say? It would really hurt me financially and I don't know what l would do without that money.

I'm feeling so blindsided by this and just lost. Any help is appreciated...Thank you guys

My family and I are being invited to a military (branch, Army) promotion for my cousin in the new year. Just trying to plan ahead. Do we bring gifts? I know it's a big deal promotion, so l assume gifts are appropriate, but l'm not sure if I'm right. I also don't know what kind of gift should be given... any guidance would be appreciated!

I don’t know if I’m gonna make it

Hello All,

I am currently in the process of enlisting with the army. My medical prescreened has been cleared and I am on my way to MEPs for the ASVAB.

In 2015 while vacationing in Cancun I accidentally swallowed ocean water while snorkeling and ended up with a fever. Came back to the states and got checked and was told I was positive for a bacterial gut infection called H Pylori.

I was in the process of getting treated however my grandmother fell ill and I put my needs aside and took care of her.

Fast forward to 2020 my grandmother fought the good fight however out of everything Covid took her in 2020.

Given the stress of COVID and the loss of the woman who raised me I was not feeling 100% with constant stomach issues. Went to the doctor and was told I may have depression and anxiety and prescribed me SSRIs and anxiety meds.

After taking them I noticed no changes, as I was still having stomach issues I remembered I tested positive for H Pylori and went and told my new PCP of my issue and prescribed me antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria.

Weeks later I tested and I was cleared of the bacteria and told by my doctor that the bacteria could trigger symptoms of anxiety and depression during stressful situations.

After I had been cleared, working with my doctors supervision I have been unprescribed from all SSRI and Anxiety prescriptions. I currently have no active prescriptions under my name.

However this was back in December 2023 and I have been off all medications since they were related to H Pylori.

Would the doctor at MEPs see this as an H Pylori issue or would I still require a waiver and/or have to wait 2 years in order to move forward?

Thank you

-edit-

I was diagnosed in 2021 only took SSRIs and Anxiety meds for 3 months. Then pursued getting rid of the bacteria. Kept medications on by my doctor in case I needed them but never took them again. After follow up with my doctor’s supervision I was taken off all meds in 2023.

Looking to enlist in the Army National Guard and been thinking about jobs. I really like the Signal Corps, but are there other jobs I’m overlooking that aren’t in Signal?

Hi all, I am about to submit a packet for Army OCS this month, and if I am not selected will likely enlist. However, my cousin’s kidney is failing. He was only born with one partially functioning kidney and it hasn’t held him back from anything, but we always knew eventually he’d need a new one. We grew up like brothers, bunked together in the same room, always been close. I feel an obligation to see if I’m a good match and donate if so. Would this DQ me from service? Thank you for your consideration.

Hi! I'm writing a short story, and I want to get my regulations right. Does the JAG corps have any legal authority to force former service members to testify? In my story, a service member witnessed a crime, but has since mustered out. Could JAG somehow force her to appear as a witness? The story is military sci-fi, so futuristic space navy, which is why the Navy is the closest branch.

Hi yall, my wife would like to use the spouse preference when she applies for jobs. How does it work? I am leaving for BMT next week. I do not know if she has to wait till i finish tech school and get my duty assignment or basic to be able to use it. My tech school is going to take almost a year. What document does she need/do i need to give it to her? Thanks

Hey i want to join the navy but i have 2 misdemeanor convictions for evading arrest & unlawfully carrying a weapon both from 2022. I’m currently on probation for a felony fraud possession charge in good standing which i’ll be done with in a few months. The probation that i’m on is deferred adjudication also. They told me upon completion it will be dismissed. Will i still have to get it expunged? Can someone please let me know if i have a shot?

Hello, throwaway for obvious reasons

I'm a civilian (29M) with ~5 YOE working for a DMV-based Federal agency in a cybersecurity role and no prior military experience. I have my TS/SCI, a MS in computer science, and various certs Uncle Sam told me to get (CISSP, CEH, SANS, etc). I love the mission, and have been considering joining either Army or Air Force Reserves to do the same work from the military perspective. I considered national guard for a bit but don't really want to chance being activated for my state.

I keep hearing AF has better QOL, but Army seems to have opportunities that are more in line with my current interests (17A, 170D). I found this cyber warrant officer page but it only seems to apply to active duty- is there a way to become a WO as a civilian? Does AF have something similar? Or should I consider something else altogether?

Thank you in advance

After high school, I didn’t really have much going for me. I didn’t really want to go to college, and my friend enlisted in the Army so I figured what the heck. I do have a purpose for joining and it has to do with helping my parents with their immigration.

I don’t really have any talents or skills, I just do what I like to do in the moment and move on. I don’t ever stick to one thing, otherwise I’d get bored. According to my parents, all I ever did was play video games, watch movies/Youtube, and listen to music. I wrestled in high school for a bit and was in marching band, but I don’t do that stuff anymore.

I traveled to a few countries back in high school, and ever since then I’ve missed that feeling of just being away from home and seeing something new.

To clarify, I am currently in college and I do enjoy it…but I feel stuck here at home honestly. I think enough time has passed where the regret of not going to a university has a faded, and I see the military as my last choice to really make a difference.

I scored a 69 on the ASVAB but might retake it. Army is currently the most accessible to me, but I’d like to hear what y’all say.

Going to make it Simple: Been off medication since I was 15

Had an IEP until I was 16

Graduated Highschool with a 3.2 GPA

Graduated Community College with a 2.9 GPA

Biggest thing is that I had an IEP after I was 15

I’m a fat body who wants to join the army. I’m 6ft 4 and weigh about 250. About 2 years ago I dislocated my shoulder. I’m worried that I will tell the recruiter about it, and he’ll see that I’m a fat body and not work with me. I’m scared as hell about this. I feel that the army is my passion. I’m getting told that the army is starting to get more lenient with things to get more people but I don’t think that’s true. Will I have a snowballs chance in hell.

So for context my family is planning to move from Canada to the US. I’ve been considering enlisting (army or airforce) for a while. The only issues I have are 1) I have relatively religious muslim parents (however don’t consider myself muslim) 2) I’m a woman which makes it harder to get them to let me enlist. I’m in my first year of college and feel a lack of commitment because I feel like I’m not ready for college right now. I’m just unsure how this stuff works for someone who has a green card rather than a US citizenship. Another factor as to why I’m thinking of enlisting is because I heard that they pay for your tuition after serving for some years.

I’d appreciate advice as to how to approach my parents about this, as well as any other helpful information. I’d also appreciate advice from anyone who has been in the same shoes as me. thanks !!!

Why aren’t the pay grades the same??

So I voluntarily went to rehab for alcohol and completed my stay with no issues at all. Didn’t take meds they offered me since I didn’t have withdrawals or any medical issues. It was my first time going and I have no criminal history at all. What are my chances of being able to enlist?

Hello! My friend just shipped to Paris Island for basic yesterday, but I didn’t get a company or platoon to write down to send letters to her.

So I was wondering if I called and asked her recruiting center if they would know / be able to tell me? Or if I need to include that stuff for it to get to her? Or if there is some way for me to find it on my own?

I’m not pressed to get mail back I just want to make sure that she gets a couple letters while she’s away. I’ve never mailed to someone in basic training so I don’t entirely understand the process of actually getting it from point a to point b.

Thanks!!

So, I originally planned on enlisting active duty Coast Guard. However, this is my second time at MEPs in the past few months and I’m having second thoughts on active duty. I’m a sophomore in college, and so much has changed in my life since I initially contacted my recruiter and I think for my life goals, reserves would fit best. I still want to serve in the USCG as it’s been something I really want for awhile but I just can’t imagine myself going full-time. Is it too late to tell my recruiter, and is she going to be pissed?!

Let's say someone completes a battle as ordered, and then realizes the mental cost of combat,. Are there processes in place for them to transfer to another duty? Or at that point are they facing dishonorable discharge?

Follow up question, let's say you are just your average guy, but don't want a combat duty, how easy is it to get a non combat role if you just want to join up?

Hey, I am currently a 26M and have always been interested in joining the US Army. I am ready to take the next steps, but am not sure I will be allowed to enlist.

To sum up my past, I was 18 and charged with 6 misdemeanors and a felony. All of them were marijuana or alcohol related and the felony was possession with intent to distribute marijuana. I had 6 of the charges dismissed and expunged. The felony was reduced to just a possession misdemeanor, which remains on my record to this day. I spent a year on probation following. I was only convicted of one misdemeanor charge.

So currently at the age of 26, I have only one misdemeanor on my record and have taken a lot of steps to get away from my past. During probation, I got a sales job that allowed me to buy my first house and I continued working sales for a few years. Within the last 4 years, I have obtained my private pilots license, advanced scuba certification, skipper certification and free diving certification. I have put a lot of time and effort into improving my life since then and would like to embark upon my dreams of becoming a sniper in the military.

Any advice or information would be helpful. Do you think I could get a waiver and enlist, or will it be impossible?

To start I’m the first American born child out of my family and a 25 year old male aircraft mechanic.

I’m looking for a higher purpose, more emotional physical discipline and growth. A brotherhood to break me down bit by bit and rebuild me. Id ideally still like to keep my civilian job but still serve my country at the same time.

From what I’ve researched mainly the army and marines had boots on the ground in Vietnam so that narrows it down to either of those branches.

Has anyone ever done the reserve route? Any honest opinions about the Army national guard? Is the national guard the army?

I, 15 have been considering doing cspi for the coast guard but have adhd. Currently I am taking adder all which I know I'll have to get off of before joining. I had looked into other branches which I am pretty sure I would be able to get into as long as I am stable off of meds. I am not sure about the coast guard though as it is harder to find up to date info and given they are more selective with who they let join. FYI I am also on prozac but I am already coming off of it. any help if greatly appreciated.

I am considering joining OCS because I really enjoy and have a skill for military strategy/problem solving, however, I am doubtful that I would be able to enlist due to medical reasons. Are there any non-combatant jobs in the Army, possibly Marines, that would involve coming up with tactics and strategies?

I got a prescription for propranolol for a public speech assignment because I couldn't fail it (they worked ) and got them off of gokick.com (website like him.com)

am I screwed

I'm looking into joining the navy in the spring and was looking for some advice. I'm a 34 highschool drop out, no criminal record, and tats on my hands and one small on my neck. Would I be able to join?

I've had medium/long hair my whole life and realized I'm going to need to find a new hairstyle thats in regulations after they cut everything in boot. I found this R.O.K guy that has a hairstyle I might like, but not sure if its good for the US regulations. Is it something that can get by or is it still too long?

https://imgur.com/a/QkO3cTc

Edit: Forgot to mention, I'm planning on going coast guard if that means anything. I'm 23 and male if that also means something

I know my facial and ear piercings are going to have to go because I won’t be able to hide them, but I recently got my nipples done and they’re still healing. Do you think I can get away with retainers or should I just let them close up? I ship in February and I’m hoping no one is going to be inspecting that hard. Edit: army