Currently expecting to hear back Friday on my Air Force waiver for an OCD/Anxiety diagnosis and medication from about age 9-17. I’m currently 25 and believe it was a misdiagnosis since I’ve been off meds and haven’t seen a doctor for it since 17 but here I am jumping through the hoops and submitting paperwork. My recruiter seems confident. All I’ll say is Genesis is a bitch.
@@james.clydesdale if anyone else in our situation reads this, there is hope! Everything went good at MEPS. To my surprise the only thing Genesis really caught was my OCD/anxiety history. Passed everything else and went through the waiver process for the mental health history. Currently waiting on dates from MEPS for my consultation which should be the last step before acquiring the golden ticket (medical waiver).
Thank you so much for this video and the next one. I appreciate it a lot. A couple, almost 3 years back I went through a tough time. Everyone I’ve talked to said it would be hard for me to join. I found an AirForce recruiter that was willing to push so long as I was willing to keep with it. He told me he wouldn’t give up as long as I didn’t. Thank you for sharing your story because it gives me steps I can do to help my process along. Like the psychic clearance letter! Thank you so so much!!
I just went to MEPS last Thursday for the Navy. I'm waiting on the decisions made for my attempt of suicide in 2008, PTSD and bipolar. Don't know what I should expect next. I had already spent 8 months on submitting medical records for my muscle tears in my right hip and some related nervous discomforts, and luckily I had got them all cleared before going to MEPS.
I’ve really wanted to join the military for a few years but I have Tourette’s syndrome. I’m not medicated and the symptoms are mostly unnoticeable unless I’m really stressed. I had a Coast Guard recruiter tell me over the phone that I would not be able to join his branch. My second choice is the Marine Corps, and my fingers are crossed that they’ll determine that my Tourette’s is not an issue. 🤞 Thanks for the video
Thank you for this! I initially was going through the enlistment process with army and they told me to lie about my mental health history so I passed through MEPS and was fully cleared (I felt guilty because the other two girls with me that day had to get waivers). I ended up backing out of the process with army because I felt anxious about not being upfront about it. I recently started the process again with Air Force and my recruiter has been so helpful with helping me get all the paperwork for my anxiety, major depression & ptsd diagnosis I had when I was 15-17 (now 21). I didn’t know they were able to pull pharmaceutical records so I’m shocked my meds didn’t show up! Thankfully, I got cleared at 17 and my therapist said I no longer needed therapy or med, but my recruiter is hopeful since it was a situational cause due to me being in foster care. Thank you so much for this video! I haven’t found a video this in depth and I’ve been a bit nervous because I already got cleared through MEPS with army, which my recruiter said will stay current aside from some specific tests for Air Force, so hopefully this doesn’t backfire 🤞
Wishing you the best Haley. The good news is MEPS knows recruiters like to get people to lie. The other good news is that they understand this & seem to appreciate honesty. Best of luck to you in the Air Force; your recruiter is your connection to the enlistment process, so it's their best interest to make it work.
i’m in the same situation. i’m not going to tel meps anything so i hope i pass. i had severe depression, ptsd, and adjustment disorder. i was at therapy but didn’t take any meds. i was admitting into a mental hospital so i hope nothing shows up. oh and i was in foster care
@@chantellea4249 one lady was a few pounds over weight so she was disqualified and the other girl had a large scar on her arm so she was disqualified and had to get a psych evaluation. If you never took meds and if you went to therapy for less than 12 months, I would disclose it with your recruiter because it wouldn’t necessarily disqualify you. You could get pre cleared like James did and it would make the process a lot smoother than lying and it being found. My recruiter is sending me to meps in the morning actually to swear in, he told me not to mention anything since I was previously cleared last year but I’m still a bit anxious they’ll find out. I guess we will see and I’ll update you about it tomorrow! If you have anymore questions just lmk and we can talk privately
Been on Zoloft roughly a year. I interviewed with someone adjacent to the OSO (he was out that day) and I didn’t let her know preemptively that I would need a waiver. I wanna try for OCS by next September but USMC wants me off Zoloft for at least 14-months. Guess I should get a waiver if my pharmacy records can be pulled. Never received in patient care but I’ve had psychiatric care. Thanks for putting up this video
I’m wanting to do Air Force ROTC this fall and I’m really scared that once I go through the medical history process they will deny me… I have BPD, depression and PTSD diagnosis but I feel like joining the Air Force and doing something worthwhile and meaningful to me would make me so happy for once. It’s the hope I’m holding onto
You can be a cadet just fine, joining the Air Force will be a different struggle. You need to get your diagnoses classified as in remission as soon as possible, if you are truly in remission.
Hey if it helps at all I’ve been trying to join the marines for a year now, I was diagnosed with Major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder. They will ask for therapy documents, prescription history, and a tons of stuff about how you deal with it all. You’ll get in. It took me a year to get a consult
Same I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression which is some bs, I don't really have that.... When I was in the air force I was appointed to speak with someone about my family issue and got reported for anxiety and depression.... But now I'm trying to join the army.... I told the army exactly what happen gave them my entire discharge packet and they have like 5 people working on it to get me back into service.... I really hope I get back in .... I loved the air force, but the way they push their soldiers out is a shame..... You literally can't talk about anything in there without fear of being discharged
@@theuglybarnacle9410 you get cleared with a phsyctriatic clearance letter? Prescreen? Did MEPS ask you about you mental health diagnosis and did they give you any issues?
About 5ish years ago I saw a psychiatrist a few times who - although I wasn't formally diagnosed with anything - he prescribed me medications for depression, anxiety, possible Bipolar - so anti-anxiety, depression, and anti-psychotics (for sleep), I took them less than a month, and then never went back. I never disclosed this because it was so long ago and I felt it wasn't important. Now i'm afraid it will come up - and although I didn't mean to lie to my recruiter I feel bad about leaving this out - should I just come clean about this? I'm afraid this will be instantly disqualifying. My recruiters also clearly does not care about me or his job.
A lot of what Marine recruiters care about is being 100% about being a Marine. If you have concerns, address them. It is their job to address your concerns, and if you're afraid of a man with some rank on him before you even join, you'll melt at the sight of the world renowned Drill Instructor. Tell your recruiter, who is honestly the nicest an NCO will probably be to you in your Marine career, that you're worried about this. You can submit packages that correct things like this. Have you been to MEPS yet? Where are you in the process?
Be honest with them. Meps will respect it more than if you lie. I did that too and got denied Be upfront completely and address everything. After I did that, meps requested me to have a psyc eval
I was never seen by a therapist or a psychologist but when the meps doctor went over my medical records for Genesis they found a doctor recommenation I see a therapist so their having me evaluated
Thanks for making this video. im 19 now and i had "suicide attempt"(it was so stupid i wouldnt even call it an actual attempt) when i was 13/14 and went to therapy for less than a year i believe. But, i was never officially noted as no longer being depressed or anything by my Doctor, I did get better but i just stopped seeing the doctor, the prescriptions ran out and i never went back to get them refilled. Do you think I will have to see a psychiatrist and be "examined" before i am able to join?
Hey, thanks for writing. Sorry for the late reply, I just graduated today! I think your situation is definitely worth a shot. They were able to essentially write my scenario off as a childish bout of foolishness and I was 16 at the time. Talk to a recruiter and go through the motions!
I have been taking care of my grandmother who was sick with cancer and on hospice. I had to take some anxiety medication to deal with it because she was in really bad shape. It has been a year since she passed and I wanna join the military (Thinking Navy/Coast Guard or Air Force/Space Force). My anxiety was very situational. If I can convince my doctor to take me off the medicine, do I have a shot?
Yes, but you'd need to discuss this with the branch of your choice's recruiter. You need to get off your medication immediately, and you'll likely have to be in remission for months at a minimum before even the Navy will process a waiver for you. You're typically completely clear from worries about medication so long as you're verifiably in remission for 2+ years.
Hey man, not sure if you're still answering questions but I have been going to counseling for about 4 years now. I am 20. My counselor has it marked as "treatment for depression". I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was 12, haven't been on meds since 15. I went to the doctor and had him write that I no longer suffer from depression or anxiety. Do you think I'll stand a chance at getting in? Going for Army
Absolutely worth a try. Counseling shows a documentation of your history which is always helpful. Army recruiters usually go through the hoops to do it so it's worth the effort. Apologies for the late reply, I'm at MCT and they take our phones for a month. I grad next week and I'll be able to answer questions consistently from that point on. Give it a go! Good luck.
I left a comment 6 months ago and I just went to meps today and they didn't see anything at all like nothing came up on my mhs genises so it really depends on the person also if you're in Tricare if you're not you won't see anything.
Congrats! Did you have anything that could potentially be disqualifying to worry about? I’m still filling out the application but meps is by far what I’m most worried about.
@@jimiboi87 yeah I was in hospital after unaliveing attempt in 2017 and ( yt won't let me write that word) was voluntarily in psych ward also was given sleep meds for 2018 and I was given steroid cream for nape of neck eczema, but if you have scar they might look deeper
@@Vampybattie Wow that's crazy that none of that stuff came up for you. Maybe the system is not yet as thorough as it's being made out to be on YT. That actually makes me feel a lot better. Thanks for responding.
I was in impatient care for 4 days after suicide attempt this was back in 2017 and was diagnosed with bipolar 1 (no mania) and I had outpatient care for 1 month just few times in couple of week but they only let me take pills for one week and told me I was fine I never had refills. I never had to take any meds again never had any bipolar type of things again . I know suicide attempt is dq so basically I’m screwed.
You never know unless you try, that's the mentality to roll with in these scenarios. I suggest you reach out and see what your options are, service is a broad career path.
@@elfinhaddock1775 similar situation, and multiple recruiters have told me i have a good chance of getting in. I filled out the initial paperwork and take my asvab in nov!
Hey! I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression (single episode). Prozac medication for a year, been off meds for 3 years now. I haven't visit any psychologist or psychiatrist for 2 years. Self harm was documented by psychologist, really stupid mistake when i was a kid. And a "suicide attempt" ( i never tried any suicide attempt) i just had a suicide thought. I haven't experience any signs of anxiety or depression, in a long time. My recruiter wanted me to lie at MEPS but i dont want to (i am really bad at it) What do you think are the chances for a waiver to be approved?
Your chances of a waiver are much higher than your chances of getting away with a lie like that. Find a different recruiter or INSIST on telling the truth. Your chances are up to your honesty.
@@james.clydesdale A few months ago I went to MEPS and I follow my first recruiter advice to lie. But since I did not felt right, i decide to tell the truth about another condition . After that try to talk to my recruiter to submit my psychiatric history but he did not wanted so I went to another recruiter and told him about all my medical history. He worked with my waiver and it is approved now. But when I ask him to submit my psychiatric history records he tells me now that it cannot be done since everything is clear now and i will not get a chance to join with my psychiatric history. Plus it would only bring trouble to my previous recruiter. I want to come clear to MEPS. Do you know any good (honest) recruiter? I have talk with other people in the military and they all tell me to lie.
@@james.clydesdale i know, but still i will continue to try to find some other recruiter or some other way to come clean at MEPS. I do not want to join like this. Thank you for answering! Wish you the best of luck!
Hey I'm goi g back to MEPs for a psych eval. I'm going army national guard for tank crewman, and need a wavier for passed mental health problems like ptsd, anxiety, and depression. I told the MEPs doctor straight up and got really nervous. Hope it goes well my date for this is April 13th wish me luck.
@@james.clydesdale Thank you for this info. I was looking for this kind of info and couldn't find it. Glad you make these videos. Have an excellent year
@@james.clydesdale just did that yesterday guy said he’s sees nothing wrong and doesn’t see why I even had to do this . Even said doesn’t see no self harm indications on me and he’s gonna put in a good word for me
Hey james, how are you? Dude, great video man with good information. Im currently almost in the same situation as you and this helps me and others who are too. So i tried processing with the marines, went to meps passed everything, but when they pulled up my medical records they saw i had a head injury which i got a waiver for and MRI results. So that was taken care of but the other things were psychosis, personality and behavior things with the psychosis saying i was taking haldol to treat it. Those were misdiagnosis and i nevr had anything of that nature before. I got a letter from my manager where i work stating hes never seen or had problems with me and my behavior/personality. I got a drs note saying i dont currently take any meds. Im trying to see a psychologist for testing. Coming from your experience, do you think i could still join the marines? What else could or should i do to prove this stuff is wrong. Thank you for your service sir! God bless you!
Sounds like you're doing everything you can man. I'd say just stay on top of it and keep your recruiter in the loop and text him asking if there's any updates. You can come to the poolee functions and stay after to ask em if there's been any update in your package. You're doing as much as you can and the foreword you have coming into this is giving you the best shot you've got. Worst I've heard happening is people getting turned away and being told to come back after a certain amount of time. Keep up with your recruiter and stay on top of it. Good luck.
Back In 2017 i saw a psychiatrist n prescribed me anti depressant n I went to Meps in august of last year for army I didn’t tell my recruiter cuz I honestly forgot it’s been a long road now I’m wanting to go marines but before I talk to a marines recruiter should I get my psychiatrist records first before I see a marine recruiter what are my chances of getting in?
dudeI want to join the corps also and man I took an anxiety med for like 2 months and never took it again it was a little over a year ago I dont take it anymore man Im goona be so upset if I get disqualified and cant join gonna be so pissed and upset
Honestly I doubt you would be barred for good. Worst case scenario you'd probably have to wait til the 2 year mark. Don't give up, I had much more going on and I just graduated today.
Okay, can I still join with gerd??? I got diagnosed with acid reflux and I was given Omeprazole. I haven't had a problem since. That was when I was 15-16, I'm 19 now and never had issue. Can I still join??
Hey bro I’m in the same situation , I took mushrooms and went to er due to a bad trip . I didn’t tell them I was on mushrooms and they put me on doctors notes as “suicidal ideation” due to a extreme anxiety and story of attempted “self mutilation” with a knife with no marks found. I voluntarily went to psych ward No 51/50 for 72 hours and left to do outpatient for like 4-5 months , they misdiagnosed me with bipolar which I am trying to amend and change .. Should I change anything before I submit with recruiter or just see if they can help me . I’d hate to get permanently dq so I’m a bit cautious on even getting a recruiter to help me out I can get clearance easy with my family psychologist if needed for bipolar thing , I’m just a bit skeptical with the “suicidal ideation” on the er doctors notes . And the 1 pill prescription of anti anxiety they put me on when I was I care at ward . Which was cancels before I left
I see. As far as amending any previous records, that is impossible. All you can do is get newer, more up to date information on your current mental state. I would refrain from getting a psych evaluation on your own until MEPS asks for it, though. What I tell a lot of people is this: your records are records. You can't change them or hide them, all you can do is get to a recruiter and try to sniff out a good one. How easy that'll be depends on your branch. I suggest you present everything as it's been documented. If shrooms were never mentioned in your charts, don't mention them and go with what the charts say. Sitting with a recruiter that would be willing to hear you out would tell you what you need to look at as far as what to get for MEPS. Sort out a deal with a recruiter, then see what you can do.
@@james.clydesdale I see , I actually went to medical records at my hospital and there is In fact paperwork you can fill out if you feel the doctors make a mistake on notes 📝.. for sure I was misdiagnosed so I can get that fixed first . It just sits weird with me to see my records posing as someone who was sober going in with suicidal ideation, when in reality it was due to being under the influence of a hallucinogenic that was ingested by accident at a party , hopefully I won’t get permanently disqualified. (I totally should have been honest with the er tho I was under paranoia when I tool the drug) I know the records don’t say “attempted suicide” however I read they don’t mess with suicide at all even if it’s “ideation” Guess I can give it a shot , so basically if I have a recruiter “pre screen” I won’t even need to get rejected by meps ? I can get all paperwork and possible waiver ahead of time ?
@@fallen1805 I only suggest going with what's on your records because trying to do something else, like admitting to doing an illegal substance, could cause even more problems. Ideation is serious but it's not impossible to get waived. I got it waived and I went as far as gestures to suicide itself. I would go with what your gut tells you. Typically they won't even allow you to go to MEPS before they feel satisfied with your records.
in my case I had had several panic attacks induced by weed and got prescribed anti depressants after i told my doctor, i didnt tell anyone it was due to the weed not even the doctor but it came back to bite me when i tried enlisting. currently im waiting a few months to see if i can get another waiver approved because the first one i was dq'd because it had only been like 4 months since i stopped taking them (ive been cleared by every doctor that initially prescribed me the drugs)
Just did paperwork with my recruiter today. Told him that I’m currently seeking therapy and that I had been diagnosed with anxiety/depression & that I’ve been off medication since 2020. I’m planning on joining the Marine corps reserves but I’m also considering other branches. Will I still be qualified if I can get a waiver? Edit : I’m now a Poolee and I can’t wait to experience how the Marine Corps will be like!
Try to stick to one branch for your process. Different branches have different standards. Avoid further counseling altogether unless expressly used to show you are in good mental health in the current day.
You'd have to be able to articulate your history as a flailing of your childish self. I have a hard time visualizing 15 counts being able to get waived. Do you mean you've checked yourself in 15 separate times? I'm all for people trying until they get an ultimate no, but I'm skeptical you'd be able to even get interest from a recruiter unfortunately. It's hard to articulate you're alright in the present day after one run in with any hospital treatment, let alone fifteen.
@@james.clydesdale I mean yeah realistically I was thinking the same thing as I do have over 15 separate checkins/hospital stays. I was just wondering just a shot in the dark :3
The time since you've been off meds might be a problem. I've heard of people getting waivers for meds as early as 6 months, but it truly depends on how stable you are in the present. You might have to get an evaluation at a psychiatrist though.
The eating disorder treatment i went to 5 years ago, freshly 18, is permanently closed.....im not sure if this will be a blessing or a pain in the butt.
There's a process for everything. Most of them are easier than you would expect. Nobody is gonna expect you to conjure up anything: you can only do what's possible. CVS didn't keep track of medicine that was issued to me 4 years ago, I just had to provide a statement saying I'm not lying. You'll probably have to do something similar. You'll only be made to mention anything that has some medication attached to it, they wanna know the whys and how's of any medication you took. Eating disorders are tough, glad you can come back from something like that. Fight for your ability to serve: you got this.
@james.clydesdale thank you for the words of encouragement! I'm meeting with a navy recruiter in the morning, then the air force recruiter. Walking in with all my documents in hand to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
@james.clydesdale spoke to navy recruiter today, I had all of my stuff prepared and was honest about the mental health stuff!!! Recruiter seemed very nice and eager to help me, and I'm going back tomorrow to do a practice Asvab
@@stinkygecko1167 Hey sounds good. Just be aware that if the Navy wasn't your first choice you don't have to go with any specific branch. There's a lot of misconception that you must go Navy if you have any issues of this nature, a lot of people don't even try with their branch of choice and I see that a lot. If you want to go Navy, I'm glad for you. If you resorted to it because you expected it to be easier, I suggest you change course.
@james.clydesdale I'm seeing an air force recruiter after the asvab practice, and I want to speak to a coast guard recruiter as well but they are out of state so I will have to plan it out.
Hey! Would it be possible to get in contact with you somehow? through DM or discord or anything? I have a similar situation but I havent reached out to a recruiter yet! I would like to talk to you to get some opinions!
Has anyone been 51/50 and been able to enlist? Currently debating on enlisting but I was 51/50 4 years ago due to drinking, I was let go after the 3 day period and was never court ordered or diagnosed with anything, that's my only ever mental health issue.
There are people that have asked about that before, not sure where they are in the process. I would go straight to a recruiter and tell them about this, as this is very different from a court ordered involuntary hold.
Typically you have to get interviewed by a psychiatrist. Preferably one that diagnosed you with anything in the past; but any willing psychiatrist will do. They evaluate you and then write a letter of clearance in your favor if they see your mannerisms to be inconsistent with any prior diagnoses.
@@james.clydesdale my psych eval is at meps. I’ve passed my physical and all of that already. Got 85 on asvab. But got dq’d for the meds they saw on my medical history. I got a waiver. Last step now is a psych evaluation. I’m just a normal guy who’s parents wanted me to be on meds for better grades and the meps doctor who did my physical said he sees no issues with me but due to genesis showing the meds I need a waiver and there’s no way around it. 3 letters of rec and a whole lot more later now I go back for a psych eval at meps and if I pass I swear in that day. I’m just curious was to expect with this evaluation?? It’s right after the holidays.
@@awwwwyeeeeeaa2565 Ohh. That would be a psych consult. It varies. Some people have super in-depth consults that can last the entire day up to the oath. Some people have a 30 minute chat. Chances are if you made it to a consult you'll make it in just fine; I advise you answer your questions by thinking in the third person before answering them. Remember: That examination will be the last thing standing between you and basic training, so it's in your best interest to answer as self-preserving as possible. I'm not telling you to lie: I'm telling you to think carefully before you speak, because if they can twist your words they will. So be very deliberate in your word choice. Failing now would be like dropping the baton at the end of a relay race.
@@james.clydesdale how do you even fail that? What kinds of questions will be asked of me? I’m sure I’ll be fine but preparing will be key as I do not want to drop the baton at the end of race.
If i was diagnosed with bi polar a few years back but ive been off meds for awhile and my dr. And I have talked about it. I wanna join the army, do yall think its gonna be possible to get in?
Look for telemedicine services. I wouldn't recommend mine, but I went through a company called ThriveWorks. I'm not sure they provide that service anymore.
@@james.clydesdale and do i just ask for a clearance letter ?? can you tell me what i ask for when i call i feel like im not asking for the right thing. thank you
@@TOONNKK Before you get to asking for clearance, I suggest you speak to a recruiter first and get to that issue when it comes up. Bring up your mental history as one of your first concerns.
you shoulda just lied your ass off to make it easier for your recruiters and it would less chances you get rejected. The worse that can happen is they find out in bootcamp or the fleet and you get rejected, but they are so stealth that they would just sweep everything under the carpet.
Just seeing this, anyone who sees this and assumes this still flies, it doesn't. If you have a psych record it will get picked up on at MEPS these days, Genesis has the ability to go into your medical record and they will question you based on those findings. This may have worked back in the day, but it doesn't work anymore.
@@james.clydesdale You shouldn't have gone to a psychiatrist in the first place. Psychiatry is BS, it's all about selling expensive unproven drugs and psychological experiments for mind control, it's not about mental health. The same with Anthrax vaccine. I was committed to a mental hospital and injected with risperidone which is a horrible drug. It made me insane and side effects like tardive dyskinesia made my face look retarded and old. I was so worried that it would be permanent. But I bounced back like a Champ! I read somewhere that the USMC started using risperidone in the mid 90's, which was when I enlisted. Are you lgbtq?
Merry Christmas! Most recruiters will only be able to work with you if you live nearby. My recruiter told me a story of someone who moved to the North Austin area specifically for waivers though. My recruiter's name is Sergeant Kelly with RSS North Austin in Texas.
As another commenter said, it's highly unlikely you'd be able to join with schizophrenia especially if you're actively on medication. It's pretty black and white as far as that goes, unfortunately.
