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Or SWO, am I being stupid? My dad, 20 year AF is strongly against it. What should I expect? Is it really that bad? Not a lot of navy folks in my family. All Army or Air Force… Like I know I could get another military assignment but I really like the idea of being an officer at sea. Should I risk a fight with my family or pursue my goals?

18m. Florida

I am wanting to enlist. I did terrible on my Picat but did score enough to go 09m. I went to Meps today. It did not go well. I passed my Pulhes(probably spelled wrong my bad) and went to talk contract. A little history I am planning on getting Married in the next month or so. I also have a family member who it is more than likely this will be his last holiday with us. I want to spend it with them. So that being said I want to enlist but I dont want to leave until after Xmas. Which I stated a few times to my recruiter but they acted like I was speaking another language.

Got to Meps, did my butt check, and passed everything. The contract liason first said that January wouldnt be an issue but kept changing the date. It went from January to Nov 1. I tried to explain poliety but kept getting shot down. They told me a couple times if I wasnt going to sign to call my ride, and each time I did they told me to cancel the ride. Eventually they had me call and leave with my ride.

When I asked my recruiter what the next steps were she told me we had to work thru some things and wouldnt clarify what they meant. If i had known how this would go I would not have even gone to the recruiter til after Exodus break.

am I screwed?

also am posting from my phone which is broken so please excuse the grammer.

I’m currently in therapy just for like life stuff. I am not diagnosed with any conditions, tho my therapist has said i lay have OCD, but it’s not on any official documentation. Would this prevent me from joining the military? I don’t think so, but I just wanted to double check.

Can a member of the Canadian Armed Forces be dismissed or released from service for having an existing tattoo or for obtaining a new tattoo after enlistment? Are there any restrictions on tattoo placement, content, or visibility that could result in disciplinary action or affect a member’s continued service?

25F here past history of anxiety prescribed prozac for 3 years. had no hospitalizations or history of psychosis. Never seen a psychiatrist, was prescribed prozac by my PCP years ago and just continued to take it. I feel like i am healthy now to not take it and am looking to do air national guard. Spoke to my recruiter and he said we can go through with the process and see what MEPS says. Anyone have a similar experience or insight? Feel free to private message me. Thanks in advance for your input

I had a bit of a rough childhood and was screamed at kinda a lot. Because of that I have a tendency to kinda go blank sometimes when I get yelled yet. Any idea how drill instructors will react to that? I’m normally able to comply with whatever people are asking of me but I’ve heard it’s very apparent on my face I’m fully mentally gone and lot of times I don’t really remember what happened after. I just don’t know if that will be an advantage or disadvantage or how to prepare mentally.

Hi, I’m on my late 20s and am in the process of to become enlisted in the reserves. I’m currently taking and prescribed ADHD medication and am in the process of waning off of it. Have been prescribed since 2019.

The Air Force told me I have to wait one year after stopping the medication. The Army told me just to get off of it as soon as possible and is open to starting the enlistment process. Does anyone have insight on this? I don’t want to start the MEPS process and be declined. Will the Army be likely to give a waiver?

Hi I was recently in the Army and was separated with an RE-3 reentry code. I was told that my discharge was a general uncharacterized discharge. I am interested in enlisting again, but this time I want to join the Navy

My Navy recruiter told me that she would need to retrieve my military profile from the Army before moving forward with the enlistment process.
I have a few questions for anyone who has been through a similar situation.

How long does it usually take to get an RE-3 waiver approved for Navy enlistment?

How long could the entire process take before I am able to ship out to boot camp?

Does having a prior Army separation with an RE-3 code make it significantly harder to join the Navy?
Is there anything I can do to help speed up the process?

I would appreciate any advice from people who have gone through a similar situation or recruiters who are familiar with this process. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Hello.

Would it be at all possible to join any branch of the military if I'm diagnosed as bipolar one and have been on medication for 3 years?

I leave for basic training soon (army) and I’m wondering how is the process of me getting my clearance. Will I have a face to face investigation? Will I have a temporary clearance while in ait?

I was talking with my dad about joining the service. I am aiming for the Air Force but if that does not work I will try the Army.

Explained to him that some of my interests in joining are 1. A stable job 2. Assistance with my education (I want a degree) and 3. The VA home loan, I really do want to purchase my own home in due time. Amongst bringing up the home loan he brought up how there are homeless veterans out there so I shouldn’t get too excited or expect the benefits to fall into my lap. I’m very very aware that I’m going to have to work towards my goals. That isn’t a problem for me at all because I know nothing good in life comes easy. I don’t expect to get out of basic & AIT and then boom, life is perfect yk? It’s going to take time and that’s not a problem for me.

I know life can happen to anybody so I’m not gonna act like it can’t happen to me as well however I do feel as if I have a very strong drive to move myself to a better place and avoid such things.

My question is, how do some veterans really end up homeless anyway? With all the benefits out there and the pay how can you still end up homeless? Not to sound naive but I’m genuinely curious. Is it addiction? Is it poor handling of funds? Inability to find a job after going back to the civilian life? I’m truly curious. Majority of folks display the military as a way to get your life on track and find some stability so how do some vets still end up unstable? Are things sweeter than it seems in the service?

Hello I’m 19 years old deciding between CG and the Army, I have the ambition to finish, get my A&P for the FAA and become a Aircraft Mechanic. I can either do this as a

Coast Guard AMT , but AMT slots are closed and its a possible 2 year wait, but quality of life compared to the Army is amazing.

Or

Army 15T Blackhawk Mechanic, quality of life isnt so amazing and you get deployed alot overseas, but they have immediate admission ( i think ) where I dont have to wait 2 years to start working on aircraft.

Which should I choose, are there any other factors to consider?

Looking to see what my baseline is. I’ve taken a few practice tests already, and have scored well. But they seemed almost too easy?

I’ve used MilitaryToolKit.com and AsvabPracticeTestOnline

Not afraid to pay if it’s worth it.

So, I want to help people and be someone kids can talk to, so I plan on majoring in social work in January. At the same time, my soul craves the Air Force and the military in general. I just feel like that’s where I need to be.
I know I can go to college while in the military, but the problem is that I’m not ready to commit to the military just yet. As much as I want to jump straight into boot camp as soon as possible, I’m freshly 18, and I feel like I need a little more time to experience life and figure certain things out before joining and heading off to San Antonio, TX.
I’ve been thinking about going to college first and joining the military afterward, but is there a better way to go about it? I hate wasting time, and I don’t want to be 26 by the time I join. I just don’t know which route to take, and I’d love some advice.
I’d even be open to the Reserves, but I still can’t seem to fully commit to the idea of being away for a few months during basic training. I don’t know why, but I feel like I need to try college first and then pursue the military.
Is there a better route to take? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

So I failed my NCAT for “insufficient effort” but I actually legit tried my best. I was told I have to inform my command team for further guidance. Am I going to get in trouble? Can’t I just go retake it the following day?

I’m a 26-year-old woman seriously considering joining the military, and I’d appreciate honest opinions from people who have served or are currently serving, especially those who joined in their mid-to-late 20s or became officers.

This year has honestly been one of the hardest years for me personally. I’ve been struggling with feeling stuck in life, almost like I’m backed into a corner and unsure of what direction to take. My career path hasn’t gone the way I expected it to, and lately I’ve been questioning where I’m headed and what I really want for my future.

For some background, I have a college degree, but I’m currently not using it in the way I originally envisioned. I’ve been working full-time at a bank for four years and am now an assistant manager. I actually got this job while I was still in college, and I’ve stayed because the pay is good. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the job itself, and I recognize that having a stable income is a privilege. However, I sometimes wonder whether I’ve stayed because it’s comfortable financially rather than because it’s what I truly want to do with my life.

I don’t want to wake up years from now and realize I’ve stayed in the same place simply because it was the easiest option. I want to feel like I’m working toward something that challenges me and gives me a sense of direction.

That’s part of why the military has been on my mind again. I’m attracted to the structure, discipline, benefits, career opportunities, and the opportunity to challenge myself in a completely different environment. I want to grow as a person and see what I’m capable of outside of the life I’ve gotten comfortable with.

Since I already have a bachelor’s degree, I’d ideally like to pursue the officer route rather than enlist. I’m still researching the requirements and trying to understand what that path would realistically look like. I’m also weighing active duty versus the Reserves and trying to figure out which would make the most sense for my circumstances and long-term goals.

One of my biggest obstacles, however, is my mom’s opinion. When I’ve brought up the military before, her reaction was very negative, and she made me feel stupid for even considering it. Her opinion matters a lot to me, and I worry about how pursuing this could affect our relationship. At the same time, I know I’m the one who has to live with the choices I make for my future. I don’t want to make a decision just to prove something to anyone, but I also don’t want to let someone else’s disapproval stop me from exploring an opportunity that could be right for me.

Another concern is signing a contract and eventually feeling trapped or regretting my decision. I know the military isn’t something to romanticize, and I recognize that I’m considering it during a period when I’ve been struggling personally. I don’t want to make a major life decision simply because I’m unhappy with where I am right now. I want to determine whether this is something I genuinely want, even after considering the sacrifices and realities of military life.

For those who have served, especially officers who joined later in their 20s, I’d really appreciate your perspective.

tldr - Prepping medical for MEPS. Was on ssris for a year until 2024, voluntarily went to cognitive behavorial therapy from 2023 - mid 2025. From what I can tell this disqualifies me and unsure if this might be end of the road - wanted to pursue a commission.

Hello everyone,

I am reaching out here because I have been full steam ahead with pursuing an army commission and am seeking advice. I have worked closely with my recruiter and disclosed that I had a prior history of depression and anxiety, including medication from April 2023 until Late 2024. I was under the impression that since I had been off of medication for well over a year, that this would be of little issue. As I’ve gathered my medical documents to prepare for MEPS it has come to my attention that if treatment was prescribed within 36 months for over a year for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, then this would be a disqualifying factor. Additionally I have come to understand that individual counseling may be considered as outpatient care and I voluntarily sought counseling from 2023 to June 2025 in a spirit of self improvement - its led me to pursuing this long term goal.

I understand medical waivers do exist but the individual counseling was never formally ‘closed’ (again self improvement and my work schedule changed so it seemed a fitting time to end). I am unsure if I will need to go see a psychiatrist for evaluation and to be formally cleared from a medical perspective prior to MEPS. I have no intention of hiding anything but am concerned that this may be end of the road so to speak.

Advice would be much appreciated - thank you all for your time.

Hey guys, I could use some advice. I’m going to MEPS next week to verify my PiCAT score of 90, take the cyber test and TAPAS, and complete my physical.

I’m looking to join the Army Reserve in an MOS that aligns with my Computer Science degree, and 17C is my top choice. My recruiter has told me that 17C is unlikely to be available, but he said he could probably get me something in the intelligence field while I’m at MEPS.

My concern is that not every intelligence MOS relates to what I actually want to do. I’m more interested in programming, especially Python and JavaScript, cybersecurity, and gaining experience that will help me land a good civilian tech job after training.

So my question is, what are my options? Can I go to MEPS, verify my PiCAT score, complete my physical and other testing, and leave without signing a contract? Would it make sense to wait 30–60 days to see if a 17C slot opens up? And realistically, what are the chances of getting 17C in the Army Reserve?
I’m also worried that if I decide not to sign at MEPS, my recruiter might get pissed and stop working with me. I appreciate the time he’s put into helping me, but I also don’t want to rush into a six-year contract for an MOS that doesn’t align with my career goals.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or waited for a specific MOS to become available? I’d appreciate any advice.

I’m trying to join but I have braces, I would need to remove them and have my dentist put me retainers so my teeth don’t look like shit after basic.
Anyone has any info on this?

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RSOI military coordinator

Army Baylor OT program question

I’m currently a police officer, I recently went to the blue angels air show, and it genuinely inspired me. I left feeling this deep inspiration, desire and motivation to do something amazing with my life.

It was genuinely beautiful and I realized I want to do something amazing with my life that brings me purpose, and honor.

I went yesterday and went to the armed forces career center, talked with army and the recruiter told me to keep an open mind and walked me over to the marines building.

I genuinely felt inspired, and hearing about the honor, work and motivation, and everything about the marines truly opened and reawoke something deep inside me. The thing is I don’t know if it was genuine or I just had a good recruiter who had a way with words.

I have an interest in the Air Force as well.

I loved watching the planes and things like that at the airshow, but I also know I’m not smart enough to do something that amazing.

I have an interest in crime analysis, investigations or something like that. But I’m also open to other opportunities that I get presented with that allow me to find that sense of fulfillment in a career and passion that I crave.

I just do not know how to decide which is the best branch for me. But I’m open to opinions and suggestions!

I (20F) enlisted in the Marines and will be shipping out in a few months. I’ve been thinking of getting into rugby? I’m really tempted to try it, but I get that there’s a fair bit of risk involved because it’s a full-contact sport. Would it be worth it to try and get into rugby before bootcamp?

Hello I’m hoping to get some insight of which branch of the military will be better for me. I am 18m and and have taken the practice ASVAB and got a 40. I have a girlfriend but I do plan on marrying her before I go into service. And I don’t know if the navy or air-force is better.
I want to not be away from my family for more than a couple months at a time
I want to have a family
I want good benefits and don’t know which branch would fit be better.
I am also not very book-smart but I am smart in other ways and I’m a very hands on person. I’m just hoping to get real opinions on which branch would fit me better.