Can I join the Army with a medical background of having been sent to the hospital for schizophrenia as a child?

Ma’am, I am an army medical officer (PA) and this issue will be determined by two things: a US Army regulation 40-501 and a consult with a medical health professional. Please understand that there are many different areas where you can serve your country. No one has to or is entitled to serve by nature of an inalienable gift. We are all in the service of the nation and fit the roles that are determined by policy and regulation. There are specific guidelines about who is medically eligible to serve and those who are not. I would encourage you to be completely honest and supply all medical records. The punishment for fraudulent enlistment or commission is a felony conviction and has serious fines and jail time associated (over a hundred thousand dollars and several years in jail). Again there are many ways to serve your country and community. That being said: you can report to a recruiter, supply all medical records, obtain and supply a Civilain psychiatric consult. If the military has questions about your eligibility they will send you to a military psychiatrist or provider and do a “consult”. Basically they need to do their due diligence and make sure you are eligible to serve based on your mental and physical health. Approach this with an open mind, full disclosure and trust the process.

Jenna Long The link below provides some medical guidelines. I would have your parents help you with gathering and reviewing your medical records. If you decide to talk to a recruiter, make sure that you are honest with all verbal or written statements.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/disqualifiers-medical-conditions.html

SFC (Join to see)

Working at MEPS, you’ll have to fill out a medical background information sheet with your recruiter. The ration behind doing that first is that the physican can pre screen your medical packet without wasting your time by going through the medical physical process at meps. It takes about two weeks to get an answer back. Generally certain normally disqualifying medical conditions expire after 5 years of no longer receiving treatment. So you may have a chance as long as your lasts treatment is over 5 years ago.

Don’t take google researched responses as law. It’s entirely up to the MEPS guidelines and the physician discretion.