Posted on Jun 27, 2022
Can you join the Air Force as an officer with diagnosed depression and anxiety?
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My wife and I were planning on joining together for the Air Force. She completed her bachelors degree and wanted to join the branch, because the cost of post grad degrees. She talked with a recruiter and was told that she would have to wait 36 months without taking medication before she could become eligible. We are trying to find any way around this to make this work but we both are new to how the military works. Any and all information is helpful, thank you.
Depression
Career Counselor
Career Advice
Mental Health
Recruiting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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You can try contacting the AF Surgeon General but unless she is in a specialty that the AF needs (pilots, engineers, pharmacists, doctors, etc) it is highly unlikely.
MSG (Join to see) your thoughts on this?
MSG (Join to see) your thoughts on this?
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Hunter Smallwood
That was my best guess based off the information that I could gather was a medical waiver. She is pursuing a career in Dentistry and is currently trying to get accepted into a university program. Unfortunately it looks like our worries will be the case. Thank you for the information and advice I greatly appreciate it.
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You will need to reference DoDI (Department of Defense Instructions) 6130.03. This is the Medical Standards that ALL Armed Forces Recruiters and Military Entrance Processing Stations MUST follow. There is no getting around these guidelines, with the exception of a medical waiver request. And those go all the way up to Recruiting Command for approval or denial. And if that waiver request is denied, then the hunt for entry into the Service is over.
For disqualifications for Anxiety, 6130.03 states:
History of anxiety disorders if:
(1) Outpatient care including counseling was required for longer than 12 cumulative
months.
(2) Symptomatic or treatment within the last 36 months.
(3) The applicant required any inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility.
(4) Any recurrence.
(5) Any suicidality (in accordance with Paragraph 5.28.m.).
For Depressive Disorder disqualifications, 6130.03 states:
f. Depressive disorder if:
(1) Outpatient care including counseling required for longer than 12 cumulative months;
(2) Symptoms or treatment within the last 36 months;
(3) The applicant required any inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility;
(4) Any recurrence; or
(5) Any suicidality (in accordance with Paragraph 5.28.m.).
If the Recruiter said you will need to wait 36 months medication free, then that recruiter is talking from experience. Not to mention that if your wife falls into the description of Anxiety and/or Depressive Disorders per 6130.03, then your wife will NOT be joining the military. And Dear God, do not even think about falsifying documents omitting these details.
Now, if she is allowed to join the military, there is damn near 100% chance she will never be a pilot.
In the end, to answer your question: The odds are NOT in her favor.
For disqualifications for Anxiety, 6130.03 states:
History of anxiety disorders if:
(1) Outpatient care including counseling was required for longer than 12 cumulative
months.
(2) Symptomatic or treatment within the last 36 months.
(3) The applicant required any inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility.
(4) Any recurrence.
(5) Any suicidality (in accordance with Paragraph 5.28.m.).
For Depressive Disorder disqualifications, 6130.03 states:
f. Depressive disorder if:
(1) Outpatient care including counseling required for longer than 12 cumulative months;
(2) Symptoms or treatment within the last 36 months;
(3) The applicant required any inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility;
(4) Any recurrence; or
(5) Any suicidality (in accordance with Paragraph 5.28.m.).
If the Recruiter said you will need to wait 36 months medication free, then that recruiter is talking from experience. Not to mention that if your wife falls into the description of Anxiety and/or Depressive Disorders per 6130.03, then your wife will NOT be joining the military. And Dear God, do not even think about falsifying documents omitting these details.
Now, if she is allowed to join the military, there is damn near 100% chance she will never be a pilot.
In the end, to answer your question: The odds are NOT in her favor.
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Hunter Smallwood
Thank you, unfortunately that was our fear. She is pursuing a career as a Dentist/ Orthodontist and really wanted to work towards getting the scholarship. Thank you for doing the information and insight it is greatly appreciated.
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MSG (Join to see)
Hunter Smallwood if she has the training and license to practice as a dentist then there is no harm in trying. The worst to be said is no.
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Hunter Smallwood You have your answer from a Recruiter. the military takes mental health seriously.
l https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-medical-standards-for-enlistment-3354031
l https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-medical-standards-for-enlistment-3354031
Medical Conditions That Disqualify You From the Armed Forces
If you're hoping to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces, a number of medical conditions and physical defects can disqualify you.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
The military most definitely doesn't take mental health seriously or they wouldn't have stigmatized it for so man years. I wouldn't keep seeing posts from senior leaders saying "encourage your people to go to behavioral health" if it was truly taken that seriously.
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