Can you join the Air Force as an officer with diagnosed depression and anxiety?

Hunter Smallwood — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 18:08:34 -0400

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.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2022 6:51 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 18:51:07 -0400

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

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.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 27 at 2022 7:03 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:03:38 -0400

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 Private RallyPoint Member your thoughts on this?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2022 7:34 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:34:29 -0400

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.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Jun 27 at 2022 10:26 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 22:26:25 -0400

You asked a recruiter - that should be the end of it. Wait 36 months and if she still wants to join up she can. I ask because there are a lot of schools she could have attended ROTC and made the patriotic commitment earlier in her life. Be aware I have no filter so I will ask flat out.
Is she wanting to join because of a deep patriotic feeling or is it a way to pay off the college bills?

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Jun 28 at 2022 6:51 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:51:29 -0400

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but if she stops taking her anti-depressants she needs to make sure she does it while being monitored by a doctor. I wanted to stop taking mine after 6 months and a nurse at work stressed how dangerous it is to do it alone. Apparently the medication effects the heart muscles.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2022 2:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 14:19:42 -0400

Well if that's what the recruiter said then that's what it is. If they didn't say there is a waiver, then there's not a waiver. I feel like the Air Force issues far less waivers than any other service does too.