Reserves
Reserves
Posted on Sep 21, 2017
How hard is it to get into the Navy Reserves with a service-connected disability from the VA (40%)?
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I've been out of the military for less than 2 years and I really miss it. I got an honorable discharge RE-1 code. I don't really care for the benefits or the pay, I just want to wear the uniform again and serve. My service connected disability is Depression(Have gotten a lot better since the diagnosis with treatment) and I worry that MEPS will bar me for this. Any advice? Anything I can do to improve my chances? Im willing to exhaust all possible options..
Posted in these groups: 
Re-enlistment
Prior Service
Reserves
Recruiter
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Re-enlistment Prior Service Reserves Recruiter Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Your 40% is about a weekend pay for a Reservist / Guard member. Have you spoken with your county service officer to understand your options?
Are you working with a VSO and are you involved improving with treatment VFW, DAV, AMVETS, or whatever service org you find effective.
Your issues don't go away and may come back / reoccur when you go back on service / I want to make sure you understand your options.
If you find you are better and want to pursue re-enlisting, you want to ensure you don't lose any other legitimate service connective disabilities that are rated, even if they are 0% for any problems that come in the future.
God Speed in your pursuit, I will connect, feel free to shot me a message and I will answer any questions I can.
Are you working with a VSO and are you involved improving with treatment VFW, DAV, AMVETS, or whatever service org you find effective.
Your issues don't go away and may come back / reoccur when you go back on service / I want to make sure you understand your options.
If you find you are better and want to pursue re-enlisting, you want to ensure you don't lose any other legitimate service connective disabilities that are rated, even if they are 0% for any problems that come in the future.
God Speed in your pursuit, I will connect, feel free to shot me a message and I will answer any questions I can.
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CSM Charles Hayden
More solid advice from a fellow, BUCKEYE! Go- The Ohio State University Bucks! The more you engage others, the better you will feel about yourself!
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Please take care of yourself first! PO3 Brittany Diaz Reaching out to RP is a great step! Continue your search for more assistance! Best of all!
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Well if your accepting disability you will need to relinquish it before coming back in on any capacity. You will need work with your VA to make sure you can get off of disability and you will need to talk to a recruiter to know what type of paper to submit.
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TSgt (Join to see)
As long as MEPS passes you no sweat. You will lose some money though with the weekend pay and the VA deduction. For some folks you lose more than you gain each month but end up getting a retirement...tough call.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Though with depression, MEPS won’t pass you. Sorry for not noting that he first time as I overlooked it. Depression won’t pass muster for enlistment standards, but is something that Active Duty can work with for retention standards. He idea is the Guard and Reserve can’t keep an eye on you 24/7/365 the way active can.
I have had people rejected coming to the Guard that active was fine to keep for just this reason. Once MEPS learns what your disability is for, they will bump you. I have never had one of those waivers get granted either. Sorry for the negative news on this one.
I have had people rejected coming to the Guard that active was fine to keep for just this reason. Once MEPS learns what your disability is for, they will bump you. I have never had one of those waivers get granted either. Sorry for the negative news on this one.
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PO3 Brittany Diaz
TSgt (Join to see) - Never needed a waiver for anything before this issue so I don't understand the waiver process much. I understand at this point my chances are slim to none. I guess my final question is do they take anything else into consideration when it comes to granting and denying these types of waivers other than the severity and duration of the condition itself?
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TSgt (Join to see)
In my experience MEPS just looks at a very lack and white rule and doesn’t have the capability to look at the spirit of the rules. A history of depression or any mental illness sets off the red lights there. It drives me nuts as I have had a lot of people get bumped for things that are incredibly trivial. Last year I had a girl who cut herself once when she was 13. She was denied as a 20 year old college student on the Dean’s list.
Don’t just give up by any means. The Navy May grant a waiver and I cannot speak to what they accept, but Ii have noticed they tend to fall in line with the Air Force medical standards from what I have seen. You would need to show you haven’t been on medication for years have a clean bill of health and can never have the issue again. You would have to show you are healthy permanently (from whatever ailment) which is why waivers are usually granted. The thing I have seen get a chance to fly is a misdiagnosis which is probably not in your best interest if you are 40%. You may lose that disability and not get in which word really suck...
Don’t just give up by any means. The Navy May grant a waiver and I cannot speak to what they accept, but Ii have noticed they tend to fall in line with the Air Force medical standards from what I have seen. You would need to show you haven’t been on medication for years have a clean bill of health and can never have the issue again. You would have to show you are healthy permanently (from whatever ailment) which is why waivers are usually granted. The thing I have seen get a chance to fly is a misdiagnosis which is probably not in your best interest if you are 40%. You may lose that disability and not get in which word really suck...
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