Can I join the military if I've been in a mental hospital?

Joining the Military After Mental Health Treatment
For depressive disorders such as major depressive disorder, or anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, an individual may be disqualified from service if they've completed more than 12 months of outpatient treatment or any duration of inpatient treatment.


Will mental health stop you from joining the military?

While a mental health diagnosis generally disqualifies a recruit from the military, therapy and medication are available to service members diagnosed while in uniform.

Can you join the military if you have been treated for depression?

Depression in the Military Environment

Having a previously diagnosed mental health condition such as depression can actually be a disqualifying factor for service in the United States military, though individuals may be considered on a case-by-case basis.


What disqualifies you from military?

There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.

How far back does the military check medical records?

The new system is called the Prescription Medication Reporting System (PMRS) and is used to pull seven years of prescription histories for all civilian recruits going to MEPS.


Joining the Army with a medical, legal, or mental issue | FT TEAM SWARTZ



Does MEPS ask about mental health?

MEPS Mental Health Screening

Both a military recruiter and an evaluator at MEPS will ask you questions about your mental health through a one-on-one interview.

What medical conditions can you not join the army with?

Here are eight surprising medical conditions that might prevent you from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces:
  • Food Allergies. If you have a history of food allergies, you might be disqualified from joining the military. ...
  • Celiac Disease. ...
  • Contact dermatitis. ...
  • Asthma. ...
  • Braces or dental ailments. ...
  • Motion sickness. ...
  • Acne. ...
  • Too tall.


Can you join the military to avoid jail time?

First, military service is not offered as an option in place of charging you against the law, nor can it be offered as another option for your sentence or punishment. There are misconceptions that some judges may suggest military service rather than jail time, but the military branches don't accept this policy.


Can you join the military if you have bipolar disorder?

Milley read off DoD policy that states the individuals diagnosed with mood disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder as well as any condition involving self-mutilation are disqualified from entering military service.

Who is unfit for military service?

To be found unfit for duty, you: must have a medical condition that disqualifies you from fitness for service, and. cannot reasonably be expected to perform the duties of your rank and military career due to this medical condition.

How tall is too tall for the military?

The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected.


Can the military see old medical records?

Fraudulent Enlistment Penalties

Because the military does not routinely pull medical records, recruits who pass their physical and reveal no prior history may get in. However, if the soldier later gets sick or injured, the Army can check medical records if an undisclosed pre-existing condition is suspected.

How far back does MEPS background check go?

Your profile will be checked for information going all the way back to 10 years. You should also expect to sit through an extensive interview. For this, be ready to answer any questions. Failure to disclose may raise red flags or automatically disqualify you.

How long does it take MEPS to look at medical records?

The medical read performed should not take longer than a total of three working days unless additional records are requested. If you are denied processing due to your medical history, then it may still be possible to process if the service you are applying to decides they may wish to consider a medical waiver.


Will MEPS find my medical history?

No one has access to your civilian medical records besides you. The purpose of MEPS is to get every detail they can from you. If you forget to mention something, they'd have no way of figuring that out. If they did, then they wouldn't need to medically examine you.