Depression and the Military Your depression may disqualify you from service if you have had symptoms or treatment within the past 36 months (3 years). In addition, if you ever required outpatient care, including medications and therapy, for more than 12 months total cumulatively, you won't be allowed to join.
Can You Enlist If You Have Depression? A person with a depressive disorder must be stable, without treatment or symptoms for a continuous 36 months, to be eligible to enlist.
In some cases, depression is debilitating enough to lead to a military discharge. However, while many types of depression are typically treatable, this is not the case for everyone.
“Whilst there are some mental health histories that will almost always preclude entry to the ADF, where there is evidence that a candidate has received treatment and subsequently shown effective functioning in their life, a psychologist may determine that they are suitable to join the ADF,” the spokesperson said.
Mental Health and Enlisting
For a person considering enlisting in the Armed Forces, some mental health disorders can disqualify them from joining. Not only do you have to be pass the physical and fitness requirements, but you must pass mental muster, too. Psychotic disorders are one disqualifier.
These may include your medical history, military criminal record, age, physical fitness level, and drug use. Your educational background or history of mental illness may also disqualify you from joining.
Antidepressants are disqualifying for one year after you stop taking them. You must stop with your doctor's advice; do not stop on your own. These medications often have to be reduced slowly to lower side effects and reduce risk of relapse.
It generally disqualifies anyone that is or has taken medication for mental illness in the last year. If it's been more than a year you may receive a waiver but the military will need to examine your medical records and speak to your physician.
However, because ADHD is not disqualifying per se, individuals who want to serve in the military are encouraged to pursue this option, along with other career possibilities.
The rate of depression is higher than the rate in the general population because of the stressors that military life poses. Aside from the stress of combat and separation from families, some soldiers with depression also experience stigma surrounding their mental health.
While ADHD alone does not disqualify a person from military service, the Department of Defense (DOD) places significant enlistment restrictions on individuals with an ADHD diagnosis and/or prior treatment with medication. Has documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance.
Untreated mental illness can, however, damage your career. If the symptoms are severe, your commanding officer may require duty limitations or recommend separation from the military for medical reasons.
“With the Air Force, asthma is disqualifying if the service person carries an inhaler. People with a history of asthma interested in joining the Air Force will need to achieve satisfactory results in a methacholine challenge test to receive a medical waiver.
The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.
Individuals with psychiatric illnesses and treated with psychotropic medications can deploy if they meet criteria outlined in DoD and theater policies. Deploying typically requires a waiver requested by the individual's commander.
In the Army, Navy, and Marines in particular, recruiters largely advise applicants with ADHD to be off any and all stimulant or nonstimulant medications for at least one year. Some recruiters, notably within the Air Force, tell applicants they must be off medication for 15 months or more.
Unprescribed consumption of prescription drugs, such as anti-ADHD medication, steroids, and opiates, banned diet drugs (such as Ephedra) and Benzodiazepines (such as Valium or other prescription anti-anxiety or anti-convulsant medicines) is prohibited.
Current or a history of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, acute reactions to stress, and posttraumatic disorder are disqualifying conditions.
Past behavioral issues, to include cutting, bipolar disorder and depression, as well as drug and alcohol abuse generally prevent someone from enlisting or earning a commission. However, the Army will grant waivers in some cases.
Current DOD accession policy lists ADHD as disqualifying for military applicants if they meet any of the following conditions: ADHD medication prescribed in the previous 24 months, an educational plan or work accommodation after age 14, a history of comorbid mental health disorders, or documentation of adverse academic ...
Trained healthcare personnel may determine if the Service member requires further evaluation or health education and contact the Service member. The MHAs consist of a two-stage self-report assessment using validated tools to assess alcohol use, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms.
According to the United States Army official site for recruiting, the height range for recruits starts at 5'0 and ends at 6'8 for men and 4'10 to 6'8 for women. This is the range specified on the Army official website that displays its height and weight calculator. The minimum age for these requirements is 17.
Although the condition does not garner the same attention as PTSD, depression remains one of the leading mental health conditions in the military. In fact, studies show that up to 9% of all appointments in the ambulatory military health network are related to depression.