Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 8/2/2008

Question
I was in the Air Force for almost six years and got an honorable discharge with a re-enlistment code of 2Q. It says the reason for seperation is that it existed prior to service. I had been diagnosed with depression when I was 6 and I stopped taking medication when I was 12. I was told by my recruiter that if I did not need medication for so long there is no reason to say anything about it. So I didn't say anything and it really doesn't matter because there is no way of proving what he told me to say. I had problems but it was nothing I felt was going to be permanent. So I wanted to know how do I re-enlist? I talked to a recruiter and he told me there is no way, but other people I have talked to have told me differently.

Answer
Dear William --

You will need a medical waiver to re-enlist with a prior psychiatric condition.  Not all conditions are waiverable.  If the military psychiatrist feels you would be a danger to yourself or to other servicemembers, or are prone to ignoring authority, you will not be able to re-enlist.

To be able to re-enlist you would have to find a recruiter willing to prepare a waiver application with you.  If no recruiter is willing to work with you on this issue, your DD 214 indicates that you have a condition that is not suitable, and will likely never be suitable for military service.

Good luck to you.