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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Aviation and depression
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Question
My daughter is in the Naval ROTC program. Her goal is to fly for the Navy. Over the last few months she has struggled with depression and currently is seeing a counselor and on meds. She hopes to get off meds soon but is concerned about ruining her chances to fly by staying on too long, getting counseling, etc. Can you point me/her to the Navy documents that give guidance on this issue? Or maybe you know the answer. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Hi RW,
A history of "major depression" is a disqualifying condition for military service. Any history of a mood disorder (which includes depression), which requires out-patient treatment of six months or more, or any in-patient treatment at all is also a disqualifier. See: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/neurotic.htm
Specific requirements for Naval aviation can be found in the Navy's Manual of the Medical Department, Chapter 15 (see: http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/ManMed/Manmed.htm).
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
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