Expert: John L - 6/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: My son is 19 and has his heart set on joining the Military Special Forces.  He wanted to go Army...but the Air Force said if he is qualified he could go directly into special forces training whereas in the army one has to wait 2-3 years.  long story short....my question is with the Medical Questions he had to answer:  He had a brief session of counseling due to meeting his biological family in his senior year of high school (he is adopted) and the doctor, at the counselors suggestion prescribed 2 months of anti-depressant in case it might help along with the talk therapy sessions.  All in all it was about 4 months of counseling with the 2 months of sporadic use of the anti-depressant and he is fine now.  This took place in the early part of this year.  I have read that if such counseling/depression was not over 6 months that it is not disqualifying.  But initially, the army recruiter said to my son to not bother mentioning it.  Some people already enlisted also told him to not mention it....that he may not get in or may not get the job he wants.  So he didn't even bother to take it up with the air force recruiter and has just completed MEPS for the DEP --- and at the end he 'promised' to enlist via the first swear in.  My question to you is, can he share this medical information now....after MEPS without any negative reprecussions and simply have it handled like it would have been had he initially revealed it before MEPS?
I KNOW he feels it is best to share...just as he shared other medical info.  It is just that he was counseled by experienced military personnel...and so followed their advice.  I am telling him that it is NOT too late... that he should share this bit of medical info.  Which was a very short time...and supply the documentation for the doctor and counselor and everything should be fine.  He said it's too late...that he is sworn in and signed so many different papers that said all he had truthfully answered.  I say he can still come clean.  He's not formally enlisted yet!
Can you advise?  Thank you in advance for you time and for sharing your knowledge!!  Alot is riding on this.  It means everything to him to be able to enlist!  and to enlist honestly!!

a concerned mother

ANSWER: If he does mention it, it will be an issue and he probably will not get to enlist.  The problem is, they will see it as a kid who is unstable and if he couldn't handle meeting his real parents, he can't handle the challenges of military life.  Especially since it was not that long ago.  Lying is not encouraged, but sometime a neccesity if he is 100% sure it was a non issue and just him whining about stress.  Counseling and drugs are too freely given out if someone has a bad day.

Also, the AF telling him he can go staright to special forces is a lie.  No one can straight to special forces, there are tryouts he can go to , that is all they can promise, and everyone in every branch of the services can tryout for their special forces.  if he doesnt make it, which 90% of new recruits who try do not make it, he will get stuck with a job of the Air Forces choosing (plumber..etc).

On;y guys who are former police officers etc, make it the first time as new recruits.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Bless you John, for taking the time to read and reply!
I will pass this on.  It is exactly what my husband would say!
Also, if he may want to go into the Army now....can he do this since he is in the DEP? and only sworn in once right after MEPS?  my understanding is there is one more swear in on the day he leaves.  If yes, how does he do it?  Is it complicated?  He is supposed to go in tomorrow to talk with his recruiter....
Thank you, John!


Answer
If he has already sworn in once, he is locked in to the Air force, and he cannot join any other branch.  If he does not go to basic, he has to wait for a discharge letter, then he can try to join another branch, but he has already signed a contract if he is in DEP.

If he swore in, he has already completed the medical part.  Ifhe has not seen the MEPs doctor and signed contracts, then he isnot in DEP.

If he is in DEP, and devulges this info now, his contract will be voided for failure to fess up to everything, so it is best to keep it quiet now.