Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 8/27/2009

Question
my friend is trying to join the marines. when he was 17 he had a drug problem and was sent away to a place for rehab and to finish high school. before he was sent to the school he was put in a hospital psych ward pending transport to the facility. he  his parents are the ones that sent him to rehab .since his return from the rehab he has seen a therapist. my question is. will this disqualify him from joining the marines. he is now twenty years old. thanks for you help

Answer
Beth,
Short answer is maybe.
According to the military medical regulations, he would only be disqualified if he was under "care by a physician or other mental health professional for more than 6 months."
If he can prove that he is considered "cured" and can provide documentation stating such, then he may be eligible to receive a waiver.

The best thing for him to do is talk to a USMC Recruiter to find out what he believes your friends chances are.  However, just to be safe he should wait until October 1st before seeing the recruiter.  The Marines have already reached their quota for 2009 so they don't need to accept anybody who may need a waiver.  On October 1st the new recruiting quota for the year 2010 is released so he wants to be first in line.

It may seem like a long wait but it's only a month and we want to stack the deck in his favor as much as possible.

Tell him I admire his having completed rehab and staying clean.  Somebody with strong willpower like that will definitely make a good Marine.
Good luck.
Colonel H