Expert: John L - 3/23/2010

Question
I am a 18 year old male who is going to be joining the National Guard  in September 2010 and shipping to BCT in June 2011. I just have a few questions to ask about medical conditions, because I'm going to do my physical within the next week or two.

In 2003, at age 11, I was diagnosed with Membrane Nephropathy and was treated with the medication Enalapril until December of 2007 and was told that it had cleared up in January 2008.

In 2008, I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression (many believe this is a wrongful diagnosis and really had Situational Depression) and was treated with 30mg of Lexapro. I stopped taking the medication in September 2009, and have been fine ever since.

In July of 2009, I was sent to St. Luke's East Crittenton Campus for "behavioral problems" and was treated with the medication Risperidone .5mg a day. I stopped taking the medication as well in September 2009. I was never diagnosed with anything for that medication besides just helping with my temper, and ever since getting off of both medications I have been fine, mentally.

My recruiter is telling me that I need to wait up to 2 years before they will clear me medically, but I have seen on some websites cases of only having to wait 6 months to a year. I was just wondering if they would medically discharge me with a code 4 (meaning I could never enlist again) or is there a way for me to get waivers to get me cleared. Like before I said I'm feeling fine, mentally and physically, and I can still make good judgments. I've been wanting to join the military for a very long time now, and I was just wondering what I need to do to get in or should I lie?

Answer
Right now, there is a big push to stop people coming in with past menatl health issues.  The medical staff would probably disqaulify you from military service.  Two past isses make you more likley to develope issues in the future desling with the stresses of military life and would probably not make a good candidate.