Expert: Rod Powers - 5/13/2007

Question
Hello.  I have a question regarding enlistment in the marine corps.  When I was younger I tried to commit suicide.  As of now I am almost out of high school and am very interested in joining the marines.  Since the attempt, all medical professionals have said I'm in great mental health.  I was just wondering given all this if it's possible to get a waiver for this "condition," and if so, how likely it is that it will get approved.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Steven,

Anything is *possible*, but you should know up front that a waiver for a previous suicide attempt is *very* rare.

Military life is more stressful than *anything* you have ever experienced before, especially in the Marine Corps and the Army, where you are often separated from your family and friends for months at a time, placed in asture conditions, and subjected to direct ground-combat situations, where it's possible you will see your best friend in the world, killed right next to you. You don't get more "stressful" than that.

You have to look at it from the Military's point of view. At some time in your past, you dealt with stress by wanting to end your life (attempting suicide). Generally, they don't want to take the chance that this would happen when experiencing the *extreme* stress of military life. So, this type of waiver is among the hardest to get.

Not saying it's impossible, but the chances of waiver approval for past suicide attempts are very small.