two questions regarding enlistment?

[Triton8260]

First off I plan on joining sometime next June but Im still about 30 pounds overweight. I tried dieting but I'm losing the mind game. Wondering if there are any tips you guys can offer?

Secondly, do military background checks(the ones for a security clearance not the inital one) go into medical records? I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 12 and I took meds till 16. I know I don't have it because I went through senior year and 4 years of college without meds without issues.

Im kind of apprehensive to go to the recruiting because Im still overweight and I feel like they wont take me seriously. Thanks for the input.

[leok20]

Eating right and run. Run and run some more. 20 push ups every hour. 30 sit ups every hour.


You can do these simple things all day. It will help with weight loss.

I don't do background never had. Shoot. I got out ten years ago.


"I said good day!"

[Triton8260]

Eating right and run. Run and run some more. 20 push ups every hour. 30 sit ups every hour.


You can do these simple things all day. It will help with weight loss.

I don't do background never had. Shoot. I got out ten years ago.


"I said good day!"

I run a mile every day. Ill try to do more. Eating right is the hard part I dont mind doing an extra mile and some more crunches. But giving up coke? Its hard!

[jmsenk]

what branch are you planning on joining? It makes a difference with the height and weight standards (not much of one) - also, don't let being overweight keep you from going to a recruiter. He ought to lead you in the right direction. You say you're losing the mind game, so this might help you get over it. I was overweight when I first went to a recruiter way back in the day (I was a linebacker, so I was athletic, but bigger than I ought to have been) and my recruiter went on runs with me every day and helped come up with a diet plan. When I made weight and finally joined it was a victory for both of us. There will also be other folks there trying to join up and yall can start workout programs together (or, rather, they will make yall do workout programs together) there at the recruiting station or at local school gyms. The recruiter will also answer any questions you have about ADHD and all that. the background check doesn't go into medical history, but they do ask you about all of that in your initial enlistment, and they are not too keen on taking guys that have taken medication for it. Ask the recruiter how to handle the situation and he will steer you right.

Also, I can only really speak for the Army. All the recruiters I ever knew went out of their way to help their guys get in. The Marines in our area were pretty good too, and we would have recruit competitions with them in pull ups, runs, playing flag football, stuff like that... don't ever remember the Navy or the Air Force doing anything similar.

Also, when picking your MOS, remember that no matter where you go or what branch, there are really on two jobs in the whole of the military: Infantry, and Infantry support.

[GunDog]

Eating right is the hard part. I dont mind doing an extra mile and some more crunches. But giving up coke? Its hard!

Giving up coke is hard??? YGBSM!!

[09cs]

First off I plan on joining sometime next June but Im still about 30 pounds overweight. I tried dieting but I'm losing the mind game. Wondering if there are any tips you guys can offer?

Secondly, do military background checks(the ones for a security clearance not the inital one) go into medical records? I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 12 and I took meds till 16. I know I don't have it because I went through senior year and 4 years of college without meds without issues.

Im kind of apprehensive to go to the recruiting because Im still overweight and I feel like they wont take me seriously. Thanks for the input.

Regarding the meds, I asked the recruiter about that, since I was in the same boat and haven't taken meds for it in years. Just need a doctor note saying you haven't been taking/prescribed the meds in x years

[leok20]

Jmsenk is right about recruiters helping you and PTing with you.

And Infantry or Support.


Coke dude? It's coke. Who cares.

Priorities. No coke allows you to do something you want. Stop drinking it (or snorting).


"I said good day!"

[Snoopy47]

The meds are going to come up at MEPS when you are medical processing.

I really doubt they are going to impact your clearance.

[Triton8260]

what branch are you planning on joining? It makes a difference with the height and weight standards (not much of one) - also, don't let being overweight keep you from going to a recruiter. He ought to lead you in the right direction. You say you're losing the mind game, so this might help you get over it. I was overweight when I first went to a recruiter way back in the day (I was a linebacker, so I was athletic, but bigger than I ought to have been) and my recruiter went on runs with me every day and helped come up with a diet plan. When I made weight and finally joined it was a victory for both of us. There will also be other folks there trying to join up and yall can start workout programs together (or, rather, they will make yall do workout programs together) there at the recruiting station or at local school gyms. The recruiter will also answer any questions you have about ADHD and all that. the background check doesn't go into medical history, but they do ask you about all of that in your initial enlistment, and they are not too keen on taking guys that have taken medication for it. Ask the recruiter how to handle the situation and he will steer you right.

Also, I can only really speak for the Army. All the recruiters I ever knew went out of their way to help their guys get in. The Marines in our area were pretty good too, and we would have recruit competitions with them in pull ups, runs, playing flag football, stuff like that... don't ever remember the Navy or the Air Force doing anything similar.

Also, when picking your MOS, remember that no matter where you go or what branch, there are really on two jobs in the whole of the military: Infantry, and Infantry support.

Thanks for the info. Im trying to do either Coast Guard or Air Force so Im not exactly sure how the whole grunt, pog thing plays into those branches.

[Blackrain7557]

The meds are going to come up at MEPS when you are medical processing.

I really doubt they are going to impact your clearance.

The Air Force will probably take a closer look at it due to the necessary clearance requirements. I had some medical stuff that precluded me from going into a TS field off the bat, though that cleared up with a waiver.

Also big note here:

The AF is actively trying to get rid of people, so you'll have a bit of a harder time trying to get in with us versus another branch I'd assume. All depends on your ASVAB and what you want as a job.

Best thing you can do for yourself is pick up an ASVAB study guide, doesn't matter who you are it can help, or at least get you sped up on what to expect.

When talking with your recruiter be professional and polite, they're more likely to help you.

Good luck with whatever you choose, the meds may or may not be an issue just depends on where the recruiting for everyone is at, we're trying to lean up the services now so it may be a bit harder.

Thanks for the info. Im trying to do either Coast Guard or Air Force so Im not exactly sure how the whole grunt, pog thing plays into those branches.

There's a bit of the same mentality in the AF, a lot of support people "deploy" to some really nice places while others get to go to Afghanistan. Even there you've got Finance versus Flyers, one person actually does something for the war effort and the other screws up your pay.



Also DO NOT LIE ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY!!!

Don't do it, it's going to come up at some point don't believe anyone who tells you it won't. The Military can help you and get a waiver, if they discover you lied you're pretty much screwed. If you've been off your meds with a doctors approval and a note you're good to go. No reason to not explain that.

[Triton8260]

The meds are going to come up at MEPS when you are medical processing.

I really doubt they are going to impact your clearance.

Just to be clear, because Im super confused about this bit. Do you bring your medical records to meps? Or do they check you out and only ask for them if they see an issue?
Because if the case is the latter Im not saying anything to them.

[Blackrain7557]

Just to be clear, because Im super confused about this bit. Do you bring your medical records to meps? Or do they check you out and only ask for them if they see an issue?
Because if the case is the latter Im not saying anything to them.

It's pretty much the latter there, I had some recent stuff that I needed to clear up so I got the full work-up. In your case unless you've got it on recent records as medication you're taking you should be fine.

[jcourson]

Be completely honest on everything they ask you though. If they ask if you had any pre existing conditions and you tell them no, then they find out later on in your career, you can be slapped with fraudulent enlistment. Better to be up front with it to the recruiter since they can get a waiver for most things, if the recruiter tells you to not tell anyone at MEPS about it, find a new recruiter.

[Triton8260]

It's pretty much the latter there, I had some recent stuff that I needed to clear up so I got the full work-up. In your case unless you've got it on recent records as medication you're taking you should be fine.

The reason why I aint saying squat is because I took that stuff for too long and when I was too old. Has to be under 14 and for less than 2 years. Plus I had insomnia because of the meds. I know the Air force especially the Coast Guard dont grant many waivers either.

[Blackrain7557]

The reason why I aint saying squat is because I took that stuff for too long and when I was too old. Has to be under 14 and for less than 2 years. Plus I had insomnia because of the meds. I know the Air force especially the Coast Guard dont grant many waivers either.

Yea, honestly I'd say it'd be an issue just because of the way we're downsizing, bad time to try and get in. But can't hurt to talk to everyone and get options.