I (20F) enlisted in the Marines and will be shipping out in a few months. I’ve been thinking of getting into rugby? I’m really tempted to try it, but I get that there’s a fair bit of risk involved because it’s a full-contact sport. Would it be worth it to try and get into rugby before bootcamp?

Re-3 Code Waiver Timeline for Navy Enlistment After Army Separation
Hello. I was recently in the Army and was separated with an RE-3 reentry code. I was told that my discharge was a general uncharacterized discharge. I am interested in enlisting again, but this time I want to join the Navy.
My Navy recruiter told me that she would need to retrieve my military profile from the Army before moving forward with the enlistment process.
I have a few questions for anyone who has been through a similar situation.

How long does it usually take to get an RE-3 waiver approved for Navy enlistment?

How long could the entire process take before I am able to ship out to boot camp?

Does having a prior Army separation with an RE-3 code make it significantly harder to join the Navy?
Is there anything I can do to help speed up the process?

I would appreciate any advice from people who have gone through a similar situation or recruiters who are familiar with this process. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Hello I’m hoping to get some insight of which branch of the military will be better for me. I am 18m and and have taken the practice ASVAB and got a 40. I have a girlfriend but I do plan on marrying her before I go into service. And I don’t know if the navy or air-force is better.
I want to not be away from my family for more than a couple months at a time
I want to have a family
I want good benefits and don’t know which branch would fit be better.
I am also not very book-smart but I am smart in other ways and I’m a very hands on person. I’m just hoping to get real opinions on which branch would fit me better.

I recently acquired my prescription history and realized I am not eligible for a medical waiver for two years or so. I am planning on getting a degree in the meantime because it would only take me two years due to college credits earned during dual enrollment in high school. I have an interest in both military and law enforcement. I was wondering, once I get my degree should I do law enforcement and later join the reserves (coast guard) or just go into military active duty. I just worry about putting all my eggs in one basket with active duty military in the case that my waivers gets denied. I also assume having a career in law enforcement would increase waiver likelihood because it shows I have no issues with physical work. if anyone could provide some insight it would be much appreciated.

I'm hoping to join post-college (enlisting/commissioning TBD), but have two primary medical conditions that I'm concerned may be disqualifying and would likely need waivers for.

AR 40-501 Chapter 2 lists DoDI 6130.03 Vol.1 as the primary reference for enlistment standards so that is what I am basing my information off of. Please bear with me.

My current disqualifying conditions are;

6.28.a.2/3 Medicated ADHD w/comorbid mental disorder (Anxiety)

(My anxiety did not require treatment, and I will cease ADHD medication for the necessary 24 month pre-enlistment period)

6.3.f.1 Unilateral Aphakia (missing lens in one eye) possibly requiring a lens implant

6.3.f.2 History of lens opacity (Cataract as a baby, surgically)

And possibly;

6.3.c.2 History of corneal incision surgery (done to remove the bad lens/possibly implant new lens)

I am currently relying on a combination of contacts and glasses to correct my vision, though theoretically I can get a high quality lens implant (IOL) that may get my vision down to about 20/30 in my poor eye. A lens implant would still be disqualifying under 6.3.f.1, though would my waiver chances be better than if I relied on glasses?

My current corrected vision in my good eye is 20/20 and I have had zero issues whatsoever in my good eye.

Would 6.3.f.1 and 2 have to be waiver-ed individually, or seeing as they are correlated issues would they be judged as a whole?

I've seen some ride or die the "where there's a will there's a waiver" sentiment, and others say that just two medical waivers is already stretching things, and I could really use a concrete answer. I've already tried talking to a recruiter and they were quite honestly not very helpful. Basically just said they were there to get me to the ASVAB, MEPS, and back, and that my best course of action is to take the ASVAB and go through MEPS without signing anything to get a benchmark on my condition.

Just wondering what’s the process of getting fiancé(navy), that’s stationed in Maryland and myself, USMC (NC), colocated together, with our child.

Her command is basically saying it’s no guarantee until she does her obligation to her orders that have her there.

She’s an HM, I’m an infantry marine.

I'm being med boarded but it's very important to me that I stay in the army. I want to appeal my med board but I'll have to provide evidence to support my case. The form that initiated my med board mentioned extensively that my symptoms will prevent me from operating a rifle effectively.

I've been shooting sporting clays in my free time for the past six months and I'm hitting my targets very consistently. A shotgun is significantly heavier than a rifle so if I can maintain steady control of a large weapon like that I'm sure I won't have any issues with an M4. I earned my EIB my first year in the Army and I've always shot 30+ anytime I went to the range in years past. If I can get an M4 scorecard showing that I can still qualify with a rifle I think that would be the strongest evidence I can provide to appeal my med board.

I was recently transferred to a medical unit that doesn't have an arms room and as far as I know doesn't have any plans to go to the range soon. Would I be able to go to the range with another unit at my duty station? I'm not familiar enough with Army policies/procedures in regards to ranges. Would it be completely ridiculous for a unit to allow a random soldier to use one of their rifles and ammo to go with them to the range? Would their be some kind of safety policy or range policy that would require a commanders exemption to policy or a lot of red tape/hassle that would make this unlikely? I haven't presented this idea to my leadership yet because I want to get a better sense of how reasonable of a request this would be.

I’m going to meps in 5 weeks and I’m really worried about height + weight. i am 5’6 179lb 18F. Im absolutely over the weight limit but my natural waist (thinnest part of torso?) is 32inches and my hips at their fullest is 43 inches. How cooked am i for tape 😭😭…?

When you're at boot camp and the DI is yelling at you, do you ever not understand them due to the yelling and noise just getting jumbled up or not well enunciated?

Maybe you get used to it after a bit but the first few days or weeks, has this ever happened to you or any of your other guys/girls in boot camp?

I really want to join the army. But from what I’ve heard, the only ways to join the army is if you either have a greencard or a citizenship. And the mavni program is canceled too, so there’s really no way for me to join, or so I thought! I did a little research, and it seems like the law that allows the secretary of the army to enlist immigrants with no green card or citizenship is still active! (U.S.C. § 504(b)(2)) So I was thinking, if I should write a letter to the secretary of the army? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really want to join, and if there is a chance this is gonna work, I’m willing to try it! What do you guys think? Should I do it, or it’s just a waste of time?

Im a Pfc living in an overcrowded base with 3-4 people to a room. The barracks here are terrible and I meet a girl about 4-5 months ago and we have been living together and splitting rent for the past 2 months. We live really well together and balance eachother out, and everything has been great. The 1 year lease term has recently ended and I will need to sign the lease if I want to continue living there and it’s a month by month lease. I applied for a CNA packet but they won’t let me due to E-5s and 4s already being on the waiting list. My leadership is tracking my situation. I’m wondering if there is anything that can get my in trouble for living off base without CNA and being unmarried? I don’t want to lose living with her but I can’t go back to trying to get 4 people through showers and having 3 people shave in a mirror at the same time. I’m a grown man and lived in my own apartment prior to the army

For those joining the Army who decided to wait for the MOS they really wanted, how long did you have to wait before you were able to book it? I’m specifically hoping to get 68E (Dental Specialist), so I’m just trying to get an idea of what to expect and how long the wait typically is. I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!

I'm just wondering how feedback travels up the chain of command in today's modern warfare so decisions can be made very quickly without delay? For example, let's use the famous movie "Lone Survivor" with Mark Wahlberg which is based on a true story. It was the tragic story of Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan where special forces was sent, but they were discovered and a total of 19 US Service Members died. Including 3 of the 4-man reconnaissance team.

Once the US Military learned of the survivor, they were very quick to jump in and send men to rescue him. A decision to deploy major force like that would probably need to be made by a more senior Officer, like maybe a Major or Colonel or something. So what if I may ask? Would the chain of command in an operation like that, sort of look like this? Or is this wrong, I'm just asking?

Report of survivor arrives to a Platoon Leader > He reports it to his company commander > Company commander reports it to the Battalion or Regiment Commander > He calls in strike?

I have a bipolar diagnosis in 2022 about a month and a half after my c section when my son was bor. I did not know I had this diagnosis until my recruiter asked me about depression etc. I knew I had post partum depression and he asked if I had taken meds for it. I started gathering pharmacy records and logging into old my chart apps with hospitals I used to go to from back then and that’s when I found it. The thing is I was already gathering documents to prove an inhaler I had was for pneumonia I had in 2024 and also for proof that i am fully recovered from a Bariatric surgery I had as well. That stuff he said is good to go since I have gathered all the documents for that.

I took the PICAT and scored a 92.

now I find this diagnosis in my chart from the hospital I had my son at and I am discourage. My Recruiter told me to go and get the records around the diagnosis and we can go from there. I really think this might have been an mis diagnosis due to severe post partum depression that has since resolved. I have not been on any kind of medication in at least 2 to 3 years I have held several consistent stable jobs. I currently work in law enforcement as a corrections officer at a jail that I had to go through an extensive hiring process for and complete an academy, and I have held this job for about a year and a half.

I think twice in my adult life I was in patient for maybe a week both times dealing with depression but those were all 5 to 7 years ago. and both times were after having kids.

I’ve moved many times and changed providers many times and can’t remember specific dates, doctors or clinics. I feel at a loss. I don’t even know how to go about finding out who originally put that diagnosis on me.

is it even worth trying to get a waiver with as many stuff as I have that could disqualify me or should I give up on this dream cause it’s not going to happen?

please help.

Hi,

Planning on joining the air force and was also planning on getting naturalized during BMT.

I just found out if you have a payment plan on federal taxes, your naturalization is very likely to get denied.

I'll likely have to wait a few years before I apply for naturalization because of this, and I was wondering if I will be able to naturalize DURING my active duty service not at the beginning?

Since I'm not a citizen, even if I were to naturalize during BMT, seems like any jobs with TS is off the table anyway. So it looks like me getting naturalized during my service won't change much other than I'll become a citizen later than I planned.

Any insight helps. Thank you.

Title pretty much sums it up. Just looking to see if anybody knows anything about GSP or ASIR? All of the info I’ve came across is outdated and it seems to have fallen off the map.

The website and their briefs are extremely vague and I’m just looking for extra information that expands on it without breaking an NDA or OPSEC. Thanks in advance.

I want to be a language interpreter/translator. I’m not fluent in any other languages but English but I have no clue if my score was high enough to do what I want. I’m going to join the army no matter what, but is my test high enough to become a translator? Or should I look at another option?

On a lot of forums when people ask if they should enlist when they have a degree, most people call them dumb for not going the officer route. I don’t really understand why people act like anyone can be an officer and that the process is easy. From what I’ve seen online that process can take a bit of time. And it’s not as simple as signing a paper and you ship off. You have to build a packet and have an interview with the board and have to be selected. In some branches and fields it’s pretty competitive. Especially Air Force. The highest % acceptance is the Army and that ranges 55-65%. On top of that, the process from walking into a recruiter’s office to being an actual officer after all the schooling ranges from about 1-2 years. Typically It just seems like everyone says go officer because quality of life and pay. Isn’t that not enough reason to be an officer? Am I missing something? Is being an officer worth all the work it takes to get there?

I play pro tennis and have played tennis for basically my whole life since I was 6 (24M). The problem is you essentially cant make money playing pro tennis so it’s very unsustainable as an adult. To get to the point you make money you have to have a ton of money to spend to get there.

I’ve always wanted to serve my country and been attracted to service since a very young age. Never been able to see myself doing anything else besides playing tennis or serving. I have my bachelors (BS in accounting) so I know that opens me up for OCS, OTS etc. I want to do something where I have a direct impact on the mission (combat arms, aviation, special operations, etc)

There are so many different routes to take and it’s really an unfamiliar world to me since I’ve been playing and training for sports my whole life. I’m open to what anyone has to say or thinks is a good path to take. Thanks for all your help in advance!

My recruiter told me they can request a job for me at MEPS even if it’s not currently available. I have 5 MOS options I want, but none of them are available right now.

I have no problem waiting for one of my preferred jobs, so I’m wondering if it’s possible for my recruiter to put in a request for one of them at MEPS even if it’s not showing up in the system. Has anyone had this happen, and did the request actually work?

I’d rather wait for a job I really want than sign a contract for something I’m not interested in.

Edit: Army Branch

Mainly for people who went through Army basic/osut specifically but definitely applies to any and all U.S armed forces.

What were the real challenges of basic? Unexpected challenges? Who did you see fail and what for? Is it as challenging as it’s portrayed or is it far easier? I know it’s difficult but if we could avoid hindsight answers that’d be amazing, I wanna know what it felt like during basic, how was it like living with 40+ people? Drama/fights/passive aggressive behavior? and also cool/fun stories just any additional info you can provide.

I’ve been physically prepping for basic for a little while now, I signed my contract and I ship out in a month and a half.
When I signed I was 220lb (5’10)
I could do like 11 pushups and ran a 28 minute 2 mile

I’ve worked my way down to 190lb and able to pass a army pt test and height and waist

Here’s what I’m currently at
deadlift : 270lb x 3 (85pts)
Hand release pushups : 36 (79pts)
Plank : 1:34 (61 pts)
2 mile run : 16:58 (82pts)
I can do like 6 pull-ups
I don’t know my sprint drag carry never tested it

Even though I pretty much raised myself this is my first time where if I fail so much can go wrong, I’ve been banking my whole future on getting into the military and I don’t have anything/anyone to go back to if I get dropped from basic, my basic location is halfway across the country and I’ll have no money when I go there.

Bootcamp in 2 weeks
What stuff did you forget to do that you recommend for me?
- got my new shoes 2 weeks ago been breaking them in
- going to cancel my gym membership tmr (workout at home and at PT)
- my Spotify renews a week before I leave so I’ll have my mom log in and hopefully cancel it
- deep cleaned my bedroom (going to do another vacuum,mop & dust a few days before)
-purged useless clothes and items

Anything else???

I have ADHD Dysthymia/PDD and PTSD. I also have scars on my arm. I have wanted to join the military since a child but it seems my rougher upbringing may prohibit me. Despite my diagnoses I am very stable but I'm not sure the military would see it that way.

I have already tried joining the Marines and I didn't even make it past the first call with them before they referred me to the Navy whilst explaining my history. Then I went to the Navy and everything was going perfectly. They did not care too much about my diagnoses but as soon as I mentioned my scars they apologized and said it would be impossible to join.

I have seen other posts on here mention waivers for scars and a 3-year stability wait but that was never mentioned to me at the recruiting office.

I am here now asking if it is actually possible to get a real role in the military that isn't a desk job or a janitor. By real role I mean Cyber Infantry Medic Intelligence and more. It is also fine to be realistic and tell me it’s impossible. Thank you.

I have a BA in Education (3.58 gpa). I am currently a teacher. Whilst I don’t mind teaching (I find it rewarding to see various people grow), I have a passion for law enforcement, and I’d like to pursue a career as an FBI agent. I got a 70 on my asvab and selected the air force for a cyber or intel job, as I believe those are the best jobs for FBI post air force. However, those jobs aren’t guaranteed. I just got out of meps and my peers were suggesting other branches to ensure a position the FBI would like or possibly officer as my teacher experience could translate well for officer.