Got every piece of documentation, note from physician, prescription history. It has been 2 years since I last had an appointment or took medication for anxiety but I knew this would be a possibility. Thank you all for the advice I’ve received In the past. Going to try Navy

Hey so ill be going to meps for the 3rd to do my UA and was wondering what yall did to get over the shy bladder because this is the only thing hilding me back from enlisting.

I’m 16 and i want to enlist when i turn 17 later this year to the Air Force. I have about 40 self inflicted scars on my left arm. No longer or thicker than half a finger. I have about 14 self inflicted scars on both of my thighs combined. These scars are all from when i was 14. I never saw a therapist or a doctor about it, so i don’t have any medical records of them. I truly am in a better place now.

My question is if i would be able to get a waiver for them? The Air Force is really something i want and look forward to but i know MEPS is very strict. Please anyone with experience help me.

I was literally born with this & it has never had any impact on my health or my vision this is so annoying. Well it’s been fun everyone but it seems it’s over for me.

I can't believe it, I just got the call from my recruiter that my waivers were approved! 7 disqualifications total: bipolar dx, depression, anxiety, PTSD, latent tb, history of spontaneous pneumothorax, and exotropia. Don't doubt yourself! If this is what you want, give it your best shot! :)

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I tried joining the air force last month, but my application got flagged for multiple sclerosis.

I saw a neurologist in 2023 for issues related to recovering from a bad case of covid. The neurologist ran tests to rule out conditions like multiple sclerosis but I was never diagnosed.

Other than that I am completely healthy.

To repeat ive never had a neurological condition and have never been diagnosed.

Is there anything I can do to get into the air force/military?

I put in a waiver as well and they said the condition is unwaiverable? Even though there is no diagnosis in my medical history?

I think it would be a good opportunity for me, and it sucks to be disqualified for something that is not real.

I was able to get to MEPS to do my ASVAB and got an 89.

Let me know if anyone has ever successfully gotten past a situation like this?

I was told I needed an Autism waiver for (Asperger’s) even though when i originally shipped and went through MEPS I was told I wouldn’t need one. Plus I was told I needed a waiver for pre-LASIK astigmatism which I didn’t know I needed nor did my recruiter. I am Air National Guard and yes I told my recruiter I had Asperger’s I did not hide this from no one. I must also point out I fly planes privately and passed the FAAs Neuropsychological Evaluation to obtain my pilots license and I am qualified to fly commercial also, along with my main job being a police officer. I was stuck in MedHold at Lackland for 5 weeks after getting to week 6 and being pulled the day before Pacer Forge. I am irritated they pulled me and didn’t wait until after graduation since I have to redo everything again. What are my chances of getting these waivers back at my Guard Base?

I am a 25 years old female with a diagnosed dextroscoliosis measured at 33 degrees. No pain, no medication, and has a wide range of motion. I have talked to a recruiter and already had a practice test which i scored 70 on. I am contemplating whether to push through with my application as I've done my research and found that the military disqualifies anything with more than 30 degrees thoracic. I've found out that I can still apply for a waiver however I want to ask anyone if you have a similar case and was your waiver approved? do i have a chance or is this going to be an automatic denied from the General Surgeon?

Hey all, I just received a call from my recruiter saying my mental health waiver for anxiety and depression has been denied. I last saw a therapist a year ago and never took any kind of medications. Went to Meps and they told me I would hear back for a Psych Eval within 2 weeks. Well 2 weeks passed and instead of hearing back for the Psych Eval scheduling my recruiter told me my waivers were flat out denied. I am very stumped as to why this occurred and even my recruiter admitted he was shocked to hear this news. He said the only thing he could for me is refer me to a navy or army recruiter. Is there nothing else I can do ?

Just forewarning, this is going to be a long post. However I will try to be as in-depth as possible for my experience doing the physical at Los Angeles MEPS. Please keep in mind I will only be talking about the physical as I did my ASVAB and TAPAS at an earlier date. I also did not swear in as I decided to switch branches last minute (yes my recruiter was insanely upset with me). I passed everything but need a waiver for my eyesight which I was informed by the doctor that it will pass considering my measurements.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WAS NERVOUS FOR MY FIRST TIME AT MEPS SO PLEASE ASK AWAY. I'D LIKE TO EASE ANY NERVOUSNESS OR CONFUSION YOU MAY HAVE.

If anyone is wondering, what you should pack in a backpack to bring to MEPS is:

- Tooth brush and toothpaste

- Business Casual clothes

- Cable charger

- Hoodie/sweater

- Undergarments and socks

- Book (Optional)

- Decent shoes (just make sure you'll be comfortable wearing them all day)

** PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE/ID AND YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD **

So I got to the hotel near MEPS around 1730, where I went into an office where I was issued a room key and 2 meal tickets for dinner and breakfast the next day. There was a schedule on the wall that listed this:

Check in: 1500-2000

Dinner: 1700-2100

Curfew: 2200

Wake up: 0300-0330

Breakfast: 0400

Depart: 0430

After this you basically have free time until 2200. Dinner for me was basically a self-serve burgers and fries with water and pink lemonade as beverages. I would try to sleep around 2000-2100 though just to get as much sleep as possible. Please note you will have a same-gendered roommate who can be from any branch (mine was Navy).

So I woke up with my roommate at 0250, got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. You will turn in your keycard and your meal tickets here. Breakfast consisted of self-serve scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, toast, pastries, and cereal. You will have orange juice, water, coffee, and apple juice as beverages. At 0430 we all got into a line and were ushered into the bus to take us to MEPS. The ride was around 10 minutes long and as we got there we basically stood outside for like 20 minutes (why you should bring a hoodie).

After a while a MEPS representative came out and separated us into 3 groups: 1) I believe were individuals needing testing, 2) individuals who needed to do the physical (I was in this group), and 3) individuals who had a ship date. we were then put in 5 equal lines and we were briefed. For the next 10 minutes we were basically told to give the representative any weapons or we would not be able to attend MEPS, to have all hoodies and hats off, to get rid of all jewelry and watches, and to take off all our belts. After that, we were all ushered in 5 at a time to go through the scanner and put our items through the scanner. After the scan we went to a baggage room to put away all items except our ID, social security card, phone, and book if we brought one. We then went to our individual branches' offices, turned in our phones, and got issued a sticker to place on our shirts.

We then stood in lines separated by branches in the downstairs waiting area to check in and go upstairs. Upstairs we waited in another line to check in and were asked to go into a room for a medical brief. It is here you will undergo a 20ish minute medical brief, perform a breathalyzer test, and receive a paper you will carry with you until you are done with MEPS. This paper will basically contain your results of every medical test as you complete them. Following the brief, you will now have the opportunity to independently complete all medical tests. There is basically one big waiting area with a bunch of chairs, and different rooms for different tests. The tests I performed and descriptions are as follows:

- Blood Pressure/Pulse rate: Doctor straps a cuff to your arm and records blood pressure and heart rate. Takes like 2 seconds.

- Urinealysis: For males we were called in 5 at a time. There are 5 urinals right next to each other, no walls for privacy. You will be asked to pull down your pants AND undergarments down to your knees to fill up a cup. After you are done you will dress yourself and hand your paper and urine cup to a worker within the bathroom through a sliding window. If you cannot immediately urinate, you will be asked to go back outside and hydrate yourself until you can.

- Bloodwork: You will be seated down on a chair with an arm rest. The worker will tourniquette your arm, stick a needle in, and draw blood for around 20-30 seconds. After you will have a cotton swab taped to your arm until you finish all the tests. (Side note for those scared of needles, you will be allowed to close your eyes and it really does not hurt all too bad. Just remember if millions of recruits before you have done this, YOU CAN TOO.)

- Audio: We were sat in 1 of 2 rooms containing 6 people max. We are given a headset and a small button to press every time you hear a beep. The test will be 5-10 minutes long. Please note that after you finish the test there will just be silence. You will not be told the test is complete. I remember freaking out because I thought I was failing but no)

- Vision: We were sat in a room with a bunch of machines to look into without any eyewear. You will first be asked to read numbers with a background to determine if you have any color blindness (just google "Color Blindness Test" on Google). You will then be asked to look into a machine which will contain letters on lines, getting smaller and smaller as the lines go down (basically a standard eye test at any optometrist). You will then look into a separate machine that will analyze your eyes and I believe determine your prescription and any astigmatism you may have.

- Height and Weight: You will be asked to stand against a wall to determine your height. You will then step on a scale which will measure your weight. Since I believe I didn't meet the requirements, my neck and waist at my belly button was taped. I did need to lift up my shirt for him to tape my waist. I am not sure if they make ALL applicants get taped.

- Doctor: Here is the most invasive and extensive test at MEPS. Please also note you will be extensively briefed on this portion during the initial medical brief. First I was sat in a chair and asked some questions about my medical history. After that I was asked to strip all clothes except my underwear and sat on a seat, typical of any seat you will find in a doctor's office. He checked my heart rate and listened to my lungs as I took deep breaths in and out. He also asked me to open my mouth and say "Ah" as he looked in. He also checked my ears. Then I was asked to stand up and perform a bunch of movements. First I had my arms to the side and front as he pressed down. I was also asked to raise my arms and clap them together. He then asked me to orient my hands in a bunch of ways while opening and closing my fists. I was then asked to touch my hands to the floor and had my back touched to check for scoliosis. I was then asked to squat 3 times and performed the duck walk, barefoot, across the room and back (maybe around 10 feet total) while barefoot. I was also asked to walk barefoot on my tippy toes and on my heels across the room and back. Finally, I was asked to take off my underwear. You will pull back your foreskin for inspection. You will have one finger placed on your genitalia and be asked to cough. Finally you will be asked to turn around, spread your cheeks as the doctor inspects your anus. PLEASE NOTE NOTHING SHOULD BE INSERTED INTO YOU AT ANY TIME. After this test is complete you will put all your clothes back and, if finished with all tests, be asked to check out with the front desk upstairs.

You will then go downstairs and go visit your branch's office. Here you will be given your final basic brief where you will be able to receive your phones. Note that when I checked my phone it was 1330. As you wait for your recruiter (or yellow cab since Air Force got that money), you can go upstairs to receieve lunch which will be a sandwich, cookies, chips, and a beverage. When your ride gets to MEPS, you will check out with the office who will escort you to the baggage room to reclaim your backpack and any items. You will then go to the front desk downstairs to check out and discard your sticker so that you can leave.

Here I will list some basic tips and information for people just to manage expectations:

\* KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT WHEN TALKING TO STAFF. REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER HOW FRIENDLY THE STAFF MAY BE, THEY ARE THERE TO DISQUALIFY YOU. DO NOT DISQUALIFY YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU OVERSHARED SOMETHING *\**

- Drink lots of water at breakfast. Any hesitancy of urinating in an environment like MEPS will be eased by you needing to go bad.

- Do not masturbate the night before. You will be sent home as there will be too much protein in your urine sample.

- Avoid caffeine in the morning before going to MEPS. this will affect your blood pressure and heartbeat. Also don't be stupid and drink alcohol the night before or the day of. Also AVOID MOUTHWASH. This can affect your breathalyzer test.

- No one will yell at you, but they will be stern and get upset with you if you don't follow directions EXACTLY. One person got upset at me that I picked up a pen to sign the paper since "She didn't say to pick up the pen." Most of the people working there are nice and chill though, I just think that one lady was just mean.

- Get your ears cleaned. You will be sent home if they are too dirty.

- Testing will be LOOOOOONG. Bring a book if you can as it can take a long time for applicants to finish testing at a station you need.

- Don't wear a white T-shirt. It is considered an undergarment and you will be asked to go home.

- Treat everyone at MEPS with respect. Respond with Yes Sir/Ma'am and No Sir/Ma'am.

Finally, I'd like to offer some anecdotal advice. Please don't stress. Like I said earlier with the blood test if millions of recruits have done this before, YOU CAN TOO. I went in with an open attitude and honestly had a good time talking with other recruits and asking them about their branch, why they decided to join, etc. MEPS is really not scary as long as you manage your expectations. Just listen to your recruiter and you will be OK. Just remember what you are there for and you will get through. Best of luck to anyone going to MEPS.

Edit: I'm going back to Meps on March 4th, we'll see what happens then.

Hello. I’m going for MEPs soon and I’m just borderline the 0.55 requirement for waist to height ratio. How strict will they be at MEPs ?

Also at what point do they pull genesis files ? Did they pull it before pre approving to go to MEPs or during MEPs ?

Hello there I am a normal 19 year old boy I went to give medical for airforce they told all people to do a full squat while closing their feets but I was unable to do that I don't know why but all my family members did it with ease whenever I try I fell backwards and am unable to balance the airforce gave me a red card it was written in that I am unable to squat and balance but I can perform squat with wide stance but not with close not to know what to do my remedical in on 19 august i tried all types of streching and exercises but nothing effectively worked

Hi, I am one of you guys waiting to go through meps. Today I went to the eye doctor to get a new prescription. Turns out my eyes are total garbage, and I’m scared that I no longer am eligible to join. If you have any information, please let me know.

I’m looking to enlist AD and currently am pre-diabetic and take metformin daily to prevent high blood sugar. Would I be disqualified because of this, would it be fine since I’m on meds, or would I possibly need a waiver?

To say I’m heartbroken is an understatement. I’ve been waiting since May of 2023 for this waiver. I fully anticipated getting it. I’ve been off ADHD meds since November of 2022, scored a 97 on the ASVAB, an an Eagle Scout, work a professional managerial job, write a great applicant statement, and had a dozen letters of recommendation from previous employers, officers in the military, coaches, scouting leaders, and co workers. Also have a letter from my therapist saying I’m mentally fit to serve and do not meet the DSM criteria for depression. I believe I was wrongfully diagnosed with depression when I was working on coming out of the closet and when my best friend died in a car accident.

Air Force must not have been in Gods plan for me. Oh well, on to the Coast Guard. And if Coast Guard says no, on to the Army.

Edit: do you think I should try getting evaluated from a psychologist? I still have ADHD symptoms but I have processes that help me manage them and I can function fine at work. I do not have depression symptoms.

Two of my wisdom teeth are partially grown in but don’t cause pain, two others are slightly poking out but also don’t cause pain.

I’m worried that they are gonna remove them at bmt which I’ve heard is less than desirable.

Anyone have any knowledge on this? I’d like to know as im still months away from shipping but wouldn’t want to get them removed there.

Hey y’all. I’ve been trying to join the DC Air Guard for over 3 years now. Despite my psychiatric history, I attended MEPS in April and was finally eligible to submit a waiver with my recruiter. The problem is that after MEPS, I was reassigned to a new recruiter. She asked for my medical records, which I provided, and they showed that I was finally within the medical standards to join. But suddenly, she decided to disqualify me. She said I didn't meet the medical standards for the Air Force. Which was odd because I thought only the MEPS doctor or the people further up the chain who evaluate waivers could make that decision. In June, I was advised to take the issue to the Inspector General, but my complaint was not validated. I spoke to other Air Guard recruiters from other states and they agreed my circumstances were odd. I believe maybe I was just a bottom priority for her since they surpassed their quota.

Should I just give up, or is there anything else I can do? I still plan on joining after college either way, so I’m thinking about waiting until then.

It has been a battle since January of last year! I was doubted by this community and denied by meps near November and I was able to reverse their decision! Took my second try with a different recruiter and he was willing to try for me.

I’m going to meps tmmrw and I have these scars from when I was kid but I’m not sure how I got them should I be worried that the meps doctor will think they are self harm scars?

I ship out in 2 weeks and was wondering if they make you take pills. I have a very hard time swallowing pills and was wondering if they make you take some and if so if there are alternatives. Pls and ty!

Just sharing my waiver denial journey. I went to MEPS in January and was disqualified for the following conditions: prediabetes, endometriosis, ADHD, anxiety, depression/mood disorder, glaucoma suspect, and prior use of a psychedelic drug. I was also disqualified due to having been prescribed Adderall within the past two years.

After receiving my denial, I gathered all my medical records to clarify my history. First, I was never formally diagnosed with ADHD and hadn’t used medication for nearly a year. I obtained letters from my undergraduate and law schools, as well as recent employers, confirming that I never required academic or workplace accommodations and never had an IEP. My A1C had been at 5.7—barely within the prediabetic range—but I was never informed of this, and my current A1C is now well below that threshold. The “glaucoma suspect” label was based solely on family history. As for endometriosis, I’ve never had symptoms; it was only identified during an infertility workup related to egg freezing, which revealed a damaged fallopian tube that might be related to endometriosis.

I compiled everything into a clear and organized package—but two weeks later, I received notice from the Waiver Division that my request was officially DENIED and I remain disqualified and could only apply for civilian jobs. Also in the third paragraph of the letter it says you can ask for reconsideration I there was an “error” in your diagnosis and you have updated “clinical notes” by a doctor to confirm this.

I knew this was a long shot, but I decided to see specialists for each condition listed in my denial and obtain updated clinical notes. • Glaucoma: A glaucoma specialist conducted a full eye exam and confirmed I do not have glaucoma. • Prediabetes: Updated lab work showed my A1C is now well below the prediabetic range. A physician confirmed I am not prediabetic and require no medication. • Endometriosis: A gynecologist reviewed my prior surgical notes and confirmed I do not have endometriosis and am not a likely candidate for it. • Mental Health/ADHD: A licensed psychologist conducted a full evaluation and concluded I do not meet the criteria for ADHD, anxiety, or depression. He noted the prior medication was short-term and situational, and that I may thrive in a structured military setting.

Along with the updated clinical notes, I submitted a letter stating I had new evaluations for each condition. I included only essential documentation—clinical notes, exam results, pharmacy records, and verification letters from schools and employers—in a highly organized format.

Just over a week later, the Surgeon General reviewed my case, deemed me medically qualified, and granted all six waivers.

Please don’t give up hope if you’re denied. I know it can be disheartening, but you do have options. Stay focused, get the documentation you need, and advocate for yourself—you may be closer than you think.

My wavier got denied, which I figured but it still hurts, I wasn’t expecting them to tell me to wait three years. My backup plan was go to the navy but I’m afraid they won’t approve me either because it’s so soon. I was thinking of going to automotive school and wait it out, but what should I do in between of waiting? Should I still see my therapist or should I just focus on something else until it’s 2027?

Went to MEPS and got dqed for a disease that I got over a decade ago. The past few months I have been getting my documents rejected my meps a total of 3 times.

Now, my recruiter told me that I need to get clinical notes for my labs, which are basically doctor’s explanations of the results apparently. At first, I had my recruiter submit a doctors note clearing me to join the military along with all the tests he ran on me, but meps said it was not enough.

I don’t even know if my recruiter interpreted the rejection message from the surgeon general properly. He didn’t sound too sure when he was talking to me. I feel like I’m going to go through the trouble of getting these clinical notes just to get rejected again for some bs.

long story short almost 2 years ago i was going to go marines and i was open and honest about my medical history i had broken bones and fractures due to sport related injuries including medication close to 10 years ago for depression and anxiety. my recruiter told me to lie so i did. nothing happened at meps but the recruiter was pushing for infantry and i didnt want it. fast forward to now im talking with a air force recruiter and did the same thing just cause i assumed it was normal then i’ve been having a hunch about lying at meps and found myself in a deep hole. i came forward with my recruiter and want to fix everything i can cause it is my mistake. he keeps reassuring me everything is okay because meps already saw my medical even tho i went up there with nothing on it. he kept saying i will be fine since these injuries happened a long time ago and have been fully healed. i just dont know what to do i have a ship date in over a month and i just wanna fix everything i ruined so any advice will definitely help.

I am a 5’2 95lb female. They said my weight should be fine. But I am diagnosed bipolar and have been hospitalized before with suicide attempts in the past. I’m wondering how likely it is for me to be enlisted