Posted on Sep 17, 2020
After 10yrs and medical documents are sealed, would it finally be possible for me to enlist in the USMC with an RE-3 discharge?
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Hi, I know I've asked questions here before but I seem to get solid realistic advice here so I'm here with a final question.
I learned, from my last attempt at enlistment, that until my mental health issues are resolved or a complete non-issue (or unable to be retrieved) that I have a slim to none chance of enlistment. The mental health issues were a suicide attempt at 14 and a clinical depression diagnosis in 2016, that I was genuinely unaware of (and untreated for) until I got my BUMED rejection and that was listed as a reason.
The good news is I called the hospital I was at and they said those records are to be sealed and/or destroyed after 10yrs. Lucky me, I make ten years in 7mo (April 2021) and I'll be 24 by then. I plan to wait until either May or I call and get told they were sealed, whichever comes first, before I attempt to enlist again. I also looked this up, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to look like I need 36 consecutive months without treatment for the whole depression thing to be considered treated for/okay? By the time I attempt to enlist, it would've been just at 5yrs since I've last seen a therapist, which was the same one who diagnosed me.
Given those two things, and the fact that I've continued to stay out of trouble, would I finally have a chance? No mental health issues or actual physical health problems, I'm actually pretty healthy. If so, is it possible to get a waiver through the Army and use it for the Marines? I'd feel bad cheating a recruiter out of their time, but I was told it's possible and some people do that since getting waivers from the Army is much easier and apparently it work regardless of what branch you go with.
I also understand some may wonder why on earth I needed to go through BUMED to begin with. I was in the Army Reserves at 17, but was discharged with a JFW and RE-3 during basic. What exactly led to it(SEE EDIT) I have no real memory of other than something came up (I think?). It's been so long, if you ask me what classes I took that same year (junior) you'd be met with a blank stare and a shrug.
EDIT: Yes, I DID not know. I literally just said, out loud, 'Oh my God, I remember'. I actually remember. After almost seven years, I remember what happened! I'm gonna be honest, thank you to the ones who said I should remember cause I really was getting frustrated with being reminded of my recruiter asking me and I simply couldn't piece together why and I sat here going through the days. Why I didn't do this the first time, I don't know, but seriously thank you guys. I guess I'm still not bright if it took me 6yrs to actually remember the freaking details. I'm writing this stuff down now so if someone asks I can tell them. Again, THANK YOU. Seriously.
I learned, from my last attempt at enlistment, that until my mental health issues are resolved or a complete non-issue (or unable to be retrieved) that I have a slim to none chance of enlistment. The mental health issues were a suicide attempt at 14 and a clinical depression diagnosis in 2016, that I was genuinely unaware of (and untreated for) until I got my BUMED rejection and that was listed as a reason.
The good news is I called the hospital I was at and they said those records are to be sealed and/or destroyed after 10yrs. Lucky me, I make ten years in 7mo (April 2021) and I'll be 24 by then. I plan to wait until either May or I call and get told they were sealed, whichever comes first, before I attempt to enlist again. I also looked this up, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to look like I need 36 consecutive months without treatment for the whole depression thing to be considered treated for/okay? By the time I attempt to enlist, it would've been just at 5yrs since I've last seen a therapist, which was the same one who diagnosed me.
Given those two things, and the fact that I've continued to stay out of trouble, would I finally have a chance? No mental health issues or actual physical health problems, I'm actually pretty healthy. If so, is it possible to get a waiver through the Army and use it for the Marines? I'd feel bad cheating a recruiter out of their time, but I was told it's possible and some people do that since getting waivers from the Army is much easier and apparently it work regardless of what branch you go with.
I also understand some may wonder why on earth I needed to go through BUMED to begin with. I was in the Army Reserves at 17, but was discharged with a JFW and RE-3 during basic. What exactly led to it(SEE EDIT) I have no real memory of other than something came up (I think?). It's been so long, if you ask me what classes I took that same year (junior) you'd be met with a blank stare and a shrug.
EDIT: Yes, I DID not know. I literally just said, out loud, 'Oh my God, I remember'. I actually remember. After almost seven years, I remember what happened! I'm gonna be honest, thank you to the ones who said I should remember cause I really was getting frustrated with being reminded of my recruiter asking me and I simply couldn't piece together why and I sat here going through the days. Why I didn't do this the first time, I don't know, but seriously thank you guys. I guess I'm still not bright if it took me 6yrs to actually remember the freaking details. I'm writing this stuff down now so if someone asks I can tell them. Again, THANK YOU. Seriously.
Re-enlistment
Marines
Mental Health
RE Code
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 6
To be 100% realistic with you, no, you have no chance of being able to re-enlist. Regardless of your records being "sealed" the military knows and would not risk your wellbeing nor the unit you are assigned to due to the possibility of a reoccurrence of your issues under stress. Im sorry, but most if not all BH issues are never waived.
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To be straightforward, you need to move on with your life and find another way to give back. Even with sealed records, you would still have to admit all past history or risk a fraudulent enlistment charge. If your first attempt at Basic resulted in some kind of disassociation that resulted in a loss of memory/time, then for your health, you shouldn't be in the military. With your history, you will always be too great a risk, no matter how many year pass. You have shown a pattern of mental health issues over many years; make your health your priority.
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Christian King
Well thats rather disappointing. Sucks that what happened, at this point, ten years ago holds a person back. Will use this as a reason to tell people to take their kids mental health seriously, mine sure as hell wasn't.
For the record, I have been moving on as usual regardless. Moving, looking at schools, working, trying to get a new car, etc. Everything I've done and have been for the past couple years has been done with the mindset that I'll never actually get in. This is something I'd hoped for and can squeeze in, alter things if need be, but not make so major a difference that if I get told otherwise than I'm a lost soul. So I just want that made very clear, not trying to have it sound like I'm holding myself back in life with this in mind. Heck, I got career goals in mind well beyond military and am moving simply to go to school for them!
For the record, I have been moving on as usual regardless. Moving, looking at schools, working, trying to get a new car, etc. Everything I've done and have been for the past couple years has been done with the mindset that I'll never actually get in. This is something I'd hoped for and can squeeze in, alter things if need be, but not make so major a difference that if I get told otherwise than I'm a lost soul. So I just want that made very clear, not trying to have it sound like I'm holding myself back in life with this in mind. Heck, I got career goals in mind well beyond military and am moving simply to go to school for them!
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CPT (Join to see)
Christian King - It's not JUST the SI/attempt 10 years ago (though that is a big factor, but also the memory issues from age 17 at basic and a depression diagnosis 4 years ago. Plus, you have an entry level separation already (not sure if you mentioned the reason?). That's a pretty long pattern of mental health issues.
I'm glad to hear you have other things going, and military service isn't the only way to give back to our country. There are many civilian positions within the government and within the service branches where your medical history may not play as big a role. You can still do a lot of good in those positions, even though you aren't in uniform. Best of luck on your future endeavors!
I'm glad to hear you have other things going, and military service isn't the only way to give back to our country. There are many civilian positions within the government and within the service branches where your medical history may not play as big a role. You can still do a lot of good in those positions, even though you aren't in uniform. Best of luck on your future endeavors!
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So you can't remember something as important as the reason for getting discharged from the Army, yet you think you're mentally fit to serve in the Marines? You're 23/24, not 64. It hasn't been THAT long.
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Christian King
Okay, and forget what I said. I eventually remembered what happened. This and my frustrations about it, helped. Thanks, you helped me a lot more than you know.
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