Can MEPs accept me if I had a suicide attempt when I was 13?

2021-05-04T18:52:45-04:00

Hello, I am 17 and hoping to join the Air Force after high school. This is TMI but I need answers. I had a suicide attempt at 13. I was practically a kid. I was young and I didn't know what to do. I took like two bottles of Tylenol. After that I did counseling and did all my therapy sessions. I was never an addict or went to a mental hospital. I've never felt suicidal since then. I will be absolutely devastated if they don't approve my records. I just wished I could go back and told myself that everything will be ok because that will forever affect if i could get certain jobs. Also If they don't approve my record will I be able to apply for a waiver? How does that work. My recruiter said Its my choice to tell them but I'd rather tell them the truth than in the future having them find out and becoming dishonorable.

Response by SPC Roxanne Moultrie made May 4 at 2021 7:01 PM

2021-05-04T19:01:11-04:00

13 Years Is Old Isn't That Long Ago Considering You're Only 17. I'm The "don't ask don't tell" Type Of Person. So I Wouldnt Say Anything. But Them Pulling Your Records From 13? I Doubt It. But Idk. Best Wishes!

Response by SPC Roxanne Moultrie made May 4 at 2021 7:02 PM

2021-05-04T19:02:08-04:00

Also, ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP PLAN! Make Sure You're Also Looking At Schools Or Other Education/ Careers Just In Case. It's Always A Good Practice To Have A Back Up Plan In Case One Fails. You're Almost 18 And You'll Be Legal

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 7:13 PM

2021-05-04T19:13:46-04:00

Mental health waivers are very closely scrutinized now more than ever. This exact scenario is why military kids are considered to be at a disadvantage for military service if they've ever received treatment for mental health while in the military health care system. All their records are automatically available to the MEPS. Going forward with a mental health record you are automatically going to need a waiver, and the Air Force is very tight fisted with the number of waivers they grant a year. Of course if you're a military dependent who was treated in Tricare you don't have a say in it anyway.

What should you do? Well nobody here can answer that. But I do know that not all my medical records made it into my MEPS file and I loved every minute of my career. That's not an endorsement for bad behavior, just a fact the military isn't filled with Biy Scouts

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made May 4 at 2021 7:14 PM

2021-05-04T19:14:58-04:00

Don't lie about anything - no matter what a recruiter says. Things always have a way of catching up. It's better to be up front and honest ultimately. If they find out something later, especially if you have to get a security clearance and it comes up in the background investigation, it won't be useful.

No one on here can tell you the likelihood of what could or couldn't happen. Ultimately, the question of a waiver are for your recruiter if you needed one. My opinion - be honest. If you get denied, it's better that it happened up front than it coming back to bite you in the ass years down the road.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made May 4 at 2021 7:35 PM

2021-05-04T19:35:04-04:00

Did you get professional treatment? Even go to a regular hospital? Police called? If none of these things happened there shouldn't be a record anyplace. I wouldn't tell them. Even if they do find out the worst that will happen is you may get a General Discharge. We all do dumb things when we are young that we later regret. Best of luck to you! Let us here at Rally Point know how it all worked out.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 8:50 PM

2021-05-04T20:50:50-04:00

If there's no record or you weren't admitted don't worry about. You can't lie about anything that's not there. If there is better to be honest.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made May 4 at 2021 8:55 PM

2021-05-04T20:55:16-04:00

It has been a while, but attempted suicide was disqualifying. As stated in another answer, don't lie about it. It may come back to haunt you and can get your recruiter in trouble.

Response by CPL Sandra Hall made May 4 at 2021 10:09 PM

2021-05-04T22:09:21-04:00

I’ve been out of the army for so long I don’t even know what they ask any more. I probably would talk to my recruiter about this. Seeing how you were a minor maybe they won’t hold it against you, but it could affect the type of security clearance you will hold and the type of jobs offered to you. If you ever apply for top secret clearance the fbi will do a thorough background check on you, at least they did on my fiancé at the time he applied for one, they interview me and the questions they ask me about him was pretty wild. Good luck with your future in the military.

Response by SGT Erica Smith made May 5 at 2021 2:04 PM

2021-05-05T14:04:09-04:00

Don’t lie. The fact that recruiter is even suggesting such a thing is boarder line recruiter impropriety. You really want to join the military, join the navy. Tell the truth, they will request medical records, you need to submit everything they ask for, they will then deny you and it will be up to the branch to give you a waiver. The navy is the only one that will accept you. Your options are limited but this is your best bet.