Boot camp on may 20 but on insignificant dosage of depression meds (Robinson: home, school)

[norahdavex]

Okay so heres my issue. I am on depression meds and I am scheduled for boot camp. i am taking half of i think 10 mg doage of escitalopram
and half of maybe 2 or 4 mg of fanapt. I am scheduled for boot camp for may 20. i am going to ask my psychiatrist
if i can go off my meds and go to boot camp. Is that a wise decision especially since my dosage is not significant? I am seeing
my psychiatrist on may 1st and I asked a recruiter about depression meds and he said the military usually doesnt allow people
to take meds at boot camp and they would have to be off of it for a year and they would disqualifiy but im welcome to come
back after a year but he said i should ask my recruiter who may state i may have a different case. I do not want
to ask my recruiter because she would freak out since I have not told her about this since my day of enlistment since
she said i should hide anything im taking from military people but now that boot camp is nearing I feel a little worried
that I may get panick attacks while there especially since i get them in real life. I do not know how boot camp is like
so i honestly dont know how it would be without my meds and with panic attacks and military has so many benefits
i cannot get in real life such as free housing, they will pay for my mba if state funded and they will help me
with naturaliztion for free since I am permanent resident. I do not know what to do and I am up against a wall. mom is pushing me to do
this. she thinks boot camp is a holiday i tried explaining its not really much of an adventure but she still doesnt get it
thinks is exciting and fun and break from my usual routine. she doesnt get ill be roughing it up and doing things
that are completely out of my comfort zone and things i have never done such as camping during beast week and climbing high walls and
doing moneky bars and just waking up at 4:30 and other tough stuff. What should I do?

[linicx]

Your mother is a dreamer. It is a three year obligation.

Military boot camp is 8 brutal weeks of hard physical labor that include long marches in full battle gear (50 pounds), live fire range, climbing ropes, monkey bars, running, jumping off platforms, plus assigned detail, and passing daily inspections. Your unit sargent is not your friend or your nanny; he is your 24/7 diaper. His job is to make men out of boys. You can expect to be yelled at for the next 8 weeks.

[norahdavex]

Yes but is it like that for air force reserves by tough do you mean too tough for the average person? Is it something that a fragile person like me cannot take?

[madpaddy]

Best come clean with your recruiter ASAP. Better for the Air Force to find out you lied now than when you have a mental breakdown in the middle of boot camp. The primary objective of bootcamp is to see if you can cope with stress. Teaching you basic military skills is almost secondary. If you can't cope with "civilian life" without meds, you're chances of getting through boot camp without them are pretty slim. And FWIW, boot camp is the same for Reserves as active duty.

Under no circumstances should you try to sneak meds into boot camp.

[linicx]

AF boot is 8-1/2 weeks of standard basic training followed by job training. You will be gone for five- six months. The balance of your service is served as 2 on-duty days every month for the following 5-1/2 years. Your first hitch in the AF Reserves is SIX YEARS or 72 months.

Your pay during boot camp and job training is a little over $1000 per month plus barracks and meals. When you begin your reserve duty your pay drops to about $100 per diem. Reservists do not receive housing allowance. However you will have access to the base commissary aka PX, and you will be given money to continue your education if you chose to do so. Do remember, in time of war, you can be called up for active duty at any time and for any length of time necessary. A tour of duty can be 18 months. Are you prepared to leave home and not return for 1-1/2 years?

Be warned. Your history from birth to the present will be fully investigated. It includes all medical, school, driving, and police records, plus citizenship status. By the way you will have a complete physical and blood tests. If you had any drugs in the 60 days before the physical it will show up. Fess up before they do the blood draw and urine sample.

If this is something YOU want more than anything ... throw away the pills and grow a pair. Otherwise I fear the odds are not-very favorable judging by your own comments.

Before replying I talked to the Air Force Reserve Command at Robinson, GA.

[purplesky]

They take a urine test when you get there and they will do it a few times during boot camp. When I was in boot camp about 2 girls out of 60 were kicked out in the first week due to pregnancy, I'm sure they'll also do drug testing.

I can't believe you made it through MEPS.