Prior Service and MEPS (medication question) (Army, Air Force, reserve, Marines)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hey all, former 3D172 (comm) honorably separated as an E5 in 2014 after 6 years. Biggest regret of my life, but hey the grass is always greener. TLDR for my situation below but I think context can help you all understand the situation better if you want to give me some advice/thoughts.
Anyway, thought maybe I could get back in as guard or reserve since they have been much more receptive to me after a DUI post military in 2015. So, if that wasent already a major hurdle now I have to figure out what to do about medications that I was put on IN the Air Force.
It's funny how the Air Force, the military really, that if you are on any meds you cant join, but once your in we will give you meds like it's candy.
I was placed on ADD medication 3 years in, at my own request without anyone being the wiser after having a hard time with some college classes. Had nothing to do with work performance etc. Because of the adderall I had trouble sleeping and here is the kicker.
My Air Force doc put me on a multitude of sleep meds but nothing really stuck untill she tried me on Clonopin. An anti anxiety med. It worked and she kept me on it for a year before I separated. Little did I know since I was never told, that benzodiazapines like Clonopin are not long term use meds. I became physically dependent to where I had to go to the VA and ask them to keep me on it.
Fast forward to now, the VA no longer likes Clonopin and is weaning me off it, fast. It's not exactly fun if anyone knows the withdrawal from these things can be worse than herione but im ok with it, especially since I want to get back in.
So what happens at MEPS? Do I get a pass as long as I'm no longer on them since they were prescribed by the military? For the sake of argument if I happen to neglect to mention these meds at MEPS and I **** clean, are my medical records VA and Military available for them to see? And then now I have essentially lied.
Thanks for any respectful responses and before someone goes all Stellar Airman on me about the DUI and thinking about not telling MEPS something, let me remind you, almost everyone lies about SOMETHING at MEPS to get in. The DUI was a big mistake and I take full responsibility BUT, I know full birds who got DUIs while I was in who got "transferred" and didnt lose any brass. We all know there is a double standard when it comes to Enlisted and Officers when it comes to punishment when a DUI is concerned. (This did also happen after I got out, thank god for me otherwise my reenlistment code wouldnt be 1J)
Again, I know it's a lengthy novel, thanks in advance.
TLDR: If the Air Force put me on medication while on active duty and I took it while out, do I still have a shot at getting back in if i'm no longer on them by the time I go to MEPS and will MEPS see my VA and Military medication records.
Hey OP, I'm so sorry. Your question about what happens at MEPS will never get answered, because you will not make it to MEPS.
You will have to attest that you are not receiving any VA disability, and any disability is a bar to enlistment. Additionally, any medical issues you had in the military WILL be held against you. You do not get a mulligan just because you had a uniform on.
Your diagnosis are like worse that you expect. I would venture a paycheck that you were diagnosed with anxiety, or you couldn't have received the Clonopin. They just linked your sleep issues to anxiety.
Your history is too complex to get cleared at MEPS. Add the DUI, and no recruiter is going to touch you.
However, if you lie, you might get away with it. MEPS can not currently see VA or Tricare records. You risk a lot doing this, as they are expected to gain access to those systems in the near future. There is also a chance that when you show up at the Med Group for inprocessing, when they review your records, some high speed doctor will flag your new enlistment. That's only if they put 2 and 2 together that you're newly back in uniform.
Hey OP, I'm so sorry. Your question about what happens at MEPS will never get answered, because you will not make it to MEPS.
You will have to attest that you are not receiving any VA disability, and any disability is a bar to enlistment. Additionally, any medical issues you had in the military WILL be held against you. You do not get a mulligan just because you had a uniform on.
Your diagnosis are like worse that you expect. I would venture a paycheck that you were diagnosed with anxiety, or you couldn't have received the Clonopin. They just linked your sleep issues to anxiety.
Your history is too complex to get cleared at MEPS. Add the DUI, and no recruiter is going to touch you.
However, if you lie, you might get away with it. MEPS can not currently see VA or Tricare records. You risk a lot doing this, as they are expected to gain access to those systems in the near future. There is also a chance that when you show up at the Med Group for inprocessing, when they review your records, some high speed doctor will flag your new enlistment. That's only if they put 2 and 2 together that you're newly back in uniform.
You're right, i've known this for years now. I got out, wasted and messed up 5 years of my life and now ill be homeless in a month with only 1400 dollars in my pocket.
I guess I am grasping for straws. Getting back in the military felt like my only option. If I stay in Dallas Tx I will die. I would like to move west.
What do you guys think? Should I pay my lasts months rent or pay my debt later after I get back on my feet and save my money to move west and survive till I can get a job?
You're right, i've known this for years now. I got out, wasted and messed up 5 years of my life and now ill be homeless in a month with only 1400 dollars in my pocket.
I guess I am grasping for straws. Getting back in the military felt like my only option. If I stay in Dallas Tx I will die. I would like to move west.
What do you guys think? Should I pay my lasts months rent or pay my debt later after I get back on my feet and save my money to move west and survive till I can get a job?
Join an army national guard unit as m1 suggests. you might have to start back as an E3 but you will only need time in grades to get promoted. They have full time jobs if you have the right MOS. I suggest something in logistics mechanic or driver or supply.
You're right, i've known this for years now. I got out, wasted and messed up 5 years of my life and now ill be homeless in a month with only 1400 dollars in my pocket.
I guess I am grasping for straws. Getting back in the military felt like my only option. If I stay in Dallas Tx I will die. I would like to move west.
What do you guys think? Should I pay my lasts months rent or pay my debt later after I get back on my feet and save my money to move west and survive till I can get a job?
Do you still have GI Bill benefits? If you're going to school, they pay you a paycheck (Allowances, but significant pay). You could use it even at a community college?
I think you need to check with social services and see if you quality for any veteran's preferences or employment help, food stamps, rent assistance, etc.
I'm sorry that you are going through this. I'm sure it is stressful. I hope there is a light for you.
You're right, i've known this for years now. I got out, wasted and messed up 5 years of my life and now ill be homeless in a month with only 1400 dollars in my pocket.
I guess I am grasping for straws. Getting back in the military felt like my only option. If I stay in Dallas Tx I will die. I would like to move west.
What do you guys think? Should I pay my lasts months rent or pay my debt later after I get back on my feet and save my money to move west and survive till I can get a job?
May I suggest you contact the VA's Crisis Hotline if things are starting to overwhelm you. You don't have to do it alone and there is NO shame in seeking help. You served your country, now let them serve you!
Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone.
Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder.
Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
I think you first need to decide on whether or not you want back in. Don't do it because its just a possibility or because things aren't going well, is it what you want to do as a career? If you don't WANT back in then don't do it. If you could picture yourself in a good place, and still don't want back in, then don't do it.
Me personally, I went in when I was 18. I did it for college money, and to give it a try. I served three years, and was a veteran before 9-11. After the military I was in school full time, and working full time for a while. I was doing good in college, and had a decent job, I really missed being in the Army. While I was in, I thought that was enough, but after I got out, I really did miss it. For me growing up, I was never on any sports teams, moved a couple times, the camaraderie was a big one for me. I never had that experience before and I thrived with it. I loved that you could keep things as simple as possible, or far more in depth than you could ever learn if you wanted to try. That if you really wanted to expand your understanding of your field you could. That you always have the opportunity to change directions without much of a drawback, and some times even a bonus. That its one of the few companies you can learn every rule, and use it to your advantage. I really liked the hard work and the challenges, the fun, and the people.
I went back in almost five years later, (after 9-11 (which was a different time, but that's a different thread)). I ended up getting injured in Iraq, but I will always be glad I went back in. I think you need to decide for yourself if that's the career you want. If its just because you are down, then its going to be worse than why you got out the first time, and all you're doing is putting your career off even longer.
If its not what you want, It sounds like you have some troubles that may be a part of military service. If you have not already done so, you should look into VA Disability. Even 10% will make a big difference on what options you have, and will help you with school in many ways. IMO "being tough" and "improvising to complete the mission" is something you do in the moment, not what you do with your life, after. When the mission is over, before you can move on to the next thing, you fix what's broken. I don't know you're situation, and not implying anything about you, but they left a lot of us in bad shape. They won't know if you don't tell them EVERYTHING, and even though its your own body, they have the specialists who know what kind of problems there are, that you may have just learned to put up with.
As always, if you or any other veteran want to talk, or try to get a different take on something PM me, (I'm usually pretty rough with my answers compared to most, and I won't be kissin' your glutes). Sometimes a strangers advice is better than someone who thinks they know you.
As Dmarie said, it is very hard to get back in. I know someone personally who was medically discharged from the Marines for migraines and ringing in the ears. My friend strongly feels that the Migraine issue was caused by exposure to load noises (he was in artillery). He asked to be reassigned to a different MOS, but was denied because he was an E-3. A couple years later, he tried to enlist in the Air Force, and finally the Coast Guard. He was denied based on the prior medical, even though he hasn't had any problems since his first enlistment, and he has never taken medication outside of medical treatment in the Marines.
If you are of sound body, I would try Law Enforcement. The small towns have a very hard time recruiting, because the starting pay is low. Almost all of them give veterans preference. You get free room and board, and get fed while attending the academy. The medical tests are very generous as long as you can see and hear. Some agencies only require you to pass an obstacle course. You can still serve your country, just with a different uniform. Another job that is always in demand, if you are tough enough, is hotshot crews. Go to USAjobs.gov and get a resume loaded. They will take literally anyone that can pass the physical requirements. The pay is about 30k but you have unlimited overtime during fire season. They prefer experienced firefighters but trust me, they never have enough.
For any one reading this that knows any former infantry, or any warfighter MOS veterans, private security companies that provide the security at federal facilities are always looking for bodies. They want combat vets, the shooting at the Dallas Federal Building is the perfect example of why that is the case. The names of the companies vary by state, but you can find them on the internet job sites. Every single security guard in my building is a former grunt. The pay here starts at 40k, but the guards at the federal reserve banks get paid more.
OP, I pray all works out for you.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
