I want to sign up for the British Army, not sure what role yet but I have had former mental health problems. My doctor prescribed me anti-depressants recently but I did not take them and instead got into fitness and exercise and have forced myself to change my thinking. At one point I did tell the doctor I don't have much to look forward to life and didn't see the point at times and I'm pretty sure she took that as me being suicidal which was not the case.
Regardless, I've been taking care of it myself by changing my diet, exercise routine and outlook and try to stay busy. I think the Army would be even better for a complete refresh, new friends, and new prospects
Would I be unlikely to get in considering I've had depression on and off from 15-24?
I applied to the British Army when I was 17. Sat through the BARB test and got the 2nd highest score the recruitment office had ever seen.
Then when I got my GP to fill out the medical forms, I got knocked back from the army because I'd reported depression to him when I was 15/16. I NEVER took any pills for depression, never had any prescribed, but just having a report of depression is enough.
You will be deferred until 4 years from the date of your reported depression.
Sorry bro.
David Howard
Why not just go ask them? It is more logical than asking on here.
Sebastian Edwards
im 23 and im going to join the navy next year, submariner.
just go to your local recruitment office and someone will literally sit with you and you can ask and tell them all you want and need and they will tell you how it is.
Adam Hill
Damn that sucks, I guess it makes sense though. I'll just have to look for something else. It's a bit fucked, I had anorexia as a teen and depression the following few years so I barely got my GCSE's as school was a struggle. It's difficult to go back to school without much direction of what you want to work towards. I figured in the Army I'd get to work and find skills I'm good at, get paid and get qualifications for the future too as well as making new friends. I'm pretty /fit/ and disciplined already, I think I could work well in the Army but it would suck if they don't give me a chance.
Yeah, there's a barracks down the road from me. I'll call in when they open on Monday.
Landon Scott
Submarines fucking stink... just warning you
Dominic Sullivan
yeah im still thinking mostly, navy for sure tho, get to travel the world doing it, staying underwater for ages appeals to me since i dont go out much anyway lol, and you get paid more as a submariner.
Alexander Gutierrez
Yeah but you probably won't get much time to see the places you're actually visiting. Submariners are great people though.
Jordan Ward
You'll make it man, if not, then it's no the worst thing in your life.
Get family, get good job, organize nationalists and make Europa white again!
Sorry to hijack your thread, OP, but it's an appropriate place to ask.
I'm an Irish citizen looking to join, since the Irish Defense Force is basically just a for-show-army. Is there anything I should be aware of? There isn't a whole lot of information online other than "yeah you can join if you're an irish citizen".
Christopher Gutierrez
yeah as a submariner but on surface fleet i would, still thinking of options, id like to do mine warfare then i can do bomb disposal for police if i ever left.
Adrian Parker
Good luck. I'm not sure how long the waiting list is for submariners though.
Sebastian Turner
No probs man, I'm Northern Irish. Hope you get what you're looking for
Juan Martin
It is more difficult to get into the army these days than it is to get into unviersity
at least in Australia
Ryan Moore
Don't submariners, british in particular, not get out much? Not just in the obvious sense of them being locked up in a underwater steel can for months on, but in global travel.
British boomers dont do much port hopping that I am aware of, their main purpose is to hide in the middle of the atlantic or artctic for six months, and then come back to scotland for resupply and do it all over again. It's not like a surface vessel where you are likely to visit ports around the world.
Ayden Turner
I was in the British Army from 1995 to 2008.I will make it clear - I was never involved in the recruitment process. I was an instructor, after a time, so I only really know what happens to men passing the initial medical and background. Don't take what I'm saying as golden.
However, "depression" is one of the main red flags. Remember, not only will you be put into an extremely stressful environment in training there is also the possibility that you will be asked to do your job in a warzone. You might be fine, I don't know, but no one is willing to take the risk in case you aren't.
My advice is read the admission requirements and independently verify if you are in infringement of these requirements. Don't lie to yourself, it won't help. Don't lie to the Army, either, as we're smarter than we look and we'll find out. Generally speaking, you are going to be deferred (possibly indefinitely) for depression but I cannot say for certain. What will happen is that the recruiter will take your information, what you've said to him and put it on record. He will then combine this record with your own medical records and online application. This will be compiled and sent off to the Army, who will sign off on his decision.
tl;dr apply by all means but don't expect a lot. If you are looking for something similar, consider a foreign military. They will not have your medical records, and never will.
Josiah Smith
Just don't say anything to your recruiters and medical doctors. And if that fails you can always come to the US on a student visa then enlist and get citizenship.
Samuel Harris
Irish citizens can join, but there are some aspects of the Army that are off limits to Irish citizens. 95 percent of it is still open, however.
Firstly I'd be aware of keeping quiet. I know things are not nearly as bad as they used to be, but there are still some people that would take exception to that decision. Secondly, if you do apply don't give "the Irish Army is a for show army" as your reasoning. You'll want to come up with something else.
Cooper Anderson
Thanks to socialised medicine, there really isn't a way to join the UK military without providing your full medical records, doctor's name and address and any conditions you may have had.
As you have said though, a foreign military is an option.
Cooper Scott
no way i was in the same position at 16, i fucking cried when i got turned down since it was all i really wanted to do with my life, there was nothing more respectable to me than somone who would fight to protect their way of life, i was brought up on computer game soldiers, i got a letter saying i wouldn't be able to handle to stress 6 years on i realise there are other ways to work and have self respect but i will always wish i had joined