I am looking to join the Air Force, but 2 years ago I went to the ER because I was having a very rough week and my mom made me go to talk to somebody. Under my medical chart it says I was diagnosed with depressed mood. Does the military differentiate between depressed mood and depression? Doctors differentiate it as a temporary sadness because of a change in life. I was not prescribed any antidepressants or hospitalized. I was able to leave within a couple of hours. I have not received any treatment for this since that day and am better now. Does thins hurt my chances of enlistment?
Is this considered disqualifying?
- Thread starter Shsidj
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TheWaterConsumer
C/O '26 HS Re-Applicant
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Try the DODMERB thread. That’s where Mr. Mullen is.
+1 on Mr. Larry Millen. He's the expert and you can PM him.
Not a military doctor but a JAG who works with them and sometimes gets roped into DES/MEB issues. As it was described to me, you can "be depressed or anxious" but you cannot "be diagnosed with depression." I'm led to believe being diagnosed with anxiety is okay, though. But that's the rule I understand for folks already in. I am confident, however, that if you saw a resident at the ER you were not diagnosed, it would take a psychiatric professional for that type of diagnosis to stick. We all get "depressed mood" from time to time.
You can also do some reading:
5.28(f) (DISQUALIFYING CONDITIONS)
Depressive disorder if:
(1) Outpatient care including counseling required for longer than 12 cumulative months;
(2) Symptoms or treatment within the last 36 months;
(3) The applicant required any inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility; (4) Any recurrence; or
(5) Any suicidality (in accordance with Paragraph 5.28.m.).
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/publication/dafman48-123/dafman48-123.pdf (chapter 3 applies to new accessions, including SA/ROTC)
https://afspecialwarfare.com/files/MSD May 2020 FINAL 13 MAY 2020.pdf (AFMSD)
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You should be fine. Being down or a little blue on a bad day doesn't equal a diagnosis of MDD. Major Depressive Disorder is the new buzz phrase in DSM-V.
Don't report having that diagnosis because you did not. Plus, you were not on medications for it.
There will be no charge for my consultation.
Don't report having that diagnosis because you did not. Plus, you were not on medications for it.
There will be no charge for my consultation.