Will I get a permanent disqualification at MEPS for taking antidepressants 4 years ago?

I don't believe there's going to be any "go around." Sorry. But I'll try to explain why things are the way they are.

First: one problem is that your doctor isn't aware of military regulations. At best, he's aware of what it takes to function under normal conditions in everyday life. Civilian doctors are only interested in "normal functionality."

He has absolutely zero idea of what demands will be put upon your body in the military in general... least of all special warfare. The doctors at MEPS are. And it doesn't make any difference what your doctor, your recruiter(s), or you think at this point.

As has been stated, you're doctor doesn't have all the information or the perspective, or the interests of the military in mind. Your recruiter(s) may only want to process another recruit. And you really don't know either.

You are not a doctor. You are not even military. I'm sorry, but it would appear that all you see is a dream going out the window.

It's a sad fact of life that no matter how badly we want something, sometimes we can't have it. I have a buddy who's about 20 years younger than I am. He has a good job, a wife and two sons, a nice house... seems to have everything.

Last week he collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He apparently has a cancerous brain tumor. He has been given three to six months to live.

I don't suspect that's what he wanted either. Second: your doctor did not submit a waiver. He only submitted his opinion regarding the condition so you might request a waiver.

Apparently the request was denied. You cannot expect to be issued special equipment (packs and tanks) to fit between your shoulder blades that apparently "protrude a bit." Supposed you got your waiver and washed out because of some inability to perform what was required due to your alleged problem?

Would you want to go for a waiver for that too? I'm not a medic. I don't know anything about your shoulder blades.

But suppose your alleged problem was exacerbated by your training and caused permanent spinal damage? Would you expect the military to pay for your medical bills for the rest of your life along with a healthy medical disability check each month? Ok, maybe your shoulders wouldn't cause you any problems.

But why would you expect the Navy (or any branch of the military) to take that chance? To be safe, if they made a mistake, they erred on the side of caution. And you can bet they would do so for anybody.

It's not personal. Third: just out of curiosity, can you, with the aforementioned alleged problem, do the required push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups... easily? Remember, those standards are minimums.

They don't qualify you for BUD/S. They just qualify you to attempt to train for BUD/S. To get to SEAL you need the entire package.

You need the body. It has to be able to deliver under extreme conditions... way beyond what the average person can imagine. This is the easiest part.

I believe most people can get into shape. You need the mind. It has to be quick, logical, objective, pragmatic, and flexible.

It has to be able to apply obscure rules to concrete problems and to quickly and accurately develop discrete, workable solutions. I think this is tougher. It demands concentration.

It's not as much fun as working out.

Get a medical evaluation from your personal doctor. If you really don't have it, bring in his paper and bring it to meps. If the MEPS doctor says you do, tough cookies.

BUDs is tough, and you NEED to be physically right to get through it. Don't lie, you're just going to get yourself hurt in BUDs and medically DQ'd. There's a reason there's a huge washout rate for BUDs.

Not only do people drop out because they can't do the physical requirements or they think it's too hard - they get seriously injured. People have died during BUDs. It isn't a walk in the park and only the strongest, sharpest, and most enduring people make it through to the end.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.