Airforce for My Brother Headed in the Wrong Path

Air Force or Army might be good for him. But as others said, he needs to see someone about the depression first. Once he is feeling better, and off drugs, he could do well with the military. They will keep him on strict rules and hopefully will be something exciting for him to focus on and enjoy his life.

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He needs counseling and help here first. The airforce or any branch of the military would not take him if positive for drugs or did not pass the psych evaluation. They don't want depressed/suicidal guys out there flying, fighting or any other.

And I wouldn't think your family would want him out there either in this condition. These boys are coming home from serving with horrible depression and anger issues. Not really something you want to ad on top of his current mental state.

He needs to have something he is passionate about. If he joins the Air Force, he would probably get more disciplined, feel better about himself, and go off the pot smoking, since they do random drug tests. But that is only if he is interested in it.

And I disagree that he needs to take care of the depression first. I think if he gets actively involved in a huge career decision/path like this, the exercise, male bonding, purpose in his life, travel, etc, will likely pull him out of the depression.

If he goes on antidepressants, the military probably would not accept him. They don't want depressed people on medication. "I am depressed and don't see a reason for living" should be something that you try exercise, job, etc FIRST before getting on the harmful antidepressants. Studies have shown that antidepressants do not cure depression, plus they all have harmful side effects. What is the main reason a male gets depressed? Because he has no purpose/career to build up his ego.

BTW, my husband is in the military (Army) and he told me that they don't want people on antidepressants. If your brother is truly whacked out, he won't make it through the basic training and they will weed him out. Even though they tell you that once you sign the contract, you are in and can't get out of it, it's not true. If you can't handle the boot camp stuff, you can get out of your contract.

My friend had been hospitalized multiple times due to alcohol/drugs, getting in fights, once he just fell from a drunken stupor and hit is head so heard on a concrete curb he almost died!

He was getting tickets left and right, was tired of paying tickets and attorney fees and doing community service.

He had a job he held down, but it was just at a fast food place and he couldn't finish school.

Well, at 23, he got his GED and applied for the military. Signed up for 6 years. I'm telling you, it was the best thing he has ever done for his life. He still parties, but moderately and responsibly, he is more successful and less depressed. He has really learned a lot and for the first time in his life (he's 26 now), he feels like he has a future and is doing something with his life and actually has goals. I would definitely encourage your brother.

But before the military, if he is making suicidal statements, call a suicide hotline and address that with him. Military life is tough, so help him realize his potential and value as a person. His first obligation is to go see a counselor and talk his issues out, maybe even get on depression meds. My friend joined the military b/c he realized he needed help and structure, your brother needs to find those reasons.

If he's depressed and making suicidal statements, the airforce isn't going to help that. I would call a suicide hotline and ask them for input. Once he's back on solid emotional ground, MAYBE it might be a choice for him, but only if it's HIS choice.

Good luck and I hope he finds the help he needs.

I think he needs to deal with his depression first. After the mind cloud dust settles, if he's still interested in the military, why not?

Urge him to see a doctor about his depression.

Right now a counselor or a therapist is a better choice.

The air force is a good option but if he tests positive on a drug test, they will not let him in. Also if he's depressed and they detect that or he tells them that, they may require some counseling before they accept him. Where does he live? SOMEONE is enabling him if he has money to buy pot....and a roof over his head!

Actually I know some people who did turn to the military and changed their life. I dated a guy in high school, just real negative and started messing up his life, fighting a lot. I ran into him years after we broke up and he told me this, and how going to the Army changed him. I think it's a good idea.

He can not be on medication like antidepressants , stimulants( Adderal. Ritalin) and the like for 12 months before joining any of the forces. If he has any documentation of any mental instability, depression, ADD, ODD, OCD, bulimia, anorexia, he will have a hard time getting passed MEPS, the first stage of getting in.
THE AirForce wont' take him with a known history of drug use and if he pops positive at any time while in that will be the end of his military career.
The Army will take him but he better fly straight if he gets in.
Bootcamp in the Army and MArines is13 weeks long. With someone who is mentally unstable it is brutal and he is setting himself up for failure. It is as much mental as it is physical, they break them down to build them up as fighitng men.
There is a reason the suicide rate is so high in the millitary. Take someone like your brother, no counseling, no help and throw him to the wolves in boot. It could go very wrong.
Have him get to counseling and on the antidepressants. THis will help him. THen work towards education, say at De Vry or ITT for a technical degree in electronics or something he is good at.

Since the news of us getting out of the war on terror and the economy turning sour the military has been getting LOTS of recruits. Airforce usually fills up REALLY fast in their numbers and they can be really picky. I would try but really not expect it as they will LOOK for someone with issues like pot and say "NO!" They might also reject him for the preexisting condition of being suicidal... (No reason for living? well, we don't want you if we are going to train you only for you to off yourself). Army is less picky. So is Navy.

He won't get in the Air Force with a drug test failure. He needs to man up and take care of his depression. You really won't be able to do this for him. You can point him in the right direction but he will need to do the hard work. I suffered from depression for a long time and it is a fight you have to fight in your mind and in your body.

Having a regular routine of exercise and healthier diet will help but you really need to deal with your emotions and correct some incorrect ways of thinking. Truth is men need men to learn how to be a man. The military will help him discipliine his self, it may give him some purpose larger than his current thinking but he will still need to do the hard work.

Any branch of the military can provide structure and purpose for men who don't know which way to go and are not disobedient, defiant or rebellious. I know quiet a few men who choose the military when they were in their 20's and it really worked for them, their future children and their futures in general.

Alcohol and pot are depressants and he should be using either. It will take a minimum of 30 days of him not doing drugs for him to pass a drug test.

I would try to get him to do some kind of exercise routine for 15-30 minutes a day twice a day for at least 5 days of the week. This will help with the depression along with talking about how he is feeliing.