Military Records

CorruptionDee asked:


Allow me to elaborate. Back in 2002, when I was 21 years old, I was serving in the US Army. Although stressful at first, I was handling everything just fine until things started to fall apart back home. Obviously, with several traumatic events occurring back home, I started to fall apart, since I was still very young, and stationed far away from home. Like anyone else, I spoke with the post psychologist for advice. I kept seeing him and telling him how I felt, until I was finally given an Honorable discharge after 16 months of service. He was straight forward, and said that he didn’t think the Army life was right for me, because of my acute depression at the time (I never had a history of depression). I agreed and was discharged honorably. The problem is that I was discharged under AR 635-200, Para 5-13, where the narrative on the DD 214 is “Personality Disorder”. To make a long story short, I despise this narrative because not only is it grossly inaccurate, but completely false as well. Just because someone is suffering from depression and can’t cope with the rigid Army lifestyle as well, doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with them. These types of narratives cause people to prejudge you, because the first thing that comes to people’s minds when they hear “personality disorder” is crazy. I’m completely sane, and always have been. I don’t have a shred of depression or disciplinary problems, especially in the civilian world.

People who know me can’t believe the narrative listed on my DD 214, but unfortunately any time you’re in the Army or military and you have depression problems that develop while you’re serving, and they don’t want to med board you, they just classify you as having a personality disorder.

In any case, I’m not here to bash the military as I have had many positive experiences there, but right now I’m trying to get my life on track and join the NYPD. I have completed all of the processes, and although I have had a squeaky clean record my entire life, I always felt as though I was wasting my time during the application process, because once they gain access to my military records, they’re going to take what is said as gospel, and disqualify me without me having a shot to prove myself. I have just seen the NYPD psychologist, and was calm and collective. I told him everything that went on in the military regarding my depression and the cause from my depression, and while it appears as though he was taking my word for it, he’s requesting a copy of my military psych records, before he can “make a decision”. I believe I’m more than qualified, but I can’t help but get the distinct impression that it’s a no-go once he receives the documentation he desires.

My question is, do I even have a shot? Or did I just waste my time. I would never put the military down, or try to steer anyone away from it, but there’s no secret that the military misdiagnoses people on a daily basis. I did my own research on my discharge and found that hundreds of people have the same problem. Thanks in advance and sorry about the length of the post.

DAFFODIL