I have made alot of mistakes in life so far (i'm 22) and was wondering if anyone could tell me if I would even be able to join the military (any branch). When i was 19, I was arrested for shoplifting and completed 18months probation. I have smoked weed more times then I can count although I haven't in about 2 years. Medically, I have been treated for eating disorders, depression, and I also used to self-injure. Is my past too messed up for me to join? If anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it thanks.

You really have to ask why you were so self destructive to yourself. What in your life made you act in the manner that you did? Was it your parents? Brothers and sisters? High school?

Have you spoken to a recruiter? If so, what did he/she say?

Everyone makes mistakes early on in life. The trick is to not repeat them. What assurances can you present that you won't repeat these same unacceptable behavior patterns?

I don't think the services are in that bad of a shape to enlist you or your kind. Sorry but you made real bad choices didn't you?

I'd say the largest issue you have to deal with is the mental health issues. First step would be getting a "clean bill of mental health" from a competent authority. As Gunny mentioned, the promise of these types of things being definitely in the past needs to be established. That would be step in the right direction.

the hard part in my opinion would be the mental health portion of your health eval. the only way i think you could get around it is to get a letter of approval from a psychologist of the physician treating you for the mental issues to submit to the people at MEPS. it is then up to the people at MEPs to decide if they want to issue you a waiver or not. if you did get a waiver, then you are ok. personally, id say that if you have never gotten caught and there no record for you smoking weed and you test clean, then dont even mention it. they wont lie dector test you or anything like that. just make sure you never smoke that shit again.

thanks for all your replies. hmmmm...i thought my having been arrested would be a bigger issue than the mental problems I've had. So would any branch of service be more likely to take me over the other ones? Or does it not really matter? I have not spoken to any recruiters yet.

Go talk to the recuiters and see what they have to say. Be open and upfront with them. You don't want things that happened in the past to show up in the investigation process without you having mentioned them upfront first.

The above is crucial to what you want to do. Hide things from them and it will come out and you will not be able to recover and enlist.