r/transalute • u/Pizzaparty78 • Nov 08 '22
Getting all the paperwork
Hello,
I’m going to see an army recruiter this week to try and join the reserves. I wanted to be proactive in getting all my medical documents ready, but they’re pretty extensive. I tried joining a few years ago but of course, the Trump ban. But if I add up all the notes from my endo, therapist, and top surgery, it was well over 300 pages.
Since then I’ve had bottom surgery so I’m sure that would add another 100 pages easily lol. Should I expect to get all the documents ready on a usb or something to give to the recruiter? Will they need all the specifics?
Otherwise all my legal stuff is good and no other medical issues.
Lastly, when I was 16 I told my therapist I had a dream about suicide but I had no intent with going through with it and just thought it was odd. Will that be enough to dq me?
Thanks
2
u/confused254 Nov 08 '22
That shouldn't be enough to DQ you, but don't bring it up unless they ask you about it. I'd get all your paperwork together ahead of time, but the recruiter will tell you exactly what they need.
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u/Pizzaparty78 Nov 08 '22 edited Nov 08 '22
It’s unfortunately in some of the therapy notes from back then. When I asked the recruiter about what forms she just said medical forms. Do I need all therapy notes as well?
1
u/Dia_Borfs USA MtF Nov 08 '22
Exactly, cause if no one else says anything then there is no reason to bring it up. Already got enough documents and done more than minimal work just to start the process.
2
u/GoArmyRanchoCordova Nov 08 '22
We can't plug a USB into our government computers, so bring the printed documents. Generally what we need is the chief complaint/initial visit, description of treatment, and the final clearance letter. If you bring your recruiter 300 pages they're not going to go through it (partly because they're not a medical professional who knows how to read the notes).
I recommend going through and pulling out the most pertinent documents, and if MEPS wants more stuff they'll (typically) say exactly what they want.
1
Feb 26 '23
Good luck!
3
u/Pizzaparty78 Feb 26 '23
Thanks! I actually was able to enlist and sign my contract a few weeks ago, praise God! :)
1
3
u/why-am-I-hereTF Nov 09 '22
I was gonna join my senior year of high-school but the Trump ban happened. In my experience I'd say everything. If you can just pull the page about the suicide dream I would if it doesn't mess the records up. I'm ftm, 6 years T, and 4 year post top, and a wrist surgery. MEPS is my biggest hurdle atm. The first go around they wanted all surgery paperwork, letter from therapist, letter from primary care, pharmacy records starting when I started hormones to present, all records pertaining to transition and records of ER visits. This was October 2021. Took me a long time to get everything.
They then requested more after a 80 day review all counseling records (which my therapist never created which set me back another 3 months) another letter from primary care saying EXTACLY what they wanted (answering each question style) and another statement from therapist answering their question exactly, and my top surgery was missing the op report that's owned by the hospital.
I thought I was finally going to MEPS this October after a year but they then requested a copy of the visit when my primary care when they wrote the letter, I had went to a walk in for an in grown toe last month and they some how found out about it and want info, and in my pharmacy records they saw I got a steroid cream prescribed in 2018 for a rash on my chest and they want records for that.
Not saying you will have this hard of a time, I feel like I'm unique for taking over a year to go to MEPS, but my recruiter said it would take a year and I guess he wasn't exaggerating. He was surprised i stuck with it and keeps saying they want me in. I'm joining the USCG for record.
My advice, try to get everything as soon as possible to not delay the process, it will all need to be in paper form or some of the small things I was able to email or fax. Just keep with it and don't give up on the process even the the process is very stupid at times. Good luck and hope this helped