Talking to a recruiter?

You can always give it a try. I know they have certain limitations of BMI/BF% to get in but you can always find it out when you get tot he recruiter. Also, with the budget cuts coming to the DOD, it might be a bit harder as they are trying to reduce the size of the forces.

They will listen to you. A warm body is a warm body.

Don't sign anything. NEVER sign a "general" contract. This is serious.

Consider college first, please.

Go talk to them and find out what your options are. Don't worry about what kind of shape you are in - they will help you with that regardless of your starting point. WHen my daughter joined the Marines she couldn't even run 1/2 a mile. In a little over 3 months they had her ready to ship with great scores on her fitness test.

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If you don't ask you'll never know. If nothing else it will give you a goal x

I should note that the US military is going through a "force reduction" at the moment, so jobs are scarce and it's even harder to get in than it was before. I was in the US AF for a little over 2 years before voluntarily separating to give birth to and raise my daughter. Now, I'm trying to get back in and it is very hard.

I say consider college because 1) It will give you more time to work on your fitness goals and 2) They are ALWAYS taking officers. You'll be treated better as an officer, too. Consider the medical field, like nursing. This will be your best bet.

The only way I can see them being so open about recruitment is if 1) the federal military budget is further bloated and 2) war with Pakistan becomes a reality.

^^ Listen to this. I was in the AF for 4 years before voluntarily separating. I would advise the college route as well. And DON"T SIGN ANYTHING!!!!!

I should note that the US military is going through a "force reduction" at the moment, so jobs are scarce and it's even harder to get in than it was before. I was in the US AF for a little over 2 years before voluntarily separating to give birth to and raise my daughter. Now, I'm trying to get back in and it is very hard.

I say consider college because 1) It will give you more time to work on your fitness goals and 2) They are ALWAYS taking officers. You'll be treated better as an officer, too. Consider the medical field, like nursing. This will be your best bet.

The only way I can see them being so open about recruitment is if 1) the federal military budget is further bloated and 2) war with Pakistan becomes a reality.

You're incorrect. Becoming an officer is MUCH harder than going enlisted. I'm going through the process now with a 6% selection rate.

I say if joining the military is something you want to do, go for it. You've already had a great weight loss, so it's obvious you can achieve your goals. I've been in the AF for 23 years and am getting ready to retire next year. The only thing I would have changed is how I enlisted. I came in "open general" and wound up with a job I never saw myself doing, either in the military or in civilian life. Decide what career field you want to go into, and go with the branch who can guarantee you that job. They will take care of the physical training part! ;-) Good luck, and I hope you achieve your next goal, whatever it is.

I just inboxed you. I agree with everyone that says do NOT sign anything until you read it and do NOT sign anything until you are at MEPS the day before departing for orders. but, DO talk to them now so that you know what the next step is

Always read the contract. They usually won't honor any verbal agreements. My husband joined the navy when were very young as a way to get his school paid for and they honored none of the verbal agreements. They were at least more honest then the army. I was days away from my final physical and signing date when I found out that they lied to me about being stationed in the same area as my soon to be navy husband. They worded my contract as "same geographical area". His navy recruiter took a look at my contract for me and pointed out that Hawaii and California were same geographical area and what my husband signed up for and what I signed up for would never have us closer then 8 hours. Needless to say I didn't sign on that final dotted line.

It never hurts to ask, women get a much more liberal bmi in most branches. With the downsizing though unless you can score extremely well in a needed area the chances of bonuses are getting slim.

The military was not a good experience for us but I can not deny that his college being paid for was a good positive bonus. He came out of C school with 84 credits and his Gi Bill paid for the rest.