aviategw
Well-Known Member
How does the "depression" box on the 1st class physical affect my future with the industry?
I'll try to make a long story short: I was at one point in time diagnosed with clinical depression. I have never taken any meds for this condition, which was temporary. Now, five years later, I am not depressed, have no symptoms, am still taking no meds, and still highly interested in a career in aviation.
Background: I was a young, and relatively naive, Air Force officer. I had just washed out of SUPT (more on this in a bit), my fiance' left me, and my grandfather died, all within the span of three months. I left Mississippi and was assigned to my next base to pursue a career in Public Affairs
in south Georgia. Around this time, I recognized that I wasn't coping well with the events of the past few months. I was sent to the base shrink, who concluded that I was depressed. I was told that I could pack my things and receive an Honorable Discharge. I did separate from the Air Force with a form DD214 which listed a 'personality disorder' as the cause for separation.
When I got home, I eventually renewed my 3rd class medical and checked the box 'yes' for clinical depression. My AME asked if it was diagnosed and what meds I was taking. When I explained the situation, and stressed that I wasn't taking any meds, and had no homicidal or suicidal thoughts, he approved my 3rd class medical. I heard nothing from the FAA and all was well. For all of my succeeding medicals, I checked the box 'yes' and provided "no change" as the explanation. Nothing was mentioned when I passed my 2nd class medical.
I want to fly. I washed out of SUPT for a low 'G' tolerance. Seems that whenever the 'Tweet (T-37) took a sharp turn, I needed to take a nap. I tried everything that anyone on the base could think of, even went out to New Mexico to ride the centrifuge, but just couldn't seem to develop a tolerance for Gs. I didn't wash because I couldn't learn to fly the jet, I was actually doing well in my class. In fact, since then, as a civilian, I've earned my instrument, commercial multi and single, and CFI ratings.
I want to fly, and am thinking about trying to make it a career. Do y'all think that my DD214 is going to hold me back? Do the airlines even care about a DD214? I'm in a new city now, and will be seeing a new AME. How should I explain this to him?
I'll try to make a long story short: I was at one point in time diagnosed with clinical depression. I have never taken any meds for this condition, which was temporary. Now, five years later, I am not depressed, have no symptoms, am still taking no meds, and still highly interested in a career in aviation.
Background: I was a young, and relatively naive, Air Force officer. I had just washed out of SUPT (more on this in a bit), my fiance' left me, and my grandfather died, all within the span of three months. I left Mississippi and was assigned to my next base to pursue a career in Public Affairs
When I got home, I eventually renewed my 3rd class medical and checked the box 'yes' for clinical depression. My AME asked if it was diagnosed and what meds I was taking. When I explained the situation, and stressed that I wasn't taking any meds, and had no homicidal or suicidal thoughts, he approved my 3rd class medical. I heard nothing from the FAA and all was well. For all of my succeeding medicals, I checked the box 'yes' and provided "no change" as the explanation. Nothing was mentioned when I passed my 2nd class medical.
I want to fly. I washed out of SUPT for a low 'G' tolerance. Seems that whenever the 'Tweet (T-37) took a sharp turn, I needed to take a nap. I tried everything that anyone on the base could think of, even went out to New Mexico to ride the centrifuge, but just couldn't seem to develop a tolerance for Gs. I didn't wash because I couldn't learn to fly the jet, I was actually doing well in my class. In fact, since then, as a civilian, I've earned my instrument, commercial multi and single, and CFI ratings.
I want to fly, and am thinking about trying to make it a career. Do y'all think that my DD214 is going to hold me back? Do the airlines even care about a DD214? I'm in a new city now, and will be seeing a new AME. How should I explain this to him?
