Cyprus-Forum.com

[purdey]

Well a full medical also identifies any mental dissabilities. If you are given a loaded firearm and suffer from a mental disorder, maybe you are asking for trouble.
I don't know how it works in Cyprus but in the UK you have to be 100% fit. Flat feet even rules you out. Back to depression, I have seen first hand people trying to take their own lives as they have not been able to deal with the training or what they have witnessed while serving.

[DT.]

Well a full medical also identifies any mental dissabilities. If you are given a loaded firearm and suffer from a mental disorder, maybe you are asking for trouble.
I don't know how it works in Cyprus but in the UK you have to be 100% fit. Flat feet even rules you out. Back to depression, I have seen first hand people trying to take their own lives as they have not been able to deal with the training or what they have witnessed while serving.

Y5 is a discharge. You can't have a firearm with Y3 or higher from what I remember.

[strawbie]

Can someone please explain what the different codes mean? Y3, Y5 etc. Are these written on the discharge/exemption certificates?

Fair enough if my cousin has to go into the army then he either does his service or stays in England. But if he does go into the army, how will they deal with his condition? Will he be allowed to take his medicine? If the medicine makes him drowsy, will they take his condition into account or will he get disciplined for 'laziness'? What about if they decide to 'make a man out of him' because they don't believe in depression as an illness and that has a detrimental effect on his health? Will they take responsibility?

Also, I can understand that some people are given different duties e.g. sanitation, kitchen etc, but realistically what benefit is there to this for either the recruit or the army? Turning an unfit recruit into a grand master spud peeler isn't really going to turn that person into a soldier. It just sounds like a waste of time and resources that would be better employed training a fit recruit.

I don't know much about army life and I'm not trying to criticise the system, I'm just trying to understand the thinking behind it and trying to get as much information as possible so he can make this decision. He doesn't want to waste his own time or anyone else's.

[michalis5354]

Under the official policy, he would have to serve 3 months military service, but he is a bit worried as he suffers from clinical depression and anxiety attacks. He has to take medication that also has some side effects, and has had this condition for about 15 years. He can get letters from his doctor to prove this and it's not just some excuse to 'dodge the draft'.

Does anyone know if this would make him exempt from military service? If not, how does the army deal with his condition?

If he is suffering from clinical depression he has the right either to postpone the service or to get an exemption provided he hand in all medical certificates to the army .Firstly the Army will set a date for him to be examined by doctors who serve in the army and at a later date by 3 doctors of the Ministry of health . The consultation of these docotrs will determine whether they will give him an exemption (full discharge) or to postpone his service at a later date when his health improves.

As far as I know many young soldiers ( more than thousand) every year get full discharge from the army due to mental disorders , depression and other health issues.

If he is taking medicines then he should make an application for exemption as he has been suffering for depression for 15 years this is enough to get a full exemption .He has this right and no one can force him to join the Army If he has a health issue his life in the army will be very hard .

[Get Real!]

Well a full medical also identifies any mental dissabilities. If you are given a loaded firearm and suffer from a mental disorder, maybe you are asking for trouble.
I don't know how it works in Cyprus but in the UK you have to be 100% fit. Flat feet even rules you out. Back to depression, I have seen first hand people trying to take their own lives as they have not been able to deal with the training or what they have witnessed while serving.

Y5 is a discharge. You can't have a firearm with Y3 or higher from what I remember.

That should be I5 not Y5, meaning "ikanos" or "capable".

[pantheman]

My understanding is, unless he applies for Cypriot citizenship, he does not need to do it. As an EU national he can live anywhere in the EU without this commitments.

Depends on what job he does. Any medical, government or even architecture, would need citizenship otherwise he has nothing to fear.

End of.

[alexISS]

Well a full medical also identifies any mental dissabilities. If you are given a loaded firearm and suffer from a mental disorder, maybe you are asking for trouble.
I don't know how it works in Cyprus but in the UK you have to be 100% fit. Flat feet even rules you out. Back to depression, I have seen first hand people trying to take their own lives as they have not been able to deal with the training or what they have witnessed while serving.

Y5 is a discharge. You can't have a firearm with Y3 or higher from what I remember.

That should be I5 not Y5, meaning "ikanos" or "capable".

And there are two I3 subcategories, "enoplo" and "aoplo"

[strawbie]

I called one of the army advice bureau offices in Cyprus this morning and according to the person I spoke to, my cousin would be regarded as a Cypriot citizen if he remains on the island for longer than 3 months, therefore making him eligible for National Service. I told him my cousin would rather retain his British status and not apply for Cypriot citizenship, but he said it made no difference for people of Cypriot descent.

When I told him about my cousin's depression, he said that it's not something that would make him exempt as the army considers it a 'temporary condition and not a serious problem'. I don't agree with his opinion.

I asked him about the codes on the exemption certificates (I-5 etc) and he wouldn't tell me what they mean. He just said that even if my cousin got exempted somehow, the certificate would say that he is 'psychologically unfit' and that this would heavily impact his chances of ever getting work in any sector, not just government-controlled roles.

It would be a great help if anyone has any more information, especially about these codes and certificates, but if what the man said is correct then my cousin will just stay in the UK.

[michalis5354]

When I told him about my cousin's depression, he said that it's not something that would make him exempt as the army considers it a 'temporary condition and not a serious problem'. I don't agree with his opinion.

This idiot you spoke to was not a doctor .If he has the slight health issue he has the right to apply for a discharge from the army or to have his service postponed. The decision (exemption or not) will be taken by doctors who will examine him . I can tell you that many soldiers get full discharge from the army every year suffering from mental disorders like Νευροσική Διαταραχή or have problems to adapt to the army (προβλήματα προσαρμογής). This decision will be taken by the doctors that will examine him at a later stage. Of course the army want to discourage soldiers to apply for a discharge as this take long time due to beauracracy so they can tell you anything even lies . Last year there were 5000 applications to get exemption . This is a long procedure and takes much time to process .

The right question to ask the officer How can he make an application for a discharge due to health issues ? He has no right to deny you as this is a matter of his health and his life.

Regarding the certyificate I dont think that they write anything like that just the general decision and its a standard letter.No employers check that letter.

Good luck to him whatever he decides!

[Eliko]

Tell him to draw his rifle and get in line like the rest of us had to, if he is unfit, it will soon become apparent and he can withdraw with dignity, duty calls upon us all.