Question:
What's the easiest/fastest way to get an Entry-Level Separation?
2008-09-25 06:19:18 UTC
My husband is in the Army and he just recently graduated basic on the 12th. He's about a week or two into AIT and he's a wreck. He wants to come home. He started to act depressed and he talked to the chaplain. He has a scheduled apt for the 1st of October (in 6 days) to talk about his problems. I read an entry from 8 months ago saying that a guy went to his counselor and said straight up "I'm gonna seriously kill my master commander if I don't stop getting picked on" and he was discharged 4 days later general under honorable. He wants to get out asap. Whats the best way? He was thinking about going awol but I talked him outa it considering all of the stuff I have read about it. Our bdays are in 2 weeks. He wants to be home for it...Someone please help!
Eight answers:
2008-09-25 14:50:56 UTC
In all honesty that seems really childish and shortsighted. Should your husband receive anything but an Honorable Discharge, he can pretty much kiss away any chance of having a real job in the civilian world, and if you want to talk about hardship, then think about having an unemployed husband who got that way because of your wishes. I'm not going to try to make you feel guilty, but think of the long term consequences to your actions. A General Discharge, if he's lucky enough to get that, spells doom for a civilian career, not to mention if he gets an Other Than Honorable, or Dishonorable (should he go UA or AWOL as the Army likes to put it).

You should talk to someone, the Military has tons of support groups for people like yourself. They will help you through this without destroying his future. As far as deployments go, I'm sure that the Army isn't that different from the Marines, but he still has his MOS school, and his unit could go for as long as two or three years before their deployment rotation goes, depending on his MOS. As for the birthday, hopefully, you two will have many more together, and there's no reason why you shouldn't provided you support each other and communicate with each other.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you help your husband through this difficult time. Please don't sacrifice his future for a shortsighted desire. Best of Luck
chichibaby
2008-09-25 13:24:32 UTC
No offense but tell your husband to stop being such a pansy and suck it up. Being in the military is about sacrifice I spent my 21st birthday in AIT was I depressed? A lil, but I got over it. I will be missing my sons first birthday next month due to an assignment, sure I'm pissed but what else can I do about it? Whining won't make it better. We all make sacrifices as soldiers.



Edited to add:

Why did your husband join for you? Does he not have a mind of his own? Why didn't you just join the military? Also, didn't you guys think about this beforehand? Our country has been at war for a few years now. You know now and knew before that there would be a high chance of him deploying and leaving you for a yr or more, and yet he still joined, I mean you still let him? I don't get it. Also, what is he gonna do if he gets out? How is he going to make a living? A general discharge (if he's lucky) won't look good on his resume. It will be hard for him to find a job (as if it's not already hard enough as it is). With the way the economy is going I'd say it would be best for him TO stay in.
sacraficed
2008-09-25 13:34:27 UTC
Well there aren't going to be too many people that will help you on this subject on here. I asked the same questions for my fiance about a month ago, I got answers like the first one too.

He's already graduated basic, which limits him extrodinarily. If he goes AWOL, then he will just be court martialed and face time in the brig, bad idea. There aren't too many choices he has at this point, and it may be a long shot this late in the game, but tell him to try "consientus objecting" (sp). I'm not saying that it will work, but if that's really what he wants then he'll have to suck up the BS that they give him and stick to his guns. What that is, is a law held that after enlistment, during active duty, if the soldier feels morally he would not be able to kill someone in battle, that it's against his religion and/ or moral conviction then they will give him an "honorable" discharge. Like I said it's a long shot, but I know it HAS been done before. Also, suicidal threats are frowned upon and that is what happened with my fiance, she was released from boot and put in a seperation platoon.



To be honest, I hear that the best and quickest way out is to serve your time and honestly it will be the best thing for him, but I'm sure that's not what you're trying to hear.



If you'd like more information, look at my previous postings for more ideas, I've researched this topic extensively and again, you won't recieve much help here.



And no a general discharge means just that, "a general discharge", getting a red flag on a general, will depend on what article accompanies it. Usually what employers frown upon most are OTH's. But now a days, the only thing employers look for is how much bang for the buck can they get out of you. Of course it will require college education and won't be easy, but even an OTH can be appealed an upgraded. Ending a military isn't the end of a life, it just simply complicates things.
PJ
2008-09-25 13:29:27 UTC
Well first of all, he cannot go AWOL. That is the worst decision someone could ever make. Its pretty hard to get out at this point. Now that he has graduated basic its much harder. If he tries to whine to the chaplain or go on a medical, he will be labeled. I guess that would depend on the chain of command and whether or not hes combat arms or not. The Army will try to give him help for these things. They aren't just going to discharge him. Probably not what you want ot hear but the easiest and less painful way to get out now is ETS. Whatever you do, please don't let him go awol, it always catches up to them. Also, who would settle for a general discharge? It goes on your record as such and every employer will see that. Instant red flag. Good Luck!! By the way, I just read your additional details there... I understand what you are saying but why did he join in the first place? I agree it sucks and believe me I know. When I enisted in may of 2001, i went to OSUT at Ft. Benning until Aug. 31 2001. I signed out on my 10 days leave and had a report date of Sept 11. While on leave, I got married on Sept 7. We had no honeymoon and i reprted to my unit. We all know what happened on that day. I havent been with her more than 8 months since. Its not about sucking it up. He made the oath to our country and must uphold it. Im not trying to be rude im just sharing my advice.Again, Good Luck in whatever you decide.
Shortie
2008-09-25 13:34:18 UTC
Alright this will probably be offense but come on tell him to quit crying. When I joined I was 18 and a FEMALE and I made it through basic and a 17 week AIT. Just let him AIT is not like basic he will get a lot more freedom soon and it will be over before he knows it. Besides the fact that depending on how long his AIT is he will be coming home in December for Exodus. I swear the Army is not that hard sounds to me like he is making it worse then it is. Does he realize that in AIT go out not be stuck under drill sergeants all the time. Then once AIT is over no more Drill Sergeants and it will be almost like a regular job unless he is reserves or national guard then he's done. He already made it through basic why give up now.
2008-09-25 14:37:14 UTC
ok there is no sure thing that he will get deployed right after ait, my husband has been in the army for four years and is just now in january going to iraq... so sorry but thats not a good enough reason for him to get out of the army.

I understand its tough adn no one wants to do this but think about it - he is already done with basic and started ait... soon enough he will go to his duty station and then you guys will be living together again... and you can save up some money now and then have a great night out to celebrate the birthdays....

If you really think you cant be without your husband.. then i guess its the best thing but its up to you guys in the end on what to do... i honestly think since he is already done with basic.. ya might as well try to make it through the first enlistment... since he is in ait - he will have more freedom now to call you and everything. If you need to talk about it some more feel free to email me joencarolin.arrington@yahoo.com
2008-09-25 13:40:34 UTC
Chichibaby, PJ and Shortie , are all right. Encourage him to complete it, he will be better off long term. They check to see if you have a honorable discharge when applying to jobs. Trust me on that :)
Barry auh2o
2008-09-25 15:35:59 UTC
Oh, poor me! Be his wife, give him some strength! What the hell would you have done during World War II when men were drafted for " the duration" which in some cases, they were gone for 4 years???



He's doing it for you??? What? Screwing up his life? You ain't worth it!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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