There are many potential recruits that want to know how they
can join the Army. Believe it or not there are some that want
to know how to get out. The reasons vary but some new recruits
become disillusioned after they join or they decide that the
military is just not for them.
This seems like a simple question but the truth of the matter
is that it is more complicated to get out of the military
than to get in. Joining the military isn't like taking a job
in the civilian world. When you join the military you take
an oath. This oath obligates you legally and morally to the
terms of the contract you signed when you enlisted in the
military. This is one time when the old adage "An ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Read every document before you sign it. When you sign a legal
document your signature is legal confirmation that you have
read and understand the document you are signing. So, ask
questions and get clarification BEFORE you sign any legal
document. To say later that you didn't read the document will
not help you.
After you join,
it is too late to say you feel that your recruiter misrepresented
the contract. Section D block 12a of your
enlistment contract you will find the following statement:
"I certify
that I have carefully read this document. ANY questions
that I had were explained to my satisfaction. I fully understand
that only those agreements in section B of this document
or recorded on the attached annex(es) will be honored. ANY
OTHER promises or guarantees made to me by anyone are written
below."
In short, if you
are promised something by a recruiter, make sure it is in your
contract in writing. If it is not written on the enlistment
contract you have no recourse.
Once a recruit
has gone onto active duty, the military is heavily vested
in that individual. In other words, they have spent a lot
of time and money processing, and training theindividual and
their objective is to collect on their investment.
If you signed a contract and took your oath upon entering
the Delayed Enlistment Program (also called the Delayed Entry Program,
which is a program where you are enlisted in the inactive reserve to await orders to active duty, sometimes up to a year in advance)
you can apply for a discharge
request. The current Depart of Defense DoD policy is to approve
discharge request but they DO NOT HAVE TO DO SO. The Delayed
Enlistment Program or Delayed Entry Program, is where an individual
enlist in active duty. In actuality the individual is enlisting
in the inactive reserves and has agreed to report for active
duty at a specific date. A recruit can currently remain in
the inactive reserves for up to 365 days.
All recruits that
join the military are committed to at least an eight year
commitment. So you say that you only signed up for two years.
In reality it makes no difference if you enlisted for two,
four, or six years, you have a commitment to the military
for at least 8 years. That doesn't mean you will spend 8 years
on active duty. The difference between the time spent on active
duty and the 8 year commitment must be spent in the active
Guard or Reserves or the inactive Reserves.. In the active
Guard and Reserves a service member typically spends one weekend
per month and two full weeks a year at "drill."
In the inactive Reserves the service member doesn't participate
in "drill" but is subject to recall in the event
of war or national emergency. If upon your discharge you do
not reenlist or join the active Guard/Reserve you are by default
enlisted in the inactive Reserves.
You may have heard
of an "Entry Level Separation." This is not something
you can request and it is not a discharge program. It is one
of the designations a commander can specify when a service
member is discharged.
When an enlisted
person is discharged, their service discharge is characterized,
based on their conduct and performance while in the military.
The possible characterizations are Honorable, General (under
honorable conditions), Under Other Than Honorable (UOTHC),
and Entry Level (ELS).
The military can
terminate your service if you fail to measure up. This is
certainly not the way to go. Not only is it unpleasant it
can have a profound effect on your civilian career. There
are two punitive discharges, Bad Conduct and Dishonorable
Discharge. In order for a service member to be given these
designations they must be have been under court martial.
You may be getting
the picture by now. You can't just change your mind or quit.
There are some voluntary options for discharge such as Hardship,
Pregnancy, Sole Surviving Son/Daughter, Early Separation to
Further Education, Breach of "Guaranteed Job" Clause
of Enlistment Contract, Early Release to Serve in the Active
Guard or Reserves, or Convenience of the Government.
So before you
make a decision, consider all your options. Ask questions.
Read all documents before you sign them. Be certain that you
can live with the commitment you are making. You will be happier
and the military will have a better soldier.
