Just out of curiosity, is it possible for a recruit to separate (quit) from the Army while still in Reception? What are the penalties?

Does this change if the recruit leaves during BCT?

My knowledge is 30 years out-of-date, but we had folks receive Trainee Discharges for Unsuitability during BCT.

The only guy who didn't make it out of the Reception Center (we hadn't even gotten our GI haircuts yet) had been bragging about committing an Armed Robbery in CA just before reporting for duty (this was MP OSUT, mind you).

Lo and behold, he was right on the money. Ft. McClellan MPs came for him the next day.

quote:

Originally posted by warach:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible for a recruit to separate (quit) from the Army while still in Reception? What are the penalties?

Does this change if the recruit leaves during BCT?

While it is possible, why would you go that far and then quit?

Once you swear-in the 2nd time at MEPS, you belong to the US Government and Department of Defense. That means quitting any time after that involves procedures and paperwork.

There was a guy who tried to throw himself out of a 3rd story barracks window at Reception when I enlisted. The window was stronger than the guy thought, and he bounced off the window, suffering only a headache (as far as I know). He got chaptered out on a psycho discharge.

There were also a few guys in my company who said they were suicidal. They got their belts and shoelaces taken away, had to wear bright-orange safety (roadguard) vests (which IDed the wearer as a suicide risk), and sat CQ and did details all day while the company was training. They were still there when we all graduated.

So yes, you can quit in Reception. However, I can almost guarantee that it will take you longer to get out than it will to just graduate.

Matt
SPC, AV
US Army
OCS Selectee
Class 303-10

I looked at your previous posts. Does he want to quit? Or, do you just want him home?
Reading your posts, he's only been gone a couple days.
Do you have any family nearby? Friends you can talk to? Clergy? Anyone?

I don't want to sound like an azzhole, but if he, or you, can't handle Basic Training, I see him having future jobs asking people if they'd like to supersize their order, or emptying cans into the back of a garbage truck for the rest of his life.

Damn, I remember arriving at Benning for Infantry OSUT in September '02 and as we all slowly filled in that reception area eventually a would be recruit was brought in by the drill sergeants; he was shoeless and shirtless and sparsely covered in leaves and mud. Apparently he had arrived there that day and then bolted. Never saw him after that. While I agree it's a waste of taxpayer money to get them that far and then lose them, for some people, the "it's real" factor just overwhelms them. Same happens to some of the most hooah and **** talking folks when they actually experience combat or just incoming fire. There's a reason NASA runs their astronaut prospects through psych evals but I guess that's too expensive and time consuming for the armed forces.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad_Matt:

quote:

Originally posted by warach:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible for a recruit to separate (quit) from the Army while still in Reception? What are the penalties?

Does this change if the recruit leaves during BCT?

While it is possible, why would you go that far and then quit?

Once you swear-in the 2nd time at MEPS, you belong to the US Government and Department of Defense. That means quitting any time after that involves procedures and paperwork.

There was a guy who tried to throw himself out of a 3rd story barracks window at Reception when I enlisted. The window was stronger than the guy thought, and he bounced off the window, suffering only a headache (as far as I know). He got chaptered out on a psycho discharge.

There were also a few guys in my company who said they were suicidal. They got their belts and shoelaces taken away, had to wear bright-orange safety (roadguard) vests (which IDed the wearer as a suicide risk), and sat CQ and did details all day while the company was training. They were still there when we all graduated.

So yes, you can quit in Reception. However, I can almost guarantee that it will take you longer to get out than it will to just graduate.

Matt
SPC, AV
US Army
OCS Selectee
Class 303-10

Matt, you talking about the guy trying to throw himself out the window reminds me of BCT at Sill. Remember that generic pine oil, like pinesol, that had the white label on it? We had a guy that drank damn near a whole container of that stuff. After they pumped his stomach, we never saw him again. The bad thing about it was that he was a Houston Police Officer. It amazing what some people will do to get out of BCT. I don't know about everyone else, but there was nothing at Sill they could do that would have been as bad as drinking that mess!!!

Does he really want to quit, or he is a whipped wimp? I never knew anyone DUMB enough to try to get booted as soon as they got there. The guys that were duds in basic when I went, that were waiting discharge were still there after we left. So, if you think poor hubby will be back home to help you cope, within 2 weeks. Keep dreaming.

quote:

Originally posted by warach:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible for a recruit to separate (quit) from the Army while still in Reception? What are the penalties?

Does this change if the recruit leaves during BCT?

It doesn't change from the time you ship. Reception, BCT or your first unit.

Matt is correct 6-8 months to Chapter out of the Regular Army on average once you say you've had it after ship date.

Best advice is for your husband to graduate and serve his Army enlistment Honorably. Other routes will lead to an outcome that your not going to like.

quote:

Originally posted by warach:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible for a recruit to separate (quit) from the Army while still in Reception? What are the penalties?

Does this change if the recruit leaves during BCT?

we had a guy who got a hernia half way though and for those old enough to remember basic in the late 60,s early 70,s d s,s were not the most understanding people in the world they thought he was lying and smoked him he wasn,t and 2 days later he was out processing...

quote:

Originally posted by gumbydammit:
I looked at your previous posts. Does he want to quit? Or, do you just want him home?
Reading your posts, he's only been gone a couple days.
Do you have any family nearby? Friends you can talk to? Clergy? Anyone?

I don't want to sound like an azzhole, but if he, or you, can't handle Basic Training, I see him having future jobs asking people if they'd like to supersize their order, or emptying cans into the back of a garbage truck for the rest of his life.

I don't know if he wants to quit. I haven't been able to talk with him yet. I'm sure he hates the heck out of it there, but he's tough and loyal, so I'm sure he's the one pushing the other guys through. I do want him home. Absolutely! But I don't want him to quit. I'm proud of him for taking this step, though that still doesn't mean I don't hate every second of being without him. It gets harder every day. I'm trying to learn how to deal, to tough up. I'm trying to find out if there are any ways I can, in whatever small way, serve our country at home while he is serving it over there... Ideas?

I was just wondering. I know almost nothing about the military and am trying to learn how things work. This was just one of the questions I had.

Good thing we aren't doing 15 month deployments anymore. Him being gone for basic and AIT basically ain't ****. Just wait till that second and third deployment rolls around. Kind of sad to say, but it gets easier.

quote:

Originally posted by warach:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible for a recruit to separate (quit) from the Army while still in Reception? What are the penalties?

Does this change if the recruit leaves during BCT?

You need to take a step back for a minute and look at the big picture here. You two have the rest of your life to be together. Your husband is away doing somthing very honorable, and is working towards making a better life for both of you. I know the pain of being seperated is rough, and I don't think anyone here is going to fault you for having the thoughts/feelings that you're having. It's going to be a short 2 months before you get to see him again, and after that he will be onto his AIT phase where at some point he will get cell phone privlages. You need to be there for him right now cause as difficult a time as you are having, what he's dealing with right now is no picnic either. I assure you he'd rather be at home with you, but just keep in mind tht the time is gonna fly by and you'll be looking back at this as a positive experience. There is no need for him to quit right now, the long term repricussions are not worth it. As stated above, if he quits right now you wont see him for a longer perdiod of time than if he just sucks it up and finishes what he started. Be proud of your husband and support him in any way you can.

quote:

Originally posted by warach:

quote:

Originally posted by gumbydammit:
I looked at your previous posts. Does he want to quit? Or, do you just want him home?
Reading your posts, he's only been gone a couple days.
Do you have any family nearby? Friends you can talk to? Clergy? Anyone?

I don't want to sound like an azzhole, but if he, or you, can't handle Basic Training, I see him having future jobs asking people if they'd like to supersize their order, or emptying cans into the back of a garbage truck for the rest of his life.

I don't know if he wants to quit. I haven't been able to talk with him yet. I'm sure he hates the heck out of it there, but he's tough and loyal, so I'm sure he's the one pushing the other guys through. I do want him home. Absolutely! But I don't want him to quit. I'm proud of him for taking this step, though that still doesn't mean I don't hate every second of being without him. It gets harder every day. I'm trying to learn how to deal, to tough up. I'm trying to find out if there are any ways I can, in whatever small way, serve our country at home while he is serving it over there... Ideas?

I was just wondering. I know almost nothing about the military and am trying to learn how things work. This was just one of the questions I had.

If you want to help him do this:

Write a letter every day to him. Tell him how things are, but be very positive. If your having issues don't send that in the letter unless its absolutely vital he knows right then. Tell his friends and the rest of his family to do the same.


Receiving mail is the greatest thing in basic training, trust me.

quote:

Receiving mail is the greatest thing in basic training

No lie there. I went on a 2-week training trip and got a lovely letter. Made the rest of the time there AWESOME. Still sucked, but it was an awesome suck...

Yes, send him mail every day. In Basic, mail call is when we would see who was the most popular when mail got handed out. I went to Basic when I was 36/37. I never thought getting a letter would be so welcome! Keep it positive and encouraging.

Look around here and find other service spouses. The "Letter from Bootcamp" thread under the Bootcamp forum has a lot of supportive spouses there. Give that a shot. The spouses forum also has a lot of resources too. If you need more than that, visit MilitaryOneSource.Com and they will hook you up with someone to talk to.

As has been posted, the two and a half months of BCT is nothing compared to deployment. Use this time to research being a Military Spouse. It's a different and unique lifestyle. It can be as rewarding as you allow it to be. It can be overwhelming at times, but there are plenty of resources and people out there to help you through whatever it is.

Good Luck!

Matt
SPC, AV
US Army
OCS Selectee
Class 303-10

quote:

Receiving mail is the greatest thing in basic training, trust me.

Getting mail in Basic was THE qickest morale builder of all. All of the day's suck instantly melted away. Letters are fine, no news like good news. Care packages are even better. Be careful though. If you send a care package, send enough for the whole platoon. You ALWAYS have to square away your buddy in Basic.

Yeah I got letters from people I would have never dreamed would have written me. It's one of the really happy times in basic. Although I must say I loved BCT. Me and my best buddy from BCT talk about it about once a week. We both miss it.