Posted on Sep 30, 2019
SFC Broc Haskamp
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My son is in the National Guard and currently at basic training. A week and a half ago I got a 2 minute phone call from him and he said he was getting a medical discharge and not a whole lot of other information because of bad phone reception and I haven’t heard from him since. Will my son continue to train while this process is taking place? How long will it take before I hear something on if the discharge goes through or not. Thanks
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LtCol Robert Quinter
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Edited >1 y ago
Apparently during your son's training they found a medical condition that may preclude him from serving. If the medical folks find the condition makes him incompatible with further service, he will be discharged. The process is thorough and involves not only general practitioners, but specialists in the area they have found the problem. Once he has undergone all the tests, the medical folks will come up with a prognosis and determine his fitness for further service.
You must understand, their decision will be based upon not only his current condition, but whether he can serve in environments where specialists in his problem may not be readily available. If his problem is aggravated by conditions under which he is serving and there is no treatment available, not only his condition is a problem, but caring for him until transportation is available to send him to a treatment center that can properly care for him becomes a priority for persons who would normally be concentrating on other things. There are many conditions that are of little concern to a civilian that can disqualify a person from serving in remote areas.
There is no shame associated with his current circumstance, and as I said, many conditions that are considered routine for a civilian are a potential problem in the military. Don't lose any sleep over it (easy for me to say!), he is being well cared for and will not be forced to do anything that will harm him.
On the other hand, if the medical folks have found it not to be a problem, he may not have had the opportunity to contact you because he is back in the training cycle, or, as young people are prone to do, it's over in his mind and he doesn't realize you are home worrying about him. If that is the case, you have my permission to render some corporal punishment at your earliest opportunity.
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
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LtCol Robert Quinter Thank you for taking the time to write such a cogent explanation.
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SFC Broc Haskamp
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I was able to call the battalion number that was on their Facebook page. I didn’t get a lot of information other that it can take a long time for the process with multiple trips to see the doc and the med board may not even grant it. That’s why I’m wondering it he’s still training in case that happens. All I’d really like is a phone call from home to let me know what’s going on so I know what to do with the reservation I made for his graduation.
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1px xxx
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You’re not going to get a lot of info because you’re not entitled to it. Essentially a grown man is no longer able to serve in the capacity that he was intended to. The powers that be will process him for separation and he will be removed from training. After which, he will have to find his path beyond the army.

Not trying to sound apathetic, just matter-if-fact.

What other information do you need? End of the day, he’ll be able to fill you in person, soon.
SFC Broc Haskamp
SFC Broc Haskamp
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SFC (Join to see) I understand the process and the fact that I do not have access to what’s going on. What I’m trying to figure out how long this could take, why hasn’t he been able to make a phone call giving me more info on what’s happening. His graduation is on the 24th and I have plane tickets and hotels that I need to know if I’ll be using them. I also have an employer that’s in limbo because I’m not able to give them a definite answer on if he’s getting discharge or not.
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SFC Broc Haskamp

Ahh, well... I can understand your position. Of course, the best option is to hear that there’s no need to show up or not. But if the last you heard is that he’s getting discharged, chances are, you don’t need to go.

It’s always upsetting to hear that a trainee isn’t going to complete training, but there’s no need to waste your money and time if your son isn’t going to be crossing the graduation field.

Best of luck to both you and your son.
MSG James Devereaux
MSG James Devereaux
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Cancel your plans, he will not be graduating. The process can take up to a year or so. He should be keeping you informed but he’s probably embarrassed.
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1SG Frank Boynton
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If your son has already been informed that he’s being medically discharges, he will not continue to train. He will most likely stay with his unit until he’s processed out but will do barracks watch and other details within the limits of his profile. I’m surprised that it’s been two weeks and you haven’t heard from him. You might want to contact his units first sergeant for more information. The discharge would be under the Trainee Discharge Program (TDP) if they still call it that. If he’s been told by medical than it shouldn’t take more than a month for the entire process. However that was how it worked when I was a drill.
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