Posted on Jun 5, 2014
A "Veteran" after dropping out of boot camp? Where do you draw the line?
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I feel that a woman I know (I will leave it at that for anonymity's sake) is claiming something and taking credit for something that she didn't earn. Personally, I am an honorably discharged disabled veteran, so I feel I have a legitimate gripe here. Anyway, this woman joined the Army a decade or so ago, and quit 2 weeks into boot camp because she couldn't hack it. She claims it was due to a sprained ankle. I know many soldiers that completed boot camp after healing up from a sprained ankle. Anyway, every time Veteran's Day, Memorial Day etc... rolls around she gladly accepts accolade's in person and all over social media and acts like she deserves the title veteran. I just can't get that taste out of my mouth that this creates. At what point can someone claim that title? I figured at the very minimum graduating basic training... any thoughts?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 119
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I completed BT with a broken toe so she doesn't have a leg to stand on (pun intended)
No she doesn't have the right to receive accolades or praise. You have to complete BT to even be called a Soldier.
No she doesn't have the right to receive accolades or praise. You have to complete BT to even be called a Soldier.
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SrA Adams,
Thank you for your service. As a honorably discharged disabled veteran, I agree with you. I know someone who made it to the end of basic training and then had a medical issue. She was discharged without completing basic. She also runs around claiming to be a veteran and getting the accolades. It really makes me sick.
Thank you for your service. As a honorably discharged disabled veteran, I agree with you. I know someone who made it to the end of basic training and then had a medical issue. She was discharged without completing basic. She also runs around claiming to be a veteran and getting the accolades. It really makes me sick.
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If you have a bad taste in your mouth, I would recommend a nice adult beverage. If the taste is still there have a second. Any more than two, I would additionally recommend a D.D. or you to the work on your taste buds close enough to walk home?
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Trying is only halfway. If she never completed basic then how could she make it in a combat situation? I don't consider her a veteran because she didn't make it past being a recruit and doesn't have the active duty time beyond that for training. I think a lot of these fakers are looking for financial or other gain by pretending to be veterans. This woman sounds like she didn't earn the title.
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MSG Brad Sand
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I have no problem with the service cutting her so early, the services cut people all the time. There are plenty of fakers but if you are actually relating your actually experiences, you are not a faker. The one thing that always amazed me about the storytellers was that they were all SeALs, Rangers, Delta, ETC. If she is talking about being a spoon and not even making it to AIT, tell your story sister.
I have no problem with the service cutting her so early, the services cut people all the time. There are plenty of fakers but if you are actually relating your actually experiences, you are not a faker. The one thing that always amazed me about the storytellers was that they were all SeALs, Rangers, Delta, ETC. If she is talking about being a spoon and not even making it to AIT, tell your story sister.
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Being a SEAL seemed to be popular and maybe still are. From the stories I've read many fakes were using the title more for financial gain. I remember reading about the fake commander at a VFW post who was in that position for a few years and nobody knew he served zero days in the military. He must have been pretty convincing or there were a lot of stupid people at that post.
I don't have a problem with enlistees being cut early. I know it happens all the time. This woman doesn't seem to fit into any category other than she's looking to gain something from her unfinished military experience. If she was cut after training and after arriving at a permanent duty station then that is different. There could be more to her story than what is shown here.
The military forums are filled with questions related to those who seem to want more out of joining rather than considering if they are joining for all of the wrong reasons. I see a lot of people who don't seem to realize the military isn't a COD game. A lot of these youngsters today have an unrealistic view of life which will cause problems for them later on. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when they get a wakeup call the hard way.
I don't have a problem with enlistees being cut early. I know it happens all the time. This woman doesn't seem to fit into any category other than she's looking to gain something from her unfinished military experience. If she was cut after training and after arriving at a permanent duty station then that is different. There could be more to her story than what is shown here.
The military forums are filled with questions related to those who seem to want more out of joining rather than considering if they are joining for all of the wrong reasons. I see a lot of people who don't seem to realize the military isn't a COD game. A lot of these youngsters today have an unrealistic view of life which will cause problems for them later on. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when they get a wakeup call the hard way.
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Definitely not a veteran.
Merriam-Webster defines a veteran as:
vet·er·an noun \ˈve-tə-rən, ˈve-trən\
: someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.
: someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.
She has done neither of these things. 2 weeks is not a long time, and did not fight in any war. You have a legitimate gripe, and I would put her on check. I'd put her in check. She is stealing the honor of being a veteran and exposing her integrity to scrutiny.
Merriam-Webster defines a veteran as:
vet·er·an noun \ˈve-tə-rən, ˈve-trən\
: someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.
: someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.
She has done neither of these things. 2 weeks is not a long time, and did not fight in any war. You have a legitimate gripe, and I would put her on check. I'd put her in check. She is stealing the honor of being a veteran and exposing her integrity to scrutiny.
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You don't have to serve in a war to be a veteran. That definition is false or outdated. Many of us who served during peacetime (Cold War) are considered veterans even though we didn't go to war.
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By statute, a “veteran” is defined as a “person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” -Title 38 U.S.C. § 101(2); 38 C.F.R. § 3.1(d). Although I wouldn't do the same if I were in her position, it appears she hasn't done anything wrong unless she has intentionally misrepresented the quality or quantity of her service.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
That is a great point sir, but my question is this: was she released from her contract two weeks in for "failure to adapt"? I would believe that would not generate an honorable discharge. But I could be mistaken.
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I have trainees who have to get recycled for injuries because they cannot go any further until they are 100% healed. Yes it is a set back depending how far they must go back to the next unit to continue where they missed training. Once healed, they can resume their training and graduate. She could have done the same as far as I'm concerned. A sprained ankle after two weeks and quitting, there has to be more to this that she knows. I don't know how the veteran status works but if she has a DD 214 then she is by some means. You may not agree and despite how long she was in the Army the status will identify her as a veteran. I myself wouldn't go around accepting praise for being in for only 2 weeks and then quitting.
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Cpl Christopher Bishop
Agree, and quite frankly Id expect to be laughed at, not praised, for my 2 whole weeks, and not say a word about my own inability to finish the very most basic levels of any military training.
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SrA Adams, Great discussion point. Now here are a few things we have to answer. When did she go into boot camp? Prior to September 8, 1980, there was no minimum length of service necessary to be considered a veteran for most VA benefits. Yes, really that is right out of the VA Manual. So it is possible that as far as the VA is concerned she MAY be a veteran.
And yes she will have a DD-214, everyone who enters the military gets one at Discharge. IF she did not receive a Dishonorable she may be eligible for VA benefits.
I have included a link to the Congressional Research Service talks about "Who is a Veteran" so anyone can look up this "stuff" since I found it hard to believe too. Most of it does depend on her "service" dates and when she entered.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42324.pdf
And yes she will have a DD-214, everyone who enters the military gets one at Discharge. IF she did not receive a Dishonorable she may be eligible for VA benefits.
I have included a link to the Congressional Research Service talks about "Who is a Veteran" so anyone can look up this "stuff" since I found it hard to believe too. Most of it does depend on her "service" dates and when she entered.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42324.pdf
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Chris, 2 weeks and a sprained ankle put her out of boot camp?.....I guess that bum ankle healed well enough for her to jump for recognition........c'mon!
reminds me of some stolen valor pukes out there.......they will never fully understand the quote "For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know"
reminds me of some stolen valor pukes out there.......they will never fully understand the quote "For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know"
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SGT Christopher Hoffman
Command Sergeant Major, I agree with you entirely. Had I been unable to finish basic training or AIT, I would not had considered myself a veteran. I consider myself fortunate that I had drill sergeants and fellow recruits, later soldiers, who pushed me despite a serious injury that was not so serious at the time, to stay the fight and finish strong and determined. I never quit, still don't believe it now as I am no longer in service, but proud of what I done and more importantly of what those around me have done.
HOOAH!!
HOOAH!!
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If she claims anything other than getting booted from basic report her to Stolen Valor. If she tells the truth and still is the talk of the town, then there isn't much to do aside from eat popcorn and watch the show.
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I am not sure if anyone is still monitoring this but here goes. I went into the Army in the 90’s. I fractured my ankle the second week of basic, but didn’t realize it until literally right before the last week. I had continued to train on it thinking that it was a sprain. I was running during pt and for the first time ever had fallen out of a run. When I was sent to medical they found the fracture and it was also displaced. I was sent to the rehab program and spent almost five months trying to get back to basic which I was told I had to start over. I had no problem with that until they told me that they were going to have to re-break it and it could take up to a year to even see if it worked. So after talking to the doctor I was discharged for general medical. My point is I have never considered myself a veteran and never will. That honor belongs to others. I’m proud that I did what I did but that’s it. Anyway thank you for your service!
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