Creative and not-so-creative ways people tried getting sent home from basic training.

2015-02-03T14:36:14-05:00

I was in Marine Corps boot camp from August 1989 to November 1989, and during my time there, I witnessed a few attempts from recruits to be sent home.

One person pretended to sleep walk. We called his bluff.

One person wet the bed. Pathetic. He was eventually sent home.

In other platoons, people broke limbs, or leaped from balconies.

So... what things did you personally see, or hear about, regarding people wanting to go home?

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Feb 3 at 2015 2:50 PM

2015-02-03T14:50:35-05:00

I had seen and heard of plenty of nonsense, but I'm not so sure they were "trying" to get sent home so much as they were just challenged to life away from mommy and daddy.

The most memorable one I can think of is "Speedy", our eternal fire watch Airman. He could never get the hang of hospital corners on his bunk for one...the worst was the case of the missing Tidy Whiteys. One the Airman was missing a pair after laundry day so the TI had us all stand in our T-Shirts and Underwear on the line next to our bunks.
One by one, we had to show our laundry mark on the back of our underwear...which was the first letter of our last name and the last four of our SSN. Well, low and behold, "Speedy" was wearing the missing underwear. When asked, "Why?!"...his only answer was...I shit mine.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Feb 20 at 2015 9:29 AM

2015-02-20T09:29:27-05:00

The bed wetting thing is real medical issue for some people. It's not pathetic. I know of a few troops sent home for it. Not something they can control. It's not natural to throw yourself down stairs, jump out a balcony or bash your head on your wall locker until you bleed. No one of sound mind would do this to get out of a commitment. It's not a whimsical thing, choosing self harm. These are manifestations of phycological issues triggered by stress...some people can't conform to the pressures of the military. Some lose it during deployment. It's funny...but not. Ya know.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-02-20T10:08:01-05:00

I was a guest at the illustrious and luxurious United States Navy Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes back in April of 1989 to June of 1989.

For some reason despite the luxury accommodations and gourmet meals there were a couple that either really had serious problems or just wanted to go home.

We had one guy who couldn't keep from getting an erection in the showers. Our showers were the big room with multiple shower heads type, not individual stalls. So you can see where that caused a problem. He also masturbated multiple times a night (despite all the salt-peter in the milk, ha ha). So off he went home to the USS Backyard.

One other fine young man decided that it would be a great idea to have his girlfriend mail him some cocaine which he proceeded to snort on the bright work in the head. The fire watch caught him and he too was sent home, after a time in the Navy's finest brig facilities.

The one that really didn't deserve it was a guy who went with us through all of boot camp despite a groin injury that he got in the second week. He got yanked by medical in the last week and had to watch us graduate from the stands. That guy got a raw deal if you ask me.

Response by SGT Rik Thibodeau made Feb 20 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-02-20T10:29:59-05:00

We had one guy in basic tried to slit his wrists, that was about it. We did have a guy in AIT who guzzled a bunch of Windex, that was pretty disgusting to see, with the foam all coming out of his mouth as he was puking and stuff.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Feb 20 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-02-20T10:56:54-05:00

A little late to the party here but when I went through other than one guy getting washed back for an ankle injury we only had one guy get sent home that I can remember. From what we were told he went to the Squadron Commander and claimed that he lied on his enlistment paperwork and should be kicked out. He got his wish. We had one other that lost it one night and started to throw stuff around the dorms and left without a wingman to go down to CQ to talk to anyone in leadership he could find because he was fed up with something. A MSgt who had subbed for our MTI a few times brought him back up and gave a motivational talk before leaving. Kid stayed in and is still in so far as I know.

Response by SGT James Elphick made Feb 20 at 2015 1:03 PM

2015-02-20T13:03:33-05:00

We lost quite a few guys during my basic. I think 4 or so suddenly developed asthma (I have/had asthma and I made it through fine), the Army let them go. We had at least one guy go "suicidal" so he could get sent home. They had to process him quick because we had to have a suicide watch with one soldier on each bed post all night, so he might have been leaning that way for real had that kept up. Had a guy go AWOL too. He made it as far as the front gate before his cab driver turned him in. If he had just switched cabs at the PX he probably would have made it. And one guy got sent home, not of his own volition, because my bunk mate dropped a brass flag stand on his head (long story).

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 1:10 PM

2015-02-20T13:10:44-05:00

One girl tried not showering, then, when that didn't work, she tried claiming she was too nauseous to eat for several days. Around my 6th week I was at the hospital as a wingman, and saw her marching around. Pretty sure she got stuck in the medboard flight. We had a girl not make it a whole day, but we heard she went home after they found out she was pregnant.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 6:45 PM

2015-02-23T18:45:07-05:00

In 1996, when I went to Ft Leonard Wood, MO for Combat Engineer School, there were two men that were basic trainees that were waiting for their papers of release, so they were the Orderly Room runners. I asked one of the IET/OSUT Soldiers what the deal was with that, and I was informed that these two gentlemen claimed they were gay thinking that just saying that would get them a ticket home. Apparently, the Drill Sergeants called their bluff and had them in front of the company and were told to kiss each other to prove it. Apparently, the two gentlemen called the Drill Sergeants bluff and actually kissed. Instant approval and waiting for papers. I asked a Drill Sgt to confirm, and my only response was "Pretty much"

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-02-23T19:13:56-05:00

We had 4 guys try suicide and 2 succeed, we had another couple of guys that got caught together in the shower and one other that kept riding his duffel bag out the third floor window to go home until they moved him down to the first floor and then he just disappeared finally. No one is really sure what happened. But hey, it was the crazy 70's, what ya gonna do!

Response by SGT Joseph W. made Mar 3 at 2015 6:26 PM

2015-03-03T18:26:53-05:00

One guy got kicked in the gonads by a girlfriend prior to Basic. His testes swelled to the point that he had to be discharged. Another one, I think, had a "break with reality."

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2015 6:36 PM

2015-03-03T18:36:18-05:00

We had a guy who supposedly sprained his arm. Even made a sling out of his handkerchiefs. Drill Sergeants took him for X-Rays and nothing. This guy seemed as though he was slowly coming unglued. One day we got back from a road march and there he was sitting on the floor pouring water and moving it around on the floor with drool conf out of his mouth. They hauled him away. We actually thought he cracked.

Then a few days later he was back in civy's packng up and smiling. That's when I knew it was an act. Extremely pathetic.

Response by Col Lyman Faith made Jul 10 at 2015 7:38 PM

2015-07-10T19:38:34-04:00

My son found one hanging in the head by his boot laces. Not really sure that it was an "real" attempt, since his feet still touched the deck, but my son called the DI anyway and they pulled him down. The hanging boot was sent home after a couple of weeks.

Response by SFC Royce Williams made Jul 10 at 2015 7:44 PM

2015-07-10T19:44:41-04:00

When I was a Drill Sergeant at Benning I had two guys set themselves up to get caught kissing. One of the guys dad was a BN CSM. We made the kid call him from the Commanders phone and explain why he was going to be discharged. He changed his mind pretty quick. Ended up graduating basic and did very well.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 12:49 AM

2016-05-12T00:49:34-04:00

Army Infantry OSUT at Ft. Benning. On day one of weapon qualification week, when we were zeroing our weapons, a kid casually leaned back in the 4-diameter concrete pipes we were in and shot himself in the foot. Ended up taking a half-moon hunk out of the bone supporting his big toe and ended up getting a medical discharge.

Coast Guard Boot Camp. Day one at the RECEPTION company (no CC's yet!!). This prior Air Force vet couldn't handle the stress of FORMING COMPANY and was found by me and several others, in the fetal position between two wall lockers.

The last one I can't verify - but a buddy told me:
Marine Corps Boot - Parris Island (circa 1980). Two guys decided they didn't want to be there so asked to speak to the First Sergeant, and loudly announce that they are gay. First Sergeant walks around the desk to stand in front of them, unzips his trousers, pulls the little Sergeant Major out and says, "SUCK IT!"
One kid drew back in surprise and disgust, while the other dropped to his knees. The First Sergeant allegedly put the CSM away, pointed to the kid on his knees and says, "You're out," and to the kid that recoiled, "You ain't a fag! Get back into formation!!!"

I only WISH that last one is true!!

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 12:52 AM

2016-06-04T00:52:21-04:00

Tied two web belts together and tried to hang himself from the show head. He had to mop it up before he was sent to Balboa for psych eval. Idiot