I am supposed to start my terminal leave on the 7th of July, but I failed my last PT test. What discharge will I get, and can I still leave?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:54:33 -0400

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 7:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:56:11 -0400

How many or test have you failed

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 7:58 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:58:16 -0400

I just got excepted into a school so I don't want to lose my benefits.. just need to know what I should expect so I know what to tell the school and my wife..

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made May 23 at 2016 8:15 PM

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Mon, 23 May 2016 20:15:42 -0400

At most you should just have a bar to reenlist placed on you. It may also affect your RE code which is for if you try to go back in or to reserve or NG. Should not change an honorable to anything less.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 23 at 2016 8:43 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Mon, 23 May 2016 20:43:02 -0400

Are you still injured?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 9:23 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:23:27 -0400

You'll get an A1 Honorable. Relax, you're fine.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 9:59 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:59:49 -0400

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to chapter someone that close to their ETS. But either way nothing will change as far as benefits unless you have over 6 years of service. Then you would be entitled to severance pay. Your RE code will be a 3 and not a one which will prevent you from joining again unless the service is really hurting for bodies. Once your chapter hits transisition that's when your leave will come into play. Make sure you inform your command you want to take leave or you will have to sell it. Once they cut your orders that's it.

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made May 23 at 2016 10:48 PM

GySgt Carl Rumbolo — Mon, 23 May 2016 22:48:59 -0400

Actually, you will be marched out in front of the entire battalion with a drum beat marking slow time, and your rank and other insignia will be ripped from your uniform in front of the entire formation and then you will be marched out the front gate and tossed into the streets, your name stricken from the rolls, ....and depending on the mood of your CO, you might be given a white feather too....

see...I watched too many old movies last night... cue sarcasm font :)

Actually, unless you planned on trying to get back in later, or it was a personal pride issue relax and take a deep breath. Some units might go all chickenshit and screw around with you but it's just mostly games.

Right before I retired some annoying twit of a 2nd Lt noticed I hadn't run a PFT in the last six months and insisted I run a PFT - 32 days before my terminal leave - I just laughed.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:00 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 23:00:58 -0400

If you failed your APFT, you should be flagged. Being flagged can affect several things such as getting and award, going to school, any kind of favorable action. I cannot see how they would have enough time to try and chapter you out for APFT failure. You should be able to out-process and start your transitional leave as scheduled. I do recommend joining either the National Guard or the Reserve.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:05 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 23:05:10 -0400

I will guess you are separating and not retiring.
I don't know your whole military record, so I will make my guess as each branch does their own thing.
Assuming that you had good reports and no discipline issues, a general discharge or honorable discharge would be in order.
However if you have negative reports or discipline issues, a general discharge would be in order.
You will most likely get a LOC or LOR for the failure for not keeping within standards this will be for record to "shut the door" and make it difficult to come back into the military at a later date.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:42 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 23:42:12 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Best of luck with new challenges and adventures!

Response by MSG Pat Colby made May 23 at 2016 11:58 PM

MSG Pat Colby — Mon, 23 May 2016 23:58:34 -0400

As an E-4 I'm guessing you are still in your 8 year MSO. You have to go to a Drilling Reserve Unit or go IRR. That Flag will follow you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 6:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 06:00:22 -0400

Soft failure is an honorable

Response by SGT David T. made May 24 at 2016 7:31 AM

SGT David T. — Tue, 24 May 2016 07:31:30 -0400

When I ETSd I was overweight and an APFT failure. They didn't chapter me, nor did my discharge change. It did change my reentry code to RE-3 so I am barred from further military service unless I get a waiver. Oddly they offered me separation pay, but since that money had some strings attached to it I refused. The APFT will not prevent your discharge at all.

Response by Sgt Christopher Wenzel made May 24 at 2016 9:36 AM

Sgt Christopher Wenzel — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:36:31 -0400

Uncle Sam can't stop time brother. You should still get your Honorable.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made May 24 at 2016 9:53 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:53:17 -0400

Of course you can, and your discharge will be honorable.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 24 at 2016 10:09 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 24 May 2016 10:09:38 -0400

Unless you are being kicked out specifically for your PT failure, it should not affect your discharge. Now I believe if that happened, you'd be put on some kind of remedial program and wouldn't be allowed to separate until you passed the PT test. If not, they might just deny any leave until you've actually separated.

Response by SPC LaVerne Hatch made May 24 at 2016 12:59 PM

SPC LaVerne Hatch — Tue, 24 May 2016 12:59:11 -0400

At best, they might withhold your leave. Your legal office, most likely, would advice the chain of command to let it go. Either way is an honorable discharge and not worth anyone's time to do a Chapter 13 (Unsatisfactory Performance) over a Chapter 4 (ETS or Retirement).

Response by TSgt Jennifer Disch made May 24 at 2016 4:44 PM

TSgt Jennifer Disch — Tue, 24 May 2016 16:44:24 -0400

They should let it be.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 9:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 21:02:11 -0400

Honorable.......unless there are other legal issues

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 12:12 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:12:42 -0400

Why did you fail your last PT test?

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 25 at 2016 12:35 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:35:36 -0400

Honorable, and yes.