Posted on Oct 21, 2016
“I'm going to fail height-weight on purpose and get booted” – how would you handle this?
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This actually happened to me while I was a battery XO in Hawaii. My brigade had just gotten back from OIF and we were in that weird period of tons of people leaving the unit, and tons of new people coming in. I was in the motor pool like a good XO and one of the guys came up to me and asked to chat in private – he was a SPC (E-4) who was on soft shoe profile and had been for a few months. He was also on some PT profile, which many were skeptical of but that’s not the point. He was also quite overweight and in bad physical shape.
“I don’t want to be in the Army anymore,” he told me. “I’m just planning to keep failing height-weight over and over until I get booted out.” So I talked with him and we went back and forth about what’s really going on with him, etc. But he just stayed firm on: (1) wanting to get out of the Army ASAP; and (2) planning to put no effort into passing height-weight, to get booted.
Obviously I know what actions I took here but I don’t want to spoil it for everyone. How would you have responded in this situation?
“I don’t want to be in the Army anymore,” he told me. “I’m just planning to keep failing height-weight over and over until I get booted out.” So I talked with him and we went back and forth about what’s really going on with him, etc. But he just stayed firm on: (1) wanting to get out of the Army ASAP; and (2) planning to put no effort into passing height-weight, to get booted.
Obviously I know what actions I took here but I don’t want to spoil it for everyone. How would you have responded in this situation?
Height and Weight
Army Regulations
UCMJ
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 259
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After reading some I will respond this way. I would have spoken with him about the ramifications of a dishonorable or other than honorable that he would get for being over weight. I personally had eye problems and was on a breathing profile while on active duty, not once but twice. The first time my CO got the dr to lift my profile and gave me a pt test in hopes I would fail so he could chapter me out. I passed, would not have mattered there was nothing he could have done anyway. I woulda Went to the IG. 2nd-5th time I had surgery and was on anabolic steroids. I was going through family issues also. Woke up one day and said F** it I am done. But to go out and decide to get chaptered out is not the approach one should take, there are other ways of expressing that you are done and getting out early. The soldier needs help and I would agree with SSG Rick Robbins, a medical eval and medical hold company. Even though he is on profile, there are several ways and methods to not violate that profile and get counselling and get back into shape. The SM needs all the help he can get when in times of need. Be it anger, frustration, disappointment, depression. Help is available and the SM should be steared that way
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SGT Stanley Bass
To add just a little to my comment. Not sure how long the SM has been in. I was a lifer 15 years 10 months. Went on sick call to start my ETS physical because I was done. SM shuld go talk to the Dr's so they know what the SM is going through and they can get him the help needed, or at least start the ball rolling.
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SGT Stanley Bass
yes but most commands don't tel you that, and they tell you when you get out, dont try to apply for Va benefits, you wont get them. and Lie to the SM
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Remind him that he is a waste of taxpayer dollars. I wish he would have to pay back his training. The sad part is he did not learn anything from the military training!
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He has already stated he's doing this on purpose - that would be considered Dereliction of Duty and boot his ass out. As an Officer with this information you have a duty to see him on his way. case closed...
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Help him get out of the Army as quickly as possible before he infects everyone else in the unit with his poor attitude.
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Kinda like female soldiers getting pregnant the day after deployment date is announced.
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SSgt Bruce Wood
They do kinda have a way of getting their way don't they and you definitely have to be careful how you handle them and always make sure you have witnesses.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Or single Soldiers who intentionally do not complete Family Care Plans. 60 days later they are gone.... with Honorable discharges.
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Full Metal Jacket - Pyle's beating
Pvt Pyle, the poor fat creature gets beaten with soap
He volunteered, he took the oath, no one forced him to enlist....now he thinks he can just quit? He made a commitment to the team, the platoon, the United States. Suck it up Cupcake, be an adult and finish what you started.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Private Pyle has dishonored himself and dishonored the platoon. I have tried to help him. But I have failed. I have failed because YOU have not helped me. YOU people have not given Private Pyle the proper motivation! So, from now on, whenever Private Pyle fucks up, I will not punish him! I will punish all of YOU! And the way I see it ladies, you owe me for ONE JELLY DOUGHNUT! NOW GET ON YOUR FACES! "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsUmP1PGBGE
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Private Pyle has dishonored himself and dishonored the platoon. I have tried to help him. But I have failed. I have failed because YOU have not helped me. YOU people have not given Private Pyle the proper motivation! So, from now on, whenever Private Pyle fucks up, I will not punish him! I will punish all of YOU! And the way I see it ladies, you owe me for ONE JELLY DOUGHNUT! NOW GET ON YOUR FACES! "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsUmP1PGBGE
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Honestly, to me, it sounds like he's having problems with his command. You might want to look in to how he's being treated by his superiors, because that is a very defeatist attitude, and if he was planning on deserting, he would have just done it.
Second thing, *definitely* send him to sick bay! He NEEDS to see a psychiatrist RIGHT NOW or you could have a suicide situation forming itself.
Second thing, *definitely* send him to sick bay! He NEEDS to see a psychiatrist RIGHT NOW or you could have a suicide situation forming itself.
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This is tough. I was denied re-enlistment for being overweight (I did 9 yrs 9 mos). 100% my fault I do not blame the fork. However I did still care till the day I got out, it was my body that was breaking all the time and made PT very hard. The old philosophy was I will run the weight off and continue to eat and drink the same. You get to the point where you cannot give any more effort because the pain is bad. I did go to medical and ended up with a 50% disability rating from the VA. Mentally I started breaking down because I knew as a Marine what was expected of me and I could not fulfill it any more. Then to have the command coming down on me was really tough. I wanted out badly but tried hard until my enlistment was up. Tough spot to be in, made my last year pure hell. I wish I knew then what I know about dieting and how to eat more healthy.
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Capt Michael Greene
Very sad. And totally unneccessary. An Adipex pill once a day and you will lose your appetite and safely lose 3 pounds per week. But the military doctors withhold good treatments if there's an abuseable pill involved. I went through 20 years of service with very, very bothersome Restless Leg Syndrome that could be easily treated with a pill. Plus, due to a training accident, I developed PTSD that impacted my performance: it could have been treated, but wasn't. We all live and learn. Peace, SSGT, and thank you for your sacrifices.
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I would honestly question their patriotism and if it were a male Soldier, I would question his ability to provide for his family. However, I would also tell them to stop riding a profile and take and fail the APFT. I mean come on. We all know that Soldier that would be willing to do this would also be riding an erroneous profile. I would then explain to them that it would be faster to get out of my Army that way. Fail one APFT and then the second, within 90 days and they can go ahead and go back to their parents basement that much faster.
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