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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What is the real reason? Did you ask why and keep asking why? Are they gay/transgender? Are they being bullied? Is it the job? Are they just a dud? (I don't know what a soft shoe profile is?) This guy was a Spc4 and hopefully made rank because he was good and cared. Something happened.
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I would've informed him of the ramifications of getting out the way he was intending to do so; most don't understand that type of discharge could adversely affect them in the civilian world. However, when someone has made their mind up that they want to do something, no one can stop it. In too many career fields, people have the intentions of staying for X amount of years, but when you have that moment of clarity where it no longer fits, nothing will change it. Yea its the Army, and it's supposed to be Army first, and the 7 values and all that; but at the end of the day you come first to yourself. And if you aren't happy where you are then make the change that is needed.
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His CO might be able to speed things up for him under AR 635-212, specifying unfitness.
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If he wants to fail his height and weight let him. Just bar him from reenlistment and let him finish out his current enlistment without any awards or promotion. In the mean time have his
PSG verify he has a valid profile or PT and soft shoes.
PSG verify he has a valid profile or PT and soft shoes.
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Biggest thing is you only keep VA benefits like the GI Bill if you get an honorable discharge. That's throwing some serious cash away.
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I busted my ass to try to meet my weight, and I was a good soldier. But my commander not only barred me from reenlistment but denied my 2nd good conduct, I wasn’t planning on re-upping but I felt I had earned that 2nd GC.
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He could have just done it. You can encourage someone to get and stay fit, but telling you changes things. Being purposeful makes all the difference between honorable and dishonorable.
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I would handle it the same way as a failure to follow any other regulation. He failed to follow regs and remain healthy. He also admitted he willfully would not following regs. The same as being out of uniform etc. If he were outdoors without headgear he would be given ample time to correct the deficiency. If it continues then UCMJ action may be appropriate. I never liked the overweight medical chapter classification because it was not a medical condition but a discipline condition.
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The soldier is making a choice, not a good choice but a choice. The consequences are his and his alone. He has to live with his decision. Not a decision I would make no matter what was going on in my life. The only thing you can do is some counseling and know that even after you lay all the cards on the table, the soldier is going to make whatever decision he makes. I had this happen with an Airman and she was determined to get out and this was her way out, besides getting pregnant. Know that you have done all you can do and allow him to create the life he wants to create. It's sad but that's just how it goes. Rev Donna Smith, CW5 (Retired)
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