If my son gets medically discharged before completing BCT, will he still get benefits and can he re-enlist in the future?

Duane Barnes — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:21:58 -0500

Hello all, thank you for your service and sacrifices.

I've got a few questions I was hoping someone might be able to help me with. My son recently joined the Army (19D - Cav Scout!) and started BCT in Sept. '19. He got about 6 weeks in before a stress fracture in his leg put him on the shelf. He rehabbed for a couple months and recently started over, at day 1, with a new troop. By the end of the 3rd week, however, his leg started acting up and they've got him on crutches again. They're letting him ride until they get to the point where he had to drop the last time, but also told him if he can't go by then he'll probably get medically discharged.

A couple questions:
1) would he be allowed to re-enlist at some point down the road? 1-2 years?
2) would he get any military benefits (he's been in 6 months now!), specifically could he use the GI Bill to go to school?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. This has been really hard on both him and us. It breaks our hearts, it's been his dream of his since he was a little kid to serve his country.

Thank you, Duane

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Mar 3 at 2020 5:24 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:24:33 -0500

Duane Barnes: Mr. Barnes, you are welcome; beyond compare; for my service; and, my sacrifice.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2020 6:28 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:28:54 -0500

Likely be an uncharacterized entry level separation, and not eligible for GI Bill or any other VA benefits.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2020 7:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:26:27 -0500

If your son does in fact get separated, it will be an uncategorized discharge with a re-entry code of 3 meaning he will need a waiver to re-enlist. At his current stage, he will not qualify for any benefits. My recommendation to your son would be to not agree or sign any discharge paperwork if they try to claim the injury existed prior to service (EPTS).

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Mar 3 at 2020 7:57 PM

SGT Robert Pryor — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:57:54 -0500

Duane Barnes A couple of answers:
1) Others here can answer the possibility of him reenlisting down the road a lot better than I can, but I doubt he will be allowed to do so. With a medical separation he will probably get a Reenlistment Code of RE-4, which will be a permanent bar to enlistment. With a different reenlistment code he would still have to show that the previous medical condition is not likely to reappear down the road some time. Pretty difficult, so don't count on it.
2) As for VA, there may well be benefits available, including education benefits under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation. It's just no guaranteed. That's a different program than the Post 9/11 GI Bill -- which your son is not likely to get. There's not enough information to give you a definitive answer, but if it can be shown that your son's condition was either caused or aggravated by his military service, even if it was a preexisting condition, it can be rated as service connected by VA. If so, he MAY be eligible for VA Disability Compensation, medical care through VA and possibly CH 31 Voc Rehab. Only time will tell.

The comment by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member about your son's Med Board and the possibility medical retirement is spot on. Pay particular attention to what he said and hang in there.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 3 at 2020 11:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:21:39 -0500

Uncharacterized discharge with less than 180 days, IET separation. He may be eligible for some VA benefits, especially service connected medical, but may not be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Depends on if the stress fracture is deemed service connected Vice a preexisting condition. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/

He needs to look at his DD214 and see what the RE Code and SDP code on his Member Copy 4 first side. Re Code is in Block 27. BLUF: he will have to go through MEPS and medically qualified, depending on what the doctors say, he may be permanently DQ from reentry based on this episode. He will need to find a recruiter that will work with him as he will likely have to have a waiver. If it is a 3 or 4 that may not happen.

RE Code information: https://www.rallypoint.com/topics/re-code/about

More follows...

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) | Veterans Affairs

Find out if you can get help paying for school or job training through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). You may qualify if you served on active duty after September 10, 2001, or if you're the qualified spouse or dependent child of a Veteran who meets these service requirements.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2020 11:23 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:23:43 -0500

I can only guess based on my own experience. My daughter was medically released before graduating Navy Boot Camp and was considered an uncharacterized separation. She did not get ant benefits and can not attempt to join again unless she gets a medical waiver and medical clearance.

I would advise talking to the recruiter to get his/her sense of things

Response by SFC Wanda Estes made Mar 3 at 2020 11:43 PM

SFC Wanda Estes — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:43:09 -0500

No benefits. If it gets out only disability he'll have to have waivers and probably not can come back in.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2020 5:21 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 05:21:18 -0500

If they start the med board process your son will be informed if he can enlist again and if he’s eligible for the GI bill. Until then nobody can say for sure. If he can’t enlist later he should try to increase his VA disability percentage ( you can google ways to do that).

Response by SPC Anitra Bailey-Bearfield made Apr 10 at 2020 1:44 PM

SPC Anitra Bailey-Bearfield — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:44:00 -0400

Most people that didn't make it past training did not get any benefits and if due to medical issues they could say that they existed before they joined so they will fight him on trying to get benefits. Reentry depends on med board, more than likely he could be barred from reenlistment. He should speak to anyone he could to find out his options before he is med boarded out, but he will find out once that happens but he really hasn't done any time in his mos so I think they will fight him on everything.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2020 11:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:04:19 -0400

It's depends on how they medical board your son. Just make sure he keeps up with all his paperwork. Good luck hopefully he can move to another MOS

Response by SPC William James made Apr 20 at 2020 2:30 PM

SPC William James — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:30:48 -0400

Tell your son to talk with his liaison immediately, also tell him to make sure all of his medical stuff is documented and ready to go. I went through this with the VA to get my injuries signed off on as service connected, it took multiple visits and lots of phone calls to get through the process but if it’s a stage 3 or greater stress fracture it will bother him pretty much forever. If he’s over a certain percentage he will qualify for the chapter 31 benefits but also if he’s been on AD for 6 months tell him to talk to the commander and ask about his discharge status start with the 1st Sgt and work his way up. Hope this helps!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2020 1:06 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 01:06:31 -0400

He will get a disability rating from the VA which will entitle to a reciprocal monthly payment for life. Second, he will not be eligible for reenlistment.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Oct 20 at 2022 8:28 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:28:25 -0400

Injuries are common during BCT. I recall when I was at Benning in 2010 I managed to get a stress fracture on My right foot, which was very painfull. I was put on light duty for a week and was given Motrin. I managed to look past the pain and finished last during that 12 mile road march with the help of a half a bottle of that Motrin.