Posted on Feb 27, 2015
Should trainees be allowed to quit basic training?
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Trainees are now able to voluntarily withdraw from Basic Combat Training, be it through a written VW, CMHS drop, or through repeated patterns of misconduct. Should they be allowed to quit, or should they be legally forced to complete the contract that they signed? Minimum time of service, meet the basic requirements of that contract, etc?
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Basic Training
Basic Training
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 106
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I am a 1SG over a USAR BCT Drill Sergeant unit, and until this past year, was a Drill. BCT SMs cannot simply quit. There is a lot more to it than just saying, "I Quit". The SMs also have to figure on a Less than Honorable, or a General Discharge for Unable to Adapt. This closes a lot of doors in the civ world that most SMs are not willing to accept after things are explained to them. I do agree that when you sign the contract, you are obligated; but, there are some who need to find another line of work.
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MSgt (Join to see)
A1C Alexa Cosson - Untrue- Erroneous enlistment means you more than likely lied to get in to the military. Ie., had a health condition at the time of enlistment and the military finds out about it, or you told them after the fact.
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SFC David Johnson
A1C Alexa Cosson …. Noooo! They quit once and with a waiver the erroneous discharge could give them a second chance. It needs to be a OTH to prevent them from re entering the service.
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SSG Cecil Stroud Jr.
Unless the trainee violates the UCMJ bad enough to warrant at least summary court martial or worse. They will get an uncharacterized separation. If the SM has been in longer than 6months the worse they will receive is a General under Honorable Conditions. I hate seeing soldiers getting bullied by NCO’s looking to see how many they can put out. This is contrary to mentor, coach and teach. Occasionally you get shitbirds with a fondness for illegal drugs or they can’t control their liquor, wife beaters or other various scumbags. If an NCO has made a reasonable effort to address their shortcomings and has tried lots of extra duty and remedial training, then they should recommend a discharge to the commander. I told soldiers that I was thinking about separating that a General Discharge means no GI bill benefits. They fixed themselves.
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I do not disagree with the majority of the answers here, but being pushed and challenged made us who we are today.
I could cite countless times that I would have shyt-canned the whole thing in (Army) Basic. Being motivated to do better was part of the experience. And THAT was essential to my successes in life. :)
I could cite countless times that I would have shyt-canned the whole thing in (Army) Basic. Being motivated to do better was part of the experience. And THAT was essential to my successes in life. :)
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SPC Michael Brink
SSG (Join to see) - Joining the military was the best decision I ever made. BCT pushed me to my limits mentally and physically, made me a better person and instilled within me the drive to complete the tasks given me. AIT gave me a direction in life.
Fast forward 30 years, now everything seems to be getting softer and softer just to accommodate everyone's emotions. Once you sign that contract you shouldn't be allowed to quit just because things are harder than you would like. You push through it, learn from it, make yourself a better person. I guarantee you employers, customers and the enemy do NOT care about your emotions. Giving people an easy out is only setting them up for failure down the road and if we have the quitter mentality where will this nation be in the next 50 years?
Fast forward 30 years, now everything seems to be getting softer and softer just to accommodate everyone's emotions. Once you sign that contract you shouldn't be allowed to quit just because things are harder than you would like. You push through it, learn from it, make yourself a better person. I guarantee you employers, customers and the enemy do NOT care about your emotions. Giving people an easy out is only setting them up for failure down the road and if we have the quitter mentality where will this nation be in the next 50 years?
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I don't like the idea of being allowed to quit Basic. Seems to me that when you sign a contract, you're agreeing to complete what you sign up for.
I guess if someone wants to quit, they should get an OTH discharge. Maybe with that I would agree that quitting is "okay," because then there's a consequence and folks would not be likely to quit the first time the going gets rough.
I guess if someone wants to quit, they should get an OTH discharge. Maybe with that I would agree that quitting is "okay," because then there's a consequence and folks would not be likely to quit the first time the going gets rough.
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SSG Cecil Stroud Jr.
Mr. are you familiar that an OTH discharge is given in lieu of a Special or General Court-martial? I refer you to AR 635-200. I don’t agree with letting SM’s just quit. Does NCOES still teach, mentor, coach and teach. I do support separating those who can’t adjust, I wish they would go back to separating repeat bolo’s instead of shoot until they qualify along with APFT repeat failures. The Army needs to bring back the motivational platoon for shitbirds. Along with CCF and the retraining brigade. A lot of money is invested into a soldier just to arbitrarily waste it. Train them until they fix themselves or you have enough article 15’s on them to label them a lost cause.
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The military isn't for everyone. I'd rather someone figure that out in basic training then in the middle of a situation where other service member's may be placed at risk by their actions.
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Someone who can't handle the pressure of basic training, is not likely able to handle other military high pressure situations.
We let soldiers quit other, albeit much more challenging, training when they realize they can't hack it. Give them an OTH discharge.
We let soldiers quit other, albeit much more challenging, training when they realize they can't hack it. Give them an OTH discharge.
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MSgt Jim Pollock
I recall the existence of something called an "accessions discharge" or words to that effect.
Essentially, it's a no harm, no foul discharge that anulls an enlistment for someone without misconduct issues, but clearly can't adapt. No consequences, but no benefits either.
I'm willing to swear I've read about this, but someone closer to the process would have to verify.
Essentially, it's a no harm, no foul discharge that anulls an enlistment for someone without misconduct issues, but clearly can't adapt. No consequences, but no benefits either.
I'm willing to swear I've read about this, but someone closer to the process would have to verify.
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With budgets being cut and our military forced to cut jobs, I don't think it's a bad idea to let someone who doesn't want to be there leave and open a slot for someone who does.
However, I don't think any who leave recruit training voluntarily should be given a honorable discharge or anything even close to it. I don't think they should legally be considered a veteran unless they graduate from recruit training. They should maybe be given some kind of administrative discharge for lack of compatibility reasons that carries with it no veteran benefits.
However, I don't think any who leave recruit training voluntarily should be given a honorable discharge or anything even close to it. I don't think they should legally be considered a veteran unless they graduate from recruit training. They should maybe be given some kind of administrative discharge for lack of compatibility reasons that carries with it no veteran benefits.
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They signed the contract, sucks to be them, they should of thought about it ahead of time. They should realize there is no "rose garden". A contract is a contract. suck it up and do it.
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SSG Marshall Paul
And this is where my gut says we should be on this, but I respect the rational approach that others espouse. I would have been afraid of my soldier father to have flunked basic.
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Dana Sala Richman
What did they do that is so dishonorable? do you really want a Soldier next to you in combat that cannot handle it nor wants to? screw that, I would absolutely want someone that is going to have my back
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SSG (Join to see)
Dana Sala Richman - wastes tax payer dollars, time, and energy. Nobody just quits basic training.
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Dana Sala Richman
SSG (Join to see) - People do quit and it is a lot cheaper than the payout to the family if he cannot handle it and gets himself killed in theater or worse other Soldiers. Some need more pushing and encouragement and some are smart and realize they made a terrible mistake and for the safety of all need to get out before they hurt themselves or others. I am not saying make it an easy exit, but for some it is a good choice for all involved. Just my opinion =)
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When I attended basic, men were tore down and rebuilt soldiers. We may have cried the first week in our bunk silently but we didn't quit. Men before us did it, men of their word. The problem with current standards are if we treat you bad you can complain and someone will hold your hand. Stop all this "let them quit crap" stop coddling them and make fighting men out of them. You will have some wash, always have but most men when held to their word and their promise will turn out as honorable men.
Do you honestly believe that if you let someone quit during tuff times Viet Nam could have been fought. Basic training is where boys go to become fighting men. Please excuse the expression but pop the titty out of their mouths and let them suffer. It will not kill them. How many of those fighting men return from a tour wR time or not and become Police men and firemen to protect and serve the citizens of our great nation. Most of them learn self dissaplin and self motivation in where BASIC TRAINING. Stop just stop.
Do you honestly believe that if you let someone quit during tuff times Viet Nam could have been fought. Basic training is where boys go to become fighting men. Please excuse the expression but pop the titty out of their mouths and let them suffer. It will not kill them. How many of those fighting men return from a tour wR time or not and become Police men and firemen to protect and serve the citizens of our great nation. Most of them learn self dissaplin and self motivation in where BASIC TRAINING. Stop just stop.
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