Should trainees be allowed to quit basic training?

yes get the people who are there for training get trained

I believe complete basic training and decide there. I graduated September 2013 and when I reached AIT they gave me a slip basically stating "Do I want to stay in". At that moment, that is where people should re evaluate what they wanted to do and honestly, I prefer people who want to be in the military and watching my back instead of someone who doesn't.

If the trainee truly believes that this job is for them, then sure. Why waste money and resources on someone who does not want to serve? That just leads to further headaches down the road. Give them a GD and send them on their way. There will always be more recruits.

They have always been allowed to leave during basic training. Even back when I joined a trainee could request an administrative separation within 30 days of entering service....was not advertised but has there and was done.

I think that yes you should be able to quit, you earn the right to be a soldier because you volunteered to do it, not because you were forced... I don't want people coming into the army who have the quitting mindset or that are weak willed. What are they going to quit next because it was too hard or frightening?? Combat? And risk the lives of your entire squad... I would much rather have the soldier who volunteered and never quit by my side than the one who was forced to complete his training. I also think that if you do decide to just voluntarily quit because it's too hard or scary ( medical issues are a different issue) then you should be required to pay the government a fee based on the cost up to that point of training as a penalty for breaking a contract you signed and took an oath.

I doubt this is completely true if at all, but I say if they want to quit then let them. I don't want whines, wimpy ass wuiters in my Army. Better they quit now than when they get to myself and fellow NCO's

Yes, they should be able to quit. This is a all volunteer Army and your contract shouldn't take affect until you graduate from basic. Many Soldiers realize it isn't for them once they arrive to their training post and fear reprisal for wanting to quit. Usually these are the ones that end up being problem children down the road.

THERE SHOULD KNOW WHAT THERE ARE GETTING IN TOO ,THERE WATCH MOVIES ON THE SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT AND THE TRAINING IS ABOUT IT NOT A PINIC IT HARD WORK YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WENT YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT,THERE SHOULD GET A GENERAL DISCHARGE, WITH NO BENEFITS,MY THOUGHT ARE THAT READ BEFOR YOU SIGN AND ASK ABOUT WHAT SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT

Absolutely. I would want no part of serving with someone who wanted out that badly and couldn't complete the minimum requirements of being in the military.

Just my two cents, but the US Army is a desirable enough professional organization that we don't need to force people into our ranks. If someone doesn't want to serve, I don't need them in my squad.

We're not in a draft scenario and my opinion might change at that point, but as-is, we're talking about a fraternal organization that offers training, healthcare, upward mobility, fully-funded civilian education, free gym membership, tax incentives, employee discounts all over the place, free travel and retirement at 20 years.

Are there occupational hazards? Sure. The same could be said of construction work, for a tenth of reimbursement. Military's not for everyone. The quicker we can get people out who don't want to be here, the better.