Should trainees be allowed to quit basic training?

I do not think it was an option in '67, so it shocks me to hear of it. Maybe our way was not the right way, however. So I will read others' thoughts with interest.

Let em out. No drama or dirty looks, but make sure to shut their pay off immediately and get them on a bus home at their own expense. Recoup costs via wage garnishment or as an offset on their next tax refund. Also, the re-code will probably be listed as "N/A" simce they will have less than 180 days, but if they wanna split while in bootcamp then they should probably just be designated an RE-4 so they can't pull that "I wanna give it another try" bullshit because they can't afford to return to school and are working some minimum wage job going nowhere. Clear the path for folks who took the oath and contract seriously. One has the opportunity to ask questions and make an informed decision before signing.

http://military.findlaw.com/administrative-issues-benefits/what-is-a-military-enlistment-contract.html

Why not take the one's having a hard time and put them into a remedial platoon until they are ready for Basic training. Don't humiliate them, teach them how to March, make their bunks, clean their weapons, get them up to speed with the physical requirements. allow them to deal with home sickness. Perhaps a three week class. I'm willing to wager more would make it if they did this. To a lot of them the initial shock is too much and it psych's them out before they can know if they can hack it or not. Seems like this would be a better and less expensive way for the military to deal with this.

I went into the Army in 1976. I was 17 years old. My recruiter filled me with tons of lies. I had no clue what I was getting onto. I couldn't wait to get there. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I was too young and immature, and was unable to hack it. While they made my life a living hell for about three weeks, telling me that I was a "Sorry excuse for a human being," and worse, they gave me a 635-1 Honorable Discharge . I did not get any Vets benefits but I was given an honorable discharge. In the years since then I have been a productive tax paying citizen. I regret that I could not hack it but I was just a kid. I didn't even shave yet. Why would you wish to ruin anyone's life at such a young age simply because they made a mistake enlisting?

Trainees should not be allowed to drop for other than the older "Family" requirements. They may not get the training but even if they are regulated to chain gangs they started it they need to finish it.

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.