What is the extent of an article 15?

This is a part of the Army I can't fully grasp, but I'll try.

If you're in AIT right now, that tells me right off the bat you have two things I didn't have when I started in the Army: A cell phone or computer to even post the question; and the free time to do it. The fact--if I read correctly some of what you wrote--you are not woken up in the morning by some fire-breathing drill sergeants and are left to wake yourself, that too is telling. You don't know how good you got it, yet you've abused it.

I'm guessing you're in a soft skill MOS, since most if not all of their initial training is so separated; unlike many in combat arms. If that's the case, that's not a problem; soft skills kill the bad guys too, but what I am getting at is that it seems you still lack enough self-discipline to function in an environment without firm structure around you. Your training environment somehow lacks that level of structure--or you're just that much of a rebel--which FYI is NOT an issue for most of your combat arms trainee peers, who are completely owned until graduation.

I suggest you build for yourself that structure, that discipline you are lacking. In the end it all comes back around to you anyway, so may as well embrace the suck and get on-board now.

In the meantime, if you are facing an Article 15, that's recoverable. Hell, I had a 1SG who truly believed you don't go up (in rank) without falling down (in rank). His greater point being most mistakes are not only recoverable, but a great learning experience; even if it hurts. Especially if it hurts.

Do you time, take your punishment, lick your wounds, and learn from it. Don't just SAY it, SHOW it. If you live the changes you need to make, people will see that. If you don't and it's all talk, they'll see that too. So even if this blemish would follow you, if you recover now and spend the next X number of years as a solid soldier, you should be fine young Padawan.

how is a PV2 promotable?

As somebody who has received a company grade article 15 in 1975 as an E-2 and a General grade article 15 in 1982 as a O-2 varies widely SPC Cameron Hale.
1. company grade article 15 was when I was a relatively new soldier and didn't know much about the military. I didn't defend myself and took my punishment openly.
2. General grade article 15 was deserved and I owned up to my guilt. My battalion and company commanders testified that I was a honorable and trustworthy infantry company executive officer who displayed a gross lack of judgement.
3. The General grade article 15 was placed in my restricted file which enabled me to be promoted to Captain. However, the Brigadier General who became aware of the Article 15 gave be a "good" OER as my senior rater which was a kiss of death in the 1980s.
4. The extent of the repercussions from an article 15 is bounded by the limitations on the document and what those who know about it decide to do.
5. The more junior you are the better your chances of recovering from an article 15. I recommend you do your best after you receive an article 15. Let the chips fall where they may.
FYI PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski

Simple advice. I enlisted as a PV1 in 1976, commissioned in 1984 and retired a Colonel in 2013. Being on time is always be 15 minutes early in right uniform, right Location with a right attitude!!

Think there's a lot of talking around the real question. That would be why should the CoC have an interest in keeping you around? It is a cold question, but is the accurate one. If you didn't know, it's a numbers and level of effort game. They bring in a set number of newbies knowing that a small set won't be a decent enough fit, so it's better to identify early and move them out. There's a somewhat set level of effort to bring people along, and having to expend a lot more on one is a detriment to the others. In a declining (nothing has happened to build up under Trump yet) times, you don't want to be the long necked turkey around Thanksgiving.

So if you really have an interest in moving forward in the MIL arena, you need to demonstrate the investment in you will be worthwhile. Then follow through. In all things, be squared away. In all things, be there a bit early. In all things, do it well. And then, help others around you to do well too. Leadership starts at E-1 although it's a hard concept to grasp. If you are doing the above, you are leading by example. Get into that habit. You'll be surprised where it will take you.

Silly Rabbit... "FTR" is No laughing Matter ...
Now , when you go before an Article -15 procedure ... you have Screwed Up your career, and can Loose many if Not all your benefits...
and Bad Conduct Discharges and UCMJ Actions Follow you for Decades...

I had similar issues when I was a young private on active duty. I ended up getting 2 Co grade Art 15s, getting busted down to nothing, getting extra duty and eventually taking a Chapter for general misconduct. I took a 7 year break and managed to get myself back in and now I've worked myself up to E-5, picked up 2 more MOS', and work full time for the National Guard.

Hopefully you can fix the issues and get things together before it comes to the extreme that my situation did. All I can tell you is get your head out of your 4th point of contact. Whether you think you want it anymore or not, you signed a contract. Soldier on, being the best you can be, and ETS or fix yourself and prove that it was a hiccup. We all have them at some point or another.

Some of the best leaders I've ever met weren't the guys with squeaky clean records that never did any wrong. They were the guys that had NJPs on their record or had faced punishment for throwing an officer through the window of a bar when they were drunk. (Not recommending anyone do that these days. Those types of guys came out of the 80s Army.. )

Here's the long term effect of an article 15, especially if you don't use the experience to turn your life around. You can feel sorry for yourself, make excuses and blame everyone and everything except yourself and you will end up very much like a young lad I am mentoring in the court system.
His habits that he learned in the military followed him through his life, taking the left instead of the right, blaming others, etc. He eventually ended up in jail and is now facing 10 years in prison, all because of his left-leaning (easy) choices. It's easy to be late, it's easy to stay in bed, it's easy to have a sloppy uniform, it's easy to half-ass a job.
The right path is hard because it's the right choice.
Listen well to what all of these leaders in this string are saying....put the blame on yourself, make corrections and take the hard but right path.
Either that or I'll or some other veteran mentor will see you in criminal court.

When I was a young Trooper we considered it a mark of shame to have an Article 15. I highly recommend that you review the actions that caused you to be disciplined and correct them. You can have a very rewarding Tour of Duty in the military, you will learn a lot and grow into a mature adult. But if you really dislike the service and want to get out you should speak with one of your drill instructors and they can begin the process of removing you from the rolls to send you home. Collecting Article 15s is not the way to go about it.

Pull your head out of you.... get where you need to be when you need to be there, Eat Crow and talk to your First Sgt and ask if he could suggest extra duty vice the Art 15... Maybe they will see some worth to you and you give up weekends for a few weeks to prove yourself worthy... When i was at Ft Devens we had a First and a CO that loved to see guys picking up Cigarette butts at the Parking lots on Sat Mornings rather than to do the paperwork. Be contrite and get your act together. No excuses