I guessing for the fact that you didn't finish your contract, based on the fact that you list yourself as a veteran and a PV2. It depends. Sometimes genuinely good guys are unable to do the job of the soldier, whether through injury or through pre-existing condition. However, most are turds. If that was the case for you, the only thing you can do is learn and drive on. Don't let the past define you.

So do something else to earn those benefits and respect. Get inolved with a Veteran's Service Organization. Volunteer to help other Veterans. Just because you didn't graduate OSUT doesn't mean you can't contribute.

This is going to be a little long, but it is something that has been sitting on my chest for over 13 years. I was medically discharged during basic training. To this day, I have hated myself over it for many reasons.
I enlisted as a healthy 18 year old father of a 1 year old. 8 months later I came home broken bodied and spirited. So here goes the story. Day one of our OSUT training at Ft. Knox I found my platoon to be full of almost every POS from reception. These guys were complete idiots. They were big, buff, "back on the block" guys that caused so much grief. Long story short, getting smoked didn't work on these guys and they were only hurting those of us who were actually there to become soldiers. We were smoked every day for hours. Mostly until the walls sweated and then some. I don't remember exactly how many guys went home with injuries, but it was alot. If I remember correctly I was the 7th one. And one guy got sent home after trying to cut his head with hedge clippers because it got so bad. I was in week 10 of 16 and thought I would be able to make to graduation before my injuries caught up with me. One day after PT, I fell over trying to take my shoes off and the pain was awful. The guys in my bay that new I had been hurting for a while all saw it and said I needed to get checked out. I went to sick call and was given Motrin and a profile. The smoking continued especially after my profile expired and the pain was unbearable. They sent me to the doctor and they did a bone scan. They found that my hips were in pretty bad shape. I was afraid that they were going to send me home. Luckily they sent me to a rehabilitation platoon, saying I can recycle after I heal up. I did everything I could to get better while I was there. Finally, I was allowed to recycle. I got to my new training platoon and my new Drill Sergeant immediately told me to do my PT test. I knocked out my push-ups, but when it came time to do my sit-ups, I was only able to do 30. The pain was still there. I tried to cover it up and ask for more time since I wasn't allowed to do sit-ups in rehab and was only allowed to use the crunch machine. He said no and made me go back to the doctor. He told me that if my body can't handle PT it can't handle a war and people could die.

I went back to the doctor and they did another scan and some more tests. Turns out the results showed that it was getting worse. When he got the results and I went to see him, the doctor turned to me and says "Son, this won't get better." He left the room, and all I could hear was him typing in the next room. He told me I was going home. I couldn't stop crying. I felt like the biggest sissy in the world because I knew I had more heart than the guys who were causing the problems and they get to stay in and I can't. So there I was waiting to go home, hoping that it was a dream and that I was going to get to go back to training.

The day came for me to go home and I went. I was given my papers and an Honorable Discharge certificate. I thought it was a mistake and my DD-214 said it as well. I was confused, and felt like I hadn't earned that. It was very hard to adjust. I missed everything from Ft. Knox and rapidly fell in to depression. I tried to get on my feet to make ends meet to support my family, but I was having a very hard time. I had no direction. The pain was still there and I figured I would just deal with it. A few years went by and I was going nowhere good and living a pretty bad life. I figured I might be able to lie and say I'm better and re-enlist, so I went to a recruiting office. I told them my story and they told me I needed to go to the VA and talk to them since I hadn't been in contact with them the whole time. I went to the VA and found out that I had a percentage of 10% and they have been trying to find me and that all of my checks were returned. I was pissed because basically all I got was a pat on the back and a "good luck" when I left Ft. Knox. I knew nothing. So they sent me on my way again with no info on what's going on or what I should do next.

A few more years went by and the pain was getting alot worse. I found a job as a restaurant manager and got to know a group of old Vietnam Vets. I finally told them my story and what was going on and they told me I needed to get back with the VA and keep getting help. So I did. I thought I was going for help with pain, but apparently was set up for a claim. I was so confused. So I stuck with my appointments and thought I was going to be getting help with the pain and I got an increase. The appointments stopped and I stopped pursuing it because I was pissed and thought they didn't want to help me.

Fast forward a few more years. The pain is 100 x's worse. All of the old Vets kept telling me to go for another increase. I kept saying no because I felt like I didn't deserve anything, and I didn't want to take anything away from REAL VETERANS that needed it. They said BS! I signed up and was willing to give my life for my country and that I shouldn't feel like I did. I let more time go by and got married in the meantime. My wife was the only person who saw the pain I was in and kept hounding me to go back to the VA and file. After the old Vets and my wife wouldn't stop, I finally went. The doctor did all kinds of motion tests, x-ray's, and an MRI. They found that I have arthritis, nerve damage, inter-vertebral disc syndrome, Sciatic nerve issues, osteoarthritis, and other stuff that is a PIA to type. All of those added together(8 ratings in total) gave me a rating of 100% P&T disabled. This is where I feel like a complete turd.

I do not feel like I earned the benefits I am receiving. I would gladly exchange them to go back in time to have a career in the Army. I actually feel more ashamed because I kept in contact with a couple guys from Ft. Knox and they and some guys I have met along the way that actually served are receiving less. This is why I feel like a complete jerk. Even though the pain I have was caused while I was in training and will always be with me and get worse with time, it just hurts inside knowing that guys that have been through hell are receiving less.

I know this is going to piss alot of you off. But maybe I just need to feel the flames. Just know that I wanted to serve my country with all my heart. And I am not sure why I was led on this path.