Does the military really kick out suicidal members?

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:19:24 -0500

I heard a crazy rumor that after the military gives help to those service members with the ideas of "hurting themselves or killing themselves", as soon as it's possible the military kicks them out. I'm wondering why? It's as if the military doesn't want to be responsible for them if they could stay in.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 11:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 23:06:31 -0500

I have seen numerous people be chaptered out the Army that were suicidal. I am an AIT PLT SGT and most of these Soldiers come into the Army already on that path. With Doctor documentation. And somehow they still get in. Not sure how as the screening process must be broken. The Army will not just chapter the Soldier out. They will provide the essential help that need in the form of counselors, chaplains and other sources. No, the Army is not that hateful nag that says "nope your broke, get out". We assist the best we can and they get chaptered once they are cleared by Drs.

Response by SSgt James Long made Feb 18 at 2015 9:16 AM

SSgt James Long — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 09:16:50 -0500

I attempted suicide and got kicked out using a standard retirement process. I was later diagnosed with PTSD. I had a friend who did not take his motorcycle training course and then crashed his bike a week before he was to leave to a new duty station(which was a dream assignment). He was out in 4 months, I got a year. Honestly you are just as bad of a liability if you have mental health issues as a person who has a meth problem. as soon as you get deployed you put everyone around you at risk.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2019 5:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:47:33 -0400

Soldiers chaptered from the military due to suicidal ideations are normally chaptered under a Chapter 5-17 discharge, which is "other designated physical or mental conditions". Subsection 8 of 5-17 states that a reason can be "behavior sufficiently severe that the Soldier's ability to effectively perform military duties is significantly impaired". This of course, has to be medically verified by providers. Source of this information is AR 635-200.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2021 12:11 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 12:11:34 -0500

Yes, they do. But (at least in the marines) you still be given the option as to whether or not you wanna stay in or not. Some people are so bad to where they’ll actually try to fight the discharge but the corps discharges them
Anyway.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 5 at 2021 8:00 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:00:06 -0500

Only if you’re unable to meet fitness for duty standards after treatment or the nature of the condition is so severe you will not be able to continue serving due to extensive medical intervention.