Expert: Howard Lorenz - 2/2/2008

Question
I am scheduled to ship to AIT for the Army in August of this year. Problem is, my ship date is scheduled to be 5 days before the 2-year anniversary of my enlistment date.  I have been told that this is a problem, because if I am not technically enrolled in AIT by the 2-year mark, I can be discharged, and it won't matter even if I am in reception on base.  Is this true?  Can I be discharged from the Army even if I am on base, and only days away from AIT?  The man who tells me this is in charge of my ship date, and has requested an earlier one, which would interfere with college for me.  On the other hand, several NCOs have told me otherwise.  I was hoping you could help me out with an answer.  Will it matter if I am in reception when my 2-year mark arrives, or do I HAVE to be in AIT?

Answer
I would be making sre that they are going to accomodate you with your training. The ARMY does nt like to just discharge  troops, But I ahve seen it happen. I think that there has to be help from you though. The ARMY according to the contract you signed, has 2 years to get you into training, or you can request discharge because they frauded your contract.... I think that you will be fine, from the sounds of it you mut be guard or reserve? there is alot of this for those who go to BMT in the summer then have to wait for an AIT slot to open ....that and incompetance in some folks to do their jobs!!!

If you get the earlier ship date....have to go with whats more inportant at the time, you have a contract that you have to honor, if they getyou the date, college will have to take second seat, What I would do is see if you could double up on assignments and get ahead just in case that happens.

HW