Expert: John L - 9/17/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
O.K. I'm just going to come out and ask this question.  If you quite Marine boot camp and you get discharged what happens?  Is it hard to find a job or go back after thinking about the situation?  please help

ANSWER: It is hard to Quit bootcamp, they will not let a recruit just walk away.  The Marines are very good at motivating and getting everyone thru Basic.  If he is discharged, it will be entry level seperation, kind of liek a no harm no foul card.  he just comes back home and resumes life.

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QUESTION: So then that's it, he will not be able to go back or to any other branch if he wanted?  I am so so upset at him because he was able to it physically because he was the top of his platoon.  I know mentally it is hard and i know the separation of family and especially girlfriend was the #1 problem with that kid.  I know i sound harsh but i am very crushed that my son did not make it.  I feel like he's the only one. Well thanks so so much for listening me vent.

ANSWER: He will be able to join another Branch most likely.  the Marines will probably not take him, but the navy, Army or National Guard probably will.  If he wants back in, the worse thing they could tell him is "No thanks".  It never hurts to try.  If he wants to be a marine that bad,  tell him to try again.  However, if the separation got him at Boot camp, he is not ready for a career in the military.  Joining any branch requires self sacrifice and commitment.  He was not ready at the time he joined.  But that's ok, he can try again when he KNOWS he is ready.

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QUESTION: well i just spoke to my son and he has told me that he is getting discharged for fraudulent info on his paper work. He didn't put that he had went to classes in the 9th grade for anger management and alcohol.  Has anyone heard of this and can he also said his recruiter told him not to put that because it nothing serious.  but i guess it was because look at whats going on.  please i need some help

Answer
This is normal if he fialed to achknowledge issues he had before he joined.  If he was looking to stay in, he would not have disclosed those.  He wants out.  He can try to come back in after 12 months and he needs to divulge those issues.  They would not have prevented him from joining if he passed a psychiatric evaluation.  Aftre your discusiions, you sonhas to grow up a little more before trying to join the military.  It involves total committment.  Ask yourself, was he ready?  He may thought he was, nbut reality set in at some point once he got there.

Don't worry about it.  He will come home and joined life where he left off.  Don't badger him about it,  many beat themselves up over it the way it is.  Let him talk about it and bring it up.

Good luck.