Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Brother who is in Air Force Boot Camp

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Expert: - 1/24/2009


Question
My brother Josh who is 20 years old has been in boot camp for ten days. He called home to tell us that they were discharging him because he has been sleep walking. He has done this three nights out of nine. He has not done this since he was a little boy. Do you thing this could be brought on by lack of sleep and being in a strange place? Do people normally get discharged for sleep walking? Is there anything my family and I can do to help keep him in the service? To me it seems as thought he isn't getting enough time to adjust to the situation and they are being quick to judge by discharging him. Any information you can give me I would appreciate it my parents are flipping out about this.  
Thank You,
Kelli

Answer
Kelli:

 Sleepwalking is an automatic discharge and a disqualification from the military.  The reasons are basically that you can't have someone wandering around in the middle of the night, not knowing what they are doing, in any type of military situation.  Think of it this way, if he did it on an airbase around jets, he could potentially be hurt or killed.  It's that way for all the services.

 If he can't 'adjust' to boot camp stress, it's a good indicator that he would have problems in a combat zone or other stressful situation with this.  

 Sleepwalking is one of those things that the military is very quick to diagnose (due to the stress of bootcamp) and very quick to discharge, for the reasons I've stated.  The discharge will be honorable, (because this isn't his fault).  

 Hopefully that helps some.  Again, sleepwalking isn't something a person has much (if any) control over, and he'd be a danger to himself and others (even in boot camp), so the military has no choice in the matter.

Best regards,

Jason

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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Jason Grabill

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Questions relating to US Marine Corps; rank, awards, uniforms, career choices. I can also help people spot and expose fakes (people pretending to be Marines or have awards they didn`t earn). Considering the Marines as a career? Or another branch, like the Air National Guard? Drop me a line. HOWever..know that I am NOT a recruiter. I can offer my expert opinion and advice, but can't (and won't) over rule what a recruiter says, they are the 'on duty' expert.

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Infantry Rifleman, MOS 0311: 3 years. Marine Barracks Security (Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland(not Embassy Duty): 3 years. Parachutist: MOS 9962: Got my wings in August of 1984. Intelligence Specialist: MOS 0231 10 years working as an Intelligence Analyst with a Fixed Wing Fighter Squadron, Force Service Support Group, and at Headquarters, Marine Corps. Field Radio Operator: MOS 2531. Served as a Platoon Sergeant in a Communications Platoon assigned to MEU Service Support Group 24 (Special Operations Capable). Did a hitch in the Army reserves as an 11B (Infantryman), 3 years. Finished out my career in the Air National Guard as a BioEnvironmental Engineer MOS 4B3X1, did that for a few years. I"ve been collecting and selling Marine Corps and other military uniforms, medals, and field gear since I was 8 years old.

Organizations
United States Marine Corps Logistical Company.

Publications
I was an Editorial writer for Marine Corps Times from 1998-2000.

Education/Credentials
Extensive library of research materials relating to uniforms, medals, and equipment of the military and the Marine Corps. 22 College credits, Community College of the Air Force. Certified Historical Interpreter.

Awards and Honors
Kosovo Campaign Medal w/1 star Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 stars. Numerous other unit awards. I was on duty on 9/11 at HQMC, near the Pentagon, and responded to that location to try and lend a hand if needed...

Past/Present Clients
United States Marine Corps Historical Company, Guardian Security and Investigations, lead Investigator for 'Stolen Valor' cases.

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