Expert: John L - 1/19/2009

Question
My stepson just called and said they are sending him home on an EPTS discharge. Someone fell on his arm that he hurt 1yr ago. Was cleared medically to enter NG. Reinjured it now in BT. What can you tell me about this kind of discharge and why wont they keep him till it heals and recycle him. They are giving him lots of grief over this injury and he so wants to be in the Army. Where do we go to find out what recourse we have for the abuse he is getting now.

Answer
They are discharging him for his injury due to the fact that since he injured it before, and he re injured it, it is prone to re injury down the line.

As far as complaining about the way he is being treated,  I am suprised that anyone would treat him badly.  I am sure he feels that way and his non medical needs are on hte back burner while others are going thru training.  It is not his fault for his injury and no one should blame him, if there is anyone, there is nothing you can do about it.  It is up to him to deal with it.

His discharge is an uncharacterized, no harm no foul type discharge.

It will not hurt him in the future.  They will not keep him for recovery for the reason of prone to re injury and paying him to sit around and re heal.  he may still be able to rejoin, depending on the injury, but will have to go thru the medical stuff again.

Tell him ot keep his head up and remind him, it is not his fault.  he did nothing wrong.

Good luck