Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am a writer.  My main character has been in the army 18 years, the last 8 in Delta Force.
I must(for the sake of the story line and timeline) have him out after 18 years of service.  I know he should stay for 20.

What plausible reason/reasons could I use to take him out at 18 years (honorably)?

Thank you
JL

ANSWER: Dear JL --

A medical discharge for physical or mental injury could get him out at 18 years -- honorably.

Or he could choose to leave and get an honorable discharge by voluntarily separating at 18 years.

Please write back, if you have additional questions.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the timely response.
At present, I have him voluntarily separating at 18 years.  However, I'm not certain that a man of his honor would walk away.  He is a West Point grad and a Colonel in Delta.
Are there many that separate at 18 years?  Do they go into a reserve program, or is that feasible?  I realize he would probably go DOD, CIA, etc.  That's not what I want.  He goes into the private sector, so to speak.
Though my book is fictional, I don't want to stray from reality as far as the military is concerned.
So what is your opinion?
Thanks,
JL

Answer
Dear JL --

Full Colonels in Delta are rare.  There are only two non-medical and honorable reasons I can imagine for one of them departing the service prior to full retirement.  The first is that they have had an ethical battle with another person who has power over them, and they refuse to give in to what they consider an illegal or immoral order.  They would resign their commission before they would compromise their ethics.  I know of only one person who resigned their commission under these circumstances.  Since it normally takes more than 20 years to make full colonel, most colonels leaving the service under these circumstances would still earn their retirement.

The other reason to resign before 20 years would be a family issue that the service cannot or will not make allowances for, so he resigns in order to attend to his personal commitments.  This could be an ill or dying family member, or a family business in trouble, etc.

Once he resigns his commission, there is no reason he could not go into corporate America whether he retires or not.  Corporations frequently hire colonels and generals into leadership or advisory roles.  His initial military obligation would have been served, so he would not be compelled to go into the reserves.  

Again, I am happy to answer your questions, when I can.  Good luck with your book.