Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Howell, My name is Greg Cucino, I am looking to enlist with the USMC in the OCS program as I am a college senior and am looking to enter the program and become a commissioned officer. Here are the problems, in high school I enlisted in the Marine Corps when I was 17 and left for boot camp July 2003 after graduation, In August of 2003 I was discharged from boot camp with a fraudulent entry due to a failure to disclose medical information, the problem is its all on my shoulders as the medical information was originally disclosed to my initial recruiter and he informed me not to disclose it as it would disqualify me, I left for boot camp with the Marines not knowing the history and I let it out in the 'moment of truth' I was able to go into training but was discharged in phase 2. Other problems I have are that I do not get along with my parents and I have been arrested twice because of them for misdemeanors that they said I did but didn't but was still arrested which is on my BCI, but the records are currently in the process of being taken off my BCI, as well I also have stupid arrests under driving under a suspended license which happened twice. Within my medical records it also shows that I had taken prozac before, which is what I had previously disclosed to the initial recruiter but was told not to disclose it down in Parris Island which I did. As well also in my medical records it documents a medical condition I had when I was a child called Enuresis (bed-wetting). I today talked to my local officer candidate representative and this specific officer remembers myself as well my brother from when we initially enlisted before and he also remembers my medical records to a T, he actually embarrassed me today by openly exposing my medical problems to other officers in the office where we were talking which I found offensive, but can get past that, he stated that when I was discharged the officer on Parris Island informed him that I was being discharged because of the Enuresis, which the officer on Parris Island said that I was having problems in boot camp with 'bed-wetting' which is entirely untrue and I am unaware if that is the real reason why I was discharged. I do have the CD I requested from Military records with my separation forms and there is nothing to do with Enuresis anywhere. I have no medical problems to do with the Enuresis and havn't since I was around 12, I know my background isn't the cleanest but I am willing to do anything to correct it that will show I am real about this commitment. Also upon talking to the recruiter today I openly acknowledged that I had used marijuana before but not within the past 3 yrs at the least, would that be a problem? As I received a waiver for this before? Anyway I am looking to enlist into the Officer Program with the Marines, do you think I have a legitimate shot at being accepted or should I consider other things to do with my life? Would the legal issues be a problem? As well the documented medical?

Thank You
Greg

ANSWER: Greg,
Before I can give you a good answer I need to know two things:
If you look at your DD Form 214 Record of Discharge, you'll see a "Separation Code."  It is either 3 letters or 3 numbers which defines the reason a discharge was granted.  Also on the form (down at the bottom) is a "Reenlistment code."  This RE code determines whether or not you are eligible to reenlist.

These codes are not releasable to the public but I can decode them for you.  Send me a follow-up with these codes and I'll tell you your options.  Be sure to mark it "private" and not "public."  Your records are nobody else's business.

Colonel H

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

QUESTION: Colonel Howell,
Thank you for the quick response. On my DD 214 form the separation code that is listed is JDA1, and the RE code is RE-3P. As well under the question 'Narrative Reason for Separation: it says FRAUDULENT ENTRY INTO MILITARY SERVICE. If this is listed as a fraudulent entry am I able to dispute this discharge code to someone in order to have it changed so I am able to re-enlist? Any information that would pertain to my situation would help.

Thank You
Greg Cucino

ANSWER: Greg,
Your code JDA1 means just what is spelled out:  FRAUDULENT ENTRY INTO MILITARY SERVICE.  It usually means you had some pre-existing condition or illness that they discovered and that you forgot to tell them about.  They automatically think YOU'RE at fault and you're trying to hide something from them.

RE-PA = "Physical disability, or obesity, or motion sickness. Disqualified for Officer Candidate training."

So whatever is wrong with you they won't let you back into OCS.
Sorry but this applies to any other Branch of the Service also.

At least you tried, that's more than some.  The actual facts surrounding your case are nobody else's business but your own.  So if anybody ever asks why you didn't stay in, tell 'em you just decided it wasn't what you wanted to do.

Take care, and good luck.
Colonel H

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

QUESTION: Colonel Howell,
Thank you again for the fast reply. Ok, now that I know what the codes mean, is there any actions I can take to reverse the code that is on the DD214 form, as I did disclose the information when I originally enlisted to the recruiter who sent me to boot camp with the Marines. When I was discharged there was a full investigation into the recruiter because my mother had contacted my local governor and the Marines did a full investigation because the recruiter had not disclosed the information to his commander and still sent me to boot camp, would I be able to contest this decision because of the negligence of the original recruiter?

Thank You
Greg Cucino

Answer
Greg,
RE-3 codes usually mean you CAN re-enlist with a waiver.  RE-4 codes are the bad ones that mean no, no now, not never, nohow.  Usually criminals get these.  Unfortunately, the waiver process has to start with a recruiter.  Hopefully the old liar is gone and you can talk to an honest one.  Give it a try, it can't hurt.
Colonel H