Expert: Rod Powers - 10/14/2007

Question
My son almost made it through Parris Island and was so proud, but he developed what has now been determined from a colonoscopy to be ulcerative colitis. He is being sent home at some point. They told him this 10 days ago and moved him to a separation unit where he just sits. Since he now has no job and no benefits, he needs to get home and try to get well and make a new life for himself. He thinks they are punishing him by making him sit there. I say they are trying to be sure he is reasonably well before they send him home and out into the world with no money and no medical benefits. If you know, how long does this take and what can he expect. He says one officer told him that he could still get school benefits, but I do not think that is true since he never graduated the basic camp and is not officially a Marine. He is still getting paid to sit there. Thanks for any information you may have on this separation procedure.

Answer
Hi Lyn,

It's hard to say. Basic training (in all the branches) do *a lot* of discharges. It's not as simple as one might think, and there are a lot of hoops to pass through to make sure it's legal (see my article about administrative discharges at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/l/aadischarge1.htm

In this particular case, I can imagine that the Navy Medical Service (The Navy is responsible for medical care for Marines) is probably going to try and make sure that this wasn't a known, prior condition. That takes extra time. It also takes time because there are, on average, about 200 to 300 discharges per month from Paris Island.

In other words, your son is not the only kid on the play ground. However, he is continuing to be paid during the processing time.

As to how long? I can't say. I've seen administrative discharges from basic training processed in as little as three or four weeks, and I've seen others take as long as four or five months.

Regardless of how long it takes, he is still getting paid.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com