# If you're in the military and you decide to quit.. what happens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969 "2016-09-03T23:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/41 "2016-09-04T21:46:40Z")
There was a story going around when I was in SOI about two Marines who figured they could both get out easy if they said they were gay. Word was they went to the First Sergeant with their claim, to which he replied “Ok, then prove it by sucking his dick.” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/42 "2016-09-04T22:50:36Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > So let’s just imagine a scenario where someone passes their training, Besides the other penalties, they may be billed for the cost of their training. and have to repay any enlistment bonus. If they don’t pay up within 60 days, it will be sent to collections. So quite a financial loss, and a hit on your credit rating. [Note that in the old Don’t Ask Don’t Tell days, this was applied even if you wanted to stay in and it was the military throwing you out.] ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/43 "2016-09-04T22:56:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > You can get out if you’re crazy. If not, write a book about it. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/44 "2016-09-04T23:43:09Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > You can get out if you’re crazy. I thought that didn’t work … you have to claim you’re crazy … which only a sane person could do … the original Catch-22. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/45 "2016-09-05T04:38:49Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Easiest ways out right now in the order of increasing difficulty and lasting effects: 1. Get pregnant (and ask to get out). > [@](#): > > 1. Smoke marijuana. You’ll be out in about 90 days, probably with an other than honorable. You will lose all of your benefits, but it most likely will not otherwise affect your future. Most people who have done this have actually had a job already lined up. Something like working the oil fields or construction somewhere. But I’ve seen about a half dozen people do this in the past 3 years. If you’re Air Force or Army, you have a decent shot at getting a General Under Honorable Conditions discharge for this, so long as the service member had otherwise been trouble-free and competent. The Marines in partiular seem to be the service that loves to give out the OTHs for marijuana. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/46 "2016-09-05T05:02:33Z")
Actually I knew a guy who was a great soldier, knew his job backwards and forwards, was a pt stud, maybe the second fastest runner in the company, always followed orders, and showed respect to those that outranked him and then about 6 months before a deployment or so got out under conscientious objector status, the commander tried to keep him in, but didn’t do a lot of paperwork he was supposed to do in a timely manner and the soldier knew all the legal regulations up and down and basically forced his hand. He was a guy that was smart and I respected him but at the same time, I did feel like he just used the benefits of service without fulfilling his duty, its not like we weren’t already in a time of war and deployments when he signed up and I think he got to keep some benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/47 "2016-09-05T06:00:01Z")
Three cases I know of (AUS) 1. Army. Resigned. Received a post-dated discharge certificate. Post-dated to his date of discharge, as determinied by hs remaining commitment. Was given no further advanced training. Was not given good jobs to “encourage him to stay”. Was not given good jobs as an investment. Served his time out. 2. Navy. Submarine. Walked out. Was not paid while AWOL. Was offered his existing job back (underwater). Was not discharged while AWOL because they wanted him to come back. Administratove discharge after that 3. Army. Walked out of basic training. Admnistrative discharge 6 months later: glad to get rid of people that can’t handle basic. If he’d waited until the end of basic, he could have just walked free. For guys that had served out their initial commitment, if the service was willing to let them go, about a month to do the paperwork. If the service wasn’t willing to let them go – jail is an option, then you get returned to your unit. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/48 "2016-09-05T07:47:46Z")
My CPO in the USCG had prior service in the Air Force, where, for some time, he was a driver. He told us once AF COS General Lemay came to his base for a meeting. He ended up driving Lemay around. Lemay told him to take him to the Stockade where he had all the men in there line up. He ordered all the men in there who wanted to stay in the Air Force to go report to their units and all those who wanted out he had discharged. Of course, I guess the Chief of Staff can do that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/49 "2016-09-05T14:35:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m not disputing you, but I’m confused about the above. > > My understanding is that VA services are only available for people with a service-connected disability. The mere fact of having served a few years and gotten out intact does NOT establish eligibility for VA health care. I’ve done some recent looking into this out of curiosity as I’m slowly approaching retirement and the end of my cushy company-provided medical plan. (That I pay a few hundred per month for. 🙂 ) > > So did you have a service-connected disability, or are the eligibility criteria more complex and inclusive than my research has shown me? > > Thanks for any insight. And yes, I’ve stepped through the VA’s website’s decision tree. The rules may have changed over the years. I applied years ago during a period when I was unemployed. There was no problem as they have a policy of not turning away destitute veterans. For example if you are homeless you can get care regardless of whether you have a service connected disability, and regardless of time in service, though I assume this would not apply if you had a bad discharge. So if you did not have a service connected disability, you were means tested. One did not actually have to be homeless. According to your situation you may have to co-pay for services but the amount is not much. During periods of employment (most of the time) I would use my employer’s health benefits. I will spare details of my current situation, just to say not destitute but my income as it were qualifies me for care. An argument could be made that the taxpayers should not be subsidizing me in this way. But what the hell, I’ll take it. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/50 "2016-09-05T15:12:27Z")
> [@King\_Rat](#): > > The rules may have changed over the years. I applied years ago during a period when I was unemployed. There was no problem as they have a policy of not turning away destitute veterans. For example if you are homeless you can get care regardless of whether you have a service connected disability, and regardless of time in service, though I assume this would not apply if you had a bad discharge. > > So if you did not have a service connected disability, you were means tested. One did not actually have to be homeless. According to your situation you may have to co-pay for services but the amount is not much. During periods of employment (most of the time) I would use my employer’s health benefits. > > I will spare details of my current situation, just to say not destitute but my income as it were qualifies me for care. An argument could be made that the taxpayers should not be subsidizing me in this way. But what the hell, I’ll take it. Just to follow up (sorry I know a bit off topic) I just went here [http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp](http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp) See minimum duty requirements (note there are exceptions to having to have completed 24 months) and note under “Enhanced Eligibility” the last one–“Previous years’ household income is below VA’s National Income or Geographical-Adjusted Thresholds.” I don’t know what these figures are but one does not have to be destitute. And in response to a post above, I’ve read the horror stories but must say I’ve had good experiences here at the Reno Nevada VA. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/51 "2016-09-05T15:22:30Z")
I imagine everyone is aware of why someone would want to quit basic training, and how it has been addressed: [https://youtu.be/rbH\_RrOAAfA](https://youtu.be/rbH_RrOAAfA) Mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/52 "2016-09-05T20:49:00Z")
> [@King\_Rat](#): > > … > I will spare details of my current situation, just to say not destitute but my income as it were qualifies me for care. An argument could be made that the taxpayers should not be subsidizing me in this way. But what the hell, I’ll take it. > [@King\_Rat](#): > > … > And in response to a post above, I’ve read the horror stories but must say I’ve had good experiences here at the Reno Nevada VA. Take all you can get with my heartfelt approval. I’m glad we have programs like this for folks having a hard time, whether service connected or not. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/53 "2016-09-05T23:53:26Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > … he lasted 2 days and then said he’d changed his mind! Military organizations the world over have in the course of the past several thousand years an impressive rate of success in convincing those who do not wish to conform that they will be better off doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/54 "2016-09-06T00:30:34Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > For guys that had served out their initial commitment, if the service was willing to let them go, about a month to do the paperwork. If the service wasn’t willing to let them go – jail is an option, then you get returned to your unit. And – one of the common reasons for going AWOL is to get out of trouble. That _never_ works. Arrest warrant, then (since you’re the kind of guy that gets into trouble) arrested on outstanding warrant at a traffic stop, returned to face original penalty + punishment for AWOL + returned to unit. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/55 "2016-09-06T00:36:32Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > I’m not disabled at all. Maybe it has to do with which GI Bill you were hired under. > > I see a great deal of men of all ages at the clinic. They’re not all disabled, in fact I’d say at least 50% were not disabled, I get its the GI Bill you hired into. It doesn’t have anything to do with the GI Bill. VA eligibility for health benefits are listed here: > **[Eligibility for VA health care | Veterans Affairs](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/)** > > Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran. Per the link, “VA operates an annual enrollment system that helps to manage the provision of health care. VA applies a variety of factors during the application verification process when determining a Veterans’ eligibility for enrollment, but once a Veteran is enrolled, that Veteran remains enrolled in the VA health care system and maintains access to certain VA health benefits.” In other words, once you’re in, you stay in. (FWIW, I’m a veteran, but because I have had health care coverage through my civilian employer ever since I left the military, I have never seen the need to try to enroll in VA health care.) ETA: Just noticed that the VA health care eligibility link was already posted earlier today… ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/56 "2016-09-06T01:20:12Z")
I have two anecdotes of submarine officers going UA (Unauthorized Absence), which is what the Navy calls being AWOL. The first was a LTJG who decided that he didn’t want to serve on submarines anymore. Right before a major six-month deployment, he got in his car and headed west to Idaho (where he’d previously been stationed for Nuclear Prototype training). An APB was put out for his arrest, and he was picked up at some highway rest stop in the midwest a week or so after we left. He was actually transported back to the Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut in handcuffs. He got the book thrown at him – I believe he was court-martialed, but I don’t know what the final disposition of his case was. The other case was similar, but involved a more senior officer (LCDR), who was the Navigator on a submarine in Norfolk, VA. He smoked like a chimney, and his commanding officer (CO) abruptly decreed that the sub was going smoke-free…effective immediately, right before an upcoming six-month deployment. When he got the word, he got in his car and headed for Vegas. 😉 After a few days in Vegas, he returned to Norfolk and turned himself in. He was a decorated, well-liked officer (plus he voluntarily turned himself in), so his case was handled more leniently. I believe he went to Admiral’s Mast (under Article 15 of the UCMJ) and was fined, but was put out of the service with an Honorable Discharge. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969/57 "2016-09-06T04:43:46Z")
Been watching Tigerland? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-in-the-military-and-you-decide-to-quit-what-happens/764969.md?page=2)