At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them
answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in
answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you
will be able to:
Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+
topics.
I have been in the Marines for a couple years now and decided that I need to get out if I ever wanted to see my husband and daughter again (long story, we haven't been together this whole time and they never station us together no matter how hard we push!) I have a legit medical condition that I brought up to my command so I can get out. I'm told that I will be kicked out for fraudulent enlistment and I will receive a other than honorable discharge. Everything I find on the net says I'll be getting a general under honorable conditions. Is this true what they're saying? If so, will I still pass a background check to be a lawyer in a couple years?
(Please, only answers from those who have been in or have a lot of knowledge in this subject - NO military wives! They never know what they're talking about! I just want the facts)
Other than honorable is a type of discharge and it does not look well at all on your record.
What they are saying is you were aware of your medical condition and did not tell them when you enlisted ( my guess of what you are saying or not saying)
And the fact you could do basic training and do your job for a couple years shows also that this medical condition is not really huring your military performance.
And I guess you already have a college degree and at least one year of law school ??? if you hve to bass the background to be an attorney.
The actual discharge should not be an issue, but the fraudulent enlistment can be a serious issue
Basicly you needed to finish your tour of duty, and get out when your enlistment was up,
Then you go back proud and the discharge is something to seriously help you.
My ex husband felt the same way after he came home from Iraq. He cited family reasons for wanting to be discharged from the Military. But they only allow that in some very certain cases, and it's almost impossible to get approved. I would hate to give you advice that would tell you to go against what is proper in order to get an honorable discharge. However, you CAN make an appointment with legal to discuss this. You are well within your rights to do so.
I have never been enlisted, but I ran our Family Readiness Group for the 3 years we were an enlisted family. I learned a LOT from legal. Be careful how you go about doing this, a lot of people would be happy to get you into trouble if they found out you were trying to get discharged. Keep this in mind when you ask questions, it would be easier if you knew anyone or had a friend who could recommend someone to talk to about this.
As for a medical discharge, your commanding officer is basically right. If this was a pre-existing condition they enlisted you with, and you didn't tell anyone until now that you have it. They can absolutely toss you out with a dishonorable. I hope you didn't tell your CO this was pre-existing, because he can testify to this fact now. There is hope though, go talk to legal, and if that person isn't helpful, talk to someone else.
Have you considered switching from active duty to being a weekend warrior?
It all depends on whether you knew about (or should have known) about it up front. If the medical condition developed while in service, you'll be getting an honorable. If you didn't report something pre-existing, you're up for a discharge you will not like.
Regardless, it sounds like the medical condition is not the motivation for wanting to get out. If that's the case, I can hardly blame your commander and NCOs for being skeptical.