He worked 8 1/2 yrs at a job then was going to go to Afghanistan to work for a year to find out they could not use him and sends him back home. Was told at old job if he comes back in 30 days can get job back,but now that is not happing either can he file unemployment...

No as he voluntarily quit his job regardless if he was not used at his "new" job or not.

Well the job he was going to take sent him home, assume it was a US company that was sending him.

I would file, the worst can happen is it is denied, and then you appeal. I would have filed first day just to try and get it.
My opinion, is that you should be able to