Posted on Jun 5, 2014
A "Veteran" after dropping out of boot camp? Where do you draw the line?
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I feel that a woman I know (I will leave it at that for anonymity's sake) is claiming something and taking credit for something that she didn't earn. Personally, I am an honorably discharged disabled veteran, so I feel I have a legitimate gripe here. Anyway, this woman joined the Army a decade or so ago, and quit 2 weeks into boot camp because she couldn't hack it. She claims it was due to a sprained ankle. I know many soldiers that completed boot camp after healing up from a sprained ankle. Anyway, every time Veteran's Day, Memorial Day etc... rolls around she gladly accepts accolade's in person and all over social media and acts like she deserves the title veteran. I just can't get that taste out of my mouth that this creates. At what point can someone claim that title? I figured at the very minimum graduating basic training... any thoughts?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 122
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SrA Adams, thank you for your service.
I will say this about the "sprained ankle".
In boot camp, way back in '85, we were in our two weeks at the rifle range. It was Pre-Qual day (the day before Qual day) and we had 3 privates go UNQ. Typically, this time is relatively calm during boot camp because the DI's really want the privates to pick up on this skill. But with 3 UNQs, the DI's went ballistic. We were at the barracks, getting smoked and doing the "get upstairs/get downstairs, get out the front hatch, get out the back hatch" drills. During all the trampling, my ankle got run over at my footlocker that we were "emptying into seabags". Ankle was terribly sprained. Required trip to medical, and a return to the unit on crutches with an air cast. The Heavy DI SSgt (name omitted to protect the innocent) asked what the Doc had said, to which I replied "Sir, the Private reports that the Doc said he could qualify, Sir" He cocked his head and smirked and told me that I was not allowed to march in his formation, that I had to keep up and had better F#*KING qualify. The next morning we marched to the range, with me hopping my ass off to keep up with the PLT stepping out. I get to the line and the CWO running the range asked me what the F#*K I was doing on his range, so I told him the same thing. I dropped the crutches and qualified. It was hard as hell, and hurt like the devil, but...I WAS NOT GETTING WASHED BACK, PERIOD. Qualified, hopped my butt back to barracks behind the PLT.
Following quals, we went to the field and were humping packs up and down the road/hills and Mount MotherF#&ker. I hurt, but was keeping up, minus the crutches and air cast that I had quietly discarded. It hurt like hell, but quitting was not an option.
29 years later, still serving.
If you do not finish training because you quit, you are not a veteran. If you get discharged during training because you got hurt to the point of no recovery, I will stand behind you, because sometimes things happen-which is the unfortunate side effect of Hard Training. Sadly there are plenty of potentially outstanding troops that are badly injured and cannot recover.
Nobody told us it would be easy, in fact they told us and proved to us that some would not make it.
As a side note, if you serve honorably in any capacity, you are "my brother/sister in arms". If you choose to be a dirtbag and bring discredit to my military-you have earned the right to forgo such title.
End of rant.
I will say this about the "sprained ankle".
In boot camp, way back in '85, we were in our two weeks at the rifle range. It was Pre-Qual day (the day before Qual day) and we had 3 privates go UNQ. Typically, this time is relatively calm during boot camp because the DI's really want the privates to pick up on this skill. But with 3 UNQs, the DI's went ballistic. We were at the barracks, getting smoked and doing the "get upstairs/get downstairs, get out the front hatch, get out the back hatch" drills. During all the trampling, my ankle got run over at my footlocker that we were "emptying into seabags". Ankle was terribly sprained. Required trip to medical, and a return to the unit on crutches with an air cast. The Heavy DI SSgt (name omitted to protect the innocent) asked what the Doc had said, to which I replied "Sir, the Private reports that the Doc said he could qualify, Sir" He cocked his head and smirked and told me that I was not allowed to march in his formation, that I had to keep up and had better F#*KING qualify. The next morning we marched to the range, with me hopping my ass off to keep up with the PLT stepping out. I get to the line and the CWO running the range asked me what the F#*K I was doing on his range, so I told him the same thing. I dropped the crutches and qualified. It was hard as hell, and hurt like the devil, but...I WAS NOT GETTING WASHED BACK, PERIOD. Qualified, hopped my butt back to barracks behind the PLT.
Following quals, we went to the field and were humping packs up and down the road/hills and Mount MotherF#&ker. I hurt, but was keeping up, minus the crutches and air cast that I had quietly discarded. It hurt like hell, but quitting was not an option.
29 years later, still serving.
If you do not finish training because you quit, you are not a veteran. If you get discharged during training because you got hurt to the point of no recovery, I will stand behind you, because sometimes things happen-which is the unfortunate side effect of Hard Training. Sadly there are plenty of potentially outstanding troops that are badly injured and cannot recover.
Nobody told us it would be easy, in fact they told us and proved to us that some would not make it.
As a side note, if you serve honorably in any capacity, you are "my brother/sister in arms". If you choose to be a dirtbag and bring discredit to my military-you have earned the right to forgo such title.
End of rant.
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MSG (Join to see)
My dad passed away while I was in basic. When I returned to base after emergency leave,, I was asked if I wanted a hardship discharge. I had brothers and sisters to take care of my Mom so I said no. I was set back, but completed basic and retired after twenty seven years.
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PFC (Join to see)
So i went to basic and i got 5 stress fractures while there and ended up with a 5-17 chapter. What would you say for my case? My company literally just went into AIT the week i left
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PFC (Join to see)
Cpl Arwen Bernard I started my chapter process in week 2 or 3. But mine was becuase of 5 stress fractures in my likes that if pushed through can turn into fractures or breaks. So would you still consider me week?
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Donna Bartley
I have a question regarding this. I went to Army basic in Nov 1980 at Fort Jackson,MOS 92Y,training company E-2-2.. Fell and was in the hospital for a week and was sent home no medical d/c only 2 weeks prior to completion. I am now 57 and have severe back arthritis and was told the fall probably set it in motion and I am now on permanent disability. I am not worried about rewards or compensation, just want to know if I can stand, say for instance, at church during Veterans Day ceremony. Don't want to if it is not right and figured this was the best place to ask. That is why I did not even put my association with the military until I know for sure. Did not want to claim something I am not entitled to. Thanks.
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She is a wannabe, a poser...IE a FAKE! I dont know about the Army but in the Marine Corps (Parris Island 1980) we were always referred to as "recruit" (and multiple other less than complimentary names)we were NEVER called "Marine"...the first time I was called Marine was by my Drill Instructor (I STILL hate that man) AFTER I graduated.
Like I said, in the Marines, you arent a Marine until you go thru graduation at the end of training!
Like I said, in the Marines, you arent a Marine until you go thru graduation at the end of training!
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
In the I was told that we don't earn the title of Soldier until after we graduate from AIT, or at least get to our first duty station.
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Not in my book. Boot camp is a certifying event stating the trooper is qualified as such.
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PO2 Ronald Dunlap
Question: I served 20 years in the Navy. I have a cousin that was drafted during the Vietnam era into the Army, but while still in boot camp and during grenade trying, suffered a panic attack and ran from the train area. He washed out during boot camp. He claims he is a veteran and is receiving veteran benefits etc. In my eyes he is not a veteran. Where do I search to find and see in black and white that he is a fraud?
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SPC (Join to see)
PO2 Ronald Dunlap - I wish I knew the answer to your last question because I know somebody who claims veteran status and he was kicked out and now getting one hundred percent VA benefits. Unless something changed over the years I never heard of anyone getting 100% disability many years after they were kicked out for something other than medical.
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SR Charles Branscum
180 days minimum service for medical. I was given an Honorable discharge in 1975 for sleepwalking after 5 weeks in boot. don't consider myself a veteran except on paper. no benefits but it was Honorable since I did list sleep walking on my enlistment papers.
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SPC (Join to see)
PO2 Ronald Dunlap: I'd like to find out how myself because this suspected fraud talks a little too much about combat duty he suffered from and often I've tripped him up with questions he should know the answers to.
Do they really give 100% disability AND retirement if you are kicked out then file a claim years later for something non related? He said all of his records were lost but never has time to get new ones. All of his should be available electronically so poor excuse unless it's B.S.
Do they really give 100% disability AND retirement if you are kicked out then file a claim years later for something non related? He said all of his records were lost but never has time to get new ones. All of his should be available electronically so poor excuse unless it's B.S.
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