What can someone do if they need to get out of the military right after they reenlisted?

2021-08-05T20:00:20-04:00

So I reenlisted two months ago but some family issues happens and I have to be out of the military. Someone told me to request a Compasionate Reassignment but with the money I make in the army I won't be able to help my family. What are my options?

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Aug 5 at 2021 8:39 PM

2021-08-05T20:39:37-04:00

A compassionate reassignment, if approved, allows you to be stationed closer to whatever family needs your help.

Have you brought this up to your leadership to see if they could assist you? That's where I'd start. What happened that getting out of the military would be the best option?

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 5 at 2021 8:41 PM

2021-08-05T20:41:10-04:00

Ok, first you need to look at what the issues are and what your options are before you go making any sort of rash decisions. Talk with your coc and then talk with your post Chaplain. A lot of things are available to happen that they can make happen that SM's are unaware of. There are also resources that they might know of or agencies that can be reached out to for assistance that you might not be aware of.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 9:16 PM

2021-08-05T21:16:55-04:00

It doesn't work like that. You just can't back out of a contract. All have had issues but we simply just can't get void out our contracts. You are just going to have to finish out your contract. There isn't a means just to get out of the military. The Army views your family as you and your spouse. It seems you are single so your family is not your direct dependent. There isn't a mechanism to separate you due to the conditions based on your family. It may not be what you want to hear but there really isn't much you can do.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2021 11:26 PM

2021-08-05T23:26:07-04:00

Another recommendation from my side is see if you can get your parents enrolled under secondary dependency. Then you will at least be able to provide housing and should be able to collect BAH/Move them in with you and get regular benefits.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Aug 5 at 2021 11:54 PM

2021-08-05T23:54:01-04:00

COC and Chaplain are the best two places to start. Stay calm and focus one step at a time…There’s a lot of things out there that you may not be aware of to even include some Veteran Organizations etc.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2021 5:20 AM

2021-08-06T05:20:08-04:00

You can request an administrative separation for family hardship. You haven't said what the issues your family has are but it doesn't sound like something a commander would approve. First, it has to be immediate family. Second, it needs to cause undue hardship on you to be in the Army. Third, you would have to demonstrate how you leaving the Army would significantly affect your family's hardship. An example of the kind of hardship that would be approved is a spouse who physically unable to care for their self or their children and the Soldier needs to be available every day. The kind of requests that are not approved would be something like, my dad is drinking and abusing my mom and my brother is going to end up in jail and they are going to lose the house. That's not to say you shouldn't try, having your command support is the biggest factor in whether or not it would be approved

Contrary to what you may hear, there is nothing you can do to get out of your contract. As long as the contract was executed within the law and regulations and is not defective, fraudulent, or unfulfilled, it cannot be revoked. There is no such thing as a rewrite to a valid contract, or a renegotiation. You cannot opt to transfer to a reserve component either.

You can go to IG but they just walk over to the post retention office and ask the Career Counselor there. Same thing for calling a Congressman or going to JAG, which are some other things people will tell you to do.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Aug 6 at 2021 8:34 AM

2021-08-06T08:34:45-04:00

Get your facts together that show you need to be released from your enlistment or moved to an installation closer to the person who needs your help. Talk with your chain of command. You aren’t the first SM to have this type of issue. There are processes to help you including:
-compassionate reassignment
-transfer to reserve component unit
-release from your service commitment

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 6 at 2021 12:02 PM

2021-08-06T12:02:47-04:00

I understand that you would prefer to simply exit the service but your best bet could be getting assigned to a unit closer to home using compassionate reassignment/humanitarian transfer. Work with your leadership and retention NCO to find some answers. Voiding a contract isn't really a thing that happens

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2021 12:16 PM

2021-08-06T12:16:03-04:00

Very unlikely to extremely unlikely. Unless as others have said, your wife is suddenly disabled or something of that nature, the Army isnt going to release you from your contract.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2021 12:17 PM

2021-08-06T12:17:05-04:00

As others have said, CoC and Chaplains are excellent resources. Gather your facts. Be able to clearly and concisely articulate the situation. Have any available supporting documentation on hand. Be able to show how your continued service in the Army, or at least your continued service at your current location is adversely impacted by your inability to go and address the situation with your family.

Yes, there are options available to the CoC to assist you with being able to take care of the situation. Be prepared to accept that the solutions offered to you might not be what you want. That is to say that you might get offered a compassionate reassignment when you want to get out. The other thing that you have to consider is that your family back home is not on the same priority level as dependents you may have. However, one possibility might be to make your family your dependents, if certain criteria can be met. It’s a tough situation to be in. You care about your family and the Army does actually understand that. However, the Army still has a mission to accomplish and you still signed a contract. All of that has to be balanced.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2021 10:06 AM

2021-08-07T10:06:57-04:00

As some have said look into putting said family as your dependent. The thing with Comapasionate reasingment is that it’s only a short term fix. It’s not meant to let you stay at a certain post near your family for your whole career and never PCS or deploy. You would be no use to the Army that way. Your family issue has to be fixed within a certain time frame. Remember you think you will make a lot more outside in your other job, but don’t forget to add stuff like your free healthcare and dental the army gives you and a free roof over your head with utilities. That stuff ads up quick.

Response by PO3 Ken Wright made Aug 12 at 2021 8:44 PM

2021-08-12T20:44:27-04:00

In my time they called it a hardship discharge. which is still an honorable discharge. It has to adversely affect your ability to do your daily tasks and obligations.