When you take your first oath of enlistment at MEPS, if you back out after that, will you be banned from joining the military again?

PV2 J M — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 08:56:54 -0500

Response by LCpl Shane Couch made Jan 24 at 2018 9:05 AM

LCpl Shane Couch — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:05:36 -0500

I should hope so. If you have any thoughts that the military isn't for you or that you are not up to the challenge that the military provides, then I would not want you by my side in a fox hole.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 24 at 2018 9:06 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:06:31 -0500

PV2 J M I'm No Legal Beagle, Capt Gregory Prickett and LTC Private RallyPoint Member are the Only Legal Beagles I Know but Pure Opinion, If that First Oath they had Me Take was worth something which I took when I turned 18 delayed entry, I don't know why I had to take it again before being shipped off to Boot Camp in 76.

Response by PV2 J M made Jan 24 at 2018 9:10 AM

PV2 J M — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:10:21 -0500

I ask this quetion because i am considering joining the Army National Guard and coming up soon i will go to MEPS and take my frst oath of enlistment, but my parents are considering moving so my dad can get a new job and i am afraid that if they move i will be banned from military service beause i will have to back out of the oath. hopefully they wont move and when i go to basic this summer they cant move then

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jan 24 at 2018 9:16 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:16:58 -0500

It is not a legal binding contract. However, There is a possibility that the station you were recruited from would permanently disqualify you from MEPS. If that happens you would not be able to join any branch in any state.
A DEP discharge is the worst for a recruiter and the station. So much effort and time go into just getting 1 person. If that person walks away, it wouldn't surprise me if the recruiter tries to burn them.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jan 24 at 2018 9:33 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:33:09 -0500

You should never take oaths lightly. If you gave your word through oath or affirmation you should keep it. You can depart for the armed forces from wherever you might live at the time. Your parents moving should not affect your ability to leave for boot camp etc. If you need to change the unit at which you do reserve/NG duty I would think your recruiter could help with that.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2018 12:54 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:54:35 -0500

PV2 J M What happened to joining the Marine Corps? I would not take the oath unless you are 100% committed.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2018 4:31 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:31:24 -0500

Why do you want to join the military? You said it is your dream, but why?
I would encourage you to wait a while. You don't sound very sure of what you want to do. If the Marines was what you wanted, you'd find a way to get to a recruiter.
It's OK to not have it figured out right now. It's also important that you realize the gravity of your situation before you make serious commitments.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2018 5:04 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:04:28 -0500

It's not legally binding. If it were than Why was I given the oath like 3 times after MEPS?
What I would suggest, if you're dead set on sticking around with the folks, wait until after the move to enlist.

Response by SFC Anthony Shaffer made Jan 24 at 2018 5:56 PM

SFC Anthony Shaffer — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:56:15 -0500

Are you sure about the National Guard? It can be quite difficult to move to different states, because it is State funded your current state has to agree to release you, they can also recoupe your incrn. The Reserves is federal, so it is pretty easy to transfer to different units. Then there is Active Duty for an option as well.

Response by CWO3 Danny Vega made Jan 24 at 2018 6:51 PM

CWO3 Danny Vega — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 18:51:44 -0500

I worked at a MEPS years (89-90) ago in Houston--I was actually the MEPCOM Military Member of the Year. If you are in the DEP and have a compelling reason, you can be either released from DEP or your prospective branch can release the file to be transferred to the MEPs nearest to where you are moving. Things may have changed, but I think your recruiter would rather work with you than loose you completely. Good luck.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jan 24 at 2018 8:51 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:51:06 -0500

Why not just enlist and stay active? It meets your goals, your in the military, and your not dependent on your dads job, your good to go either way. Is going to college and being NG part of your equation?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2018 6:28 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 06:28:56 -0500

You are technically not disqualified from military service in the future. On occasion, hardships do happen that prevent someone from shipping as scheduled (medical/family emergency etc). However, as a Recruiting Commander, I would have to interview you and determine your suitability for military service since your record would reflect your failure to honor your enlistment contract. I don't care for oath-breakers whose word means nothing to them. They are incompatible with the Army Values and Warrior Ethos the force is supposed to represent.

Response by CPL Michael Slack made Jan 25 at 2018 5:22 PM

CPL Michael Slack — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 17:22:46 -0500

Not true. I did this in 98 and then joined the AF in 2000 and the Army in 2008. No waivers or anything.

Response by SPC Travis Grizzard made May 6 at 2019 5:29 PM

SPC Travis Grizzard — Mon, 06 May 2019 17:29:36 -0400

Bill Clinton wasn't banned for any of the three times he took the oath then backed out.

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Aug 18 at 2019 10:21 PM

Cpl Bernard Bates — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 22:21:10 -0400

Depends on how bad the military needs bodies. If its a combat situation and they need cannon fodder like Vietnam, they would take you in a sec. Otherwise I say NO. Semper fi.

Response by Cj Jones made Jun 15 at 2020 10:10 PM

Cj Jones — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 22:10:32 -0400