Can't take it any longer

[Lost27]

What is the name of your state? NY

Greetings to all,

Wow, where to start. I guess from the start might be the best, pardon in advance for the long read.

All my life I have wanted just one thing, and that was to serve. That one day be a proud member of the armed force and wear a uniform. Regrettably, in June of 1998 after completing basic and about to commence my AIT (Advance Individual Training for those that may not know) I walked away from my assigned duty station, Ft. Benning Georgia. If I’m not mistaken it was 9th or 10th week into final graduation (14th Week). I was 20 at the time.

Till this day I regret the life-changing mistake I made. Not one day passes that I regret and wish I would’ve honored my contract. I walk in shame for that, as time goes it only gets worse. The little time I spent will never be forgotten. I miss it very much. I know I made the right decision to enlist. I loved almost every minute of it.

I for sure know I made the mistake by not doing the needed research before enlisting, also the fact that I was gullible to believe everything that was mentioned to me by the peers I volunteered to. It may sound like a cop out, but I felt I was mislead.

During my interview process, I specially request Infantry. A regular Infantry soldier + Airborne + Ranger training. At that time I had no clue what an MOS was or anything corresponding to them. The guidance counselor at the MEP station assured me that I had an Infantry contract and that all I need to do to go Airborne school was volunteer for it. As for the Ranger training, I did not qualify due to not being a citizen, which required a needed security clearance. I signed away to an 11X contract.

As days passed at the reception station I began to ask about Airborne School. I was boldly told that if it wasn't in my contract I wasn't doing it. I also found out that having signed to an 11X contract meant that whatever the Army felt it needed in the Infantry tree, that was most likely what I was going to get. Something that should've been mentioned and explained to me before signing up. I would've insisted on an Airborne slot and waited till one was available.

A few days after we were sent down range to our assigned training company, those that were 11X were given their final corresponding MOS. I turn out to be a 11M, Mech. Bradley training. I started feeling like I got the shaft and was just a quota, no Airborne and now attached to a Bradley. I asked my chain of command ..Drill Sgts, Chaplin, a Sgt. from the Airborne school that came to speak to the soldiers that had Airborne in their contracts, and even the CO. “Sorry”, “Can’t”, “No”, and my fav from some of the drills “Thank your recruiter for ****ing up your life.” My contract should've read:

11B + Airborne / or even 11B (regular Infantry soldier, but with the most options open to him)

Well I carried on with what I had, passed all PT, zero No-Gos, was very motivated even though I wasn’t too happy with what I got handed. Around 8th week I had given up on doing Airborne, felt mislead even though I carried out with the training. In my head I felt, I never asked to be in a Bradley, all I ever wanted was to be a foot soldier and get to jump out of airplanes. I volunteered and I get this, no way.

It has been almost 7 years( I left to boot April 1st 1998, ) since I walked away from my training. Not one day has pass that I regret it. Not one day passes that I wish I had a second chance. It is what I wanted all my life. Since then, I have been at my current place of work for over 5 years. Became a father of a soon to be 5 year old. Never been a problem child or trouble maker, not one problem with the law. But have been living my life with too many limits. I would really like resolve my issue and puts this to rest.

[Shay-Pari'e]

Originally Posted by Lost27

What is the name of your state? NY

Greetings to all,

Wow, where to start. I guess from the start might be the best, pardon in advance for the long read.

All my life I have wanted just one thing, and that was to serve. That one day be a proud member of the armed force and wear a uniform. Regrettably, in June of 1998 after completing basic and about to commence my AIT (Advance Individual Training for those that may not know) I walked away from my assigned duty station, Ft. Benning Georgia. If I’m not mistaken it was 9th or 10th week into final graduation (14th Week). I was 20 at the time.

Till this day I regret the life-changing mistake I made. Not one day passes that I regret and wish I would’ve honored my contract. I walk in shame for that, as time goes it only gets worse. The little time I spent will never be forgotten. I miss it very much. I know I made the right decision to enlist. I loved almost every minute of it.

I for sure know I made the mistake by not doing the needed research before enlisting, also the fact that I was gullible to believe everything that was mentioned to me by the peers I volunteered to. OK, I'm telling my son the same thing. He is listening to recruiters almost daily. Bear in mind I have extensive knowledge, and I will get to that. Recruiters lie.

It may sound like a cop out, but I felt I was mislead.

During my interview process, I specially request Infantry. A regular Infantry soldier + Airborne + Ranger training. At that time I had no clue what an MOS was or anything corresponding to them. The guidance counselor at the MEP station assured me that I had an Infantry contract and that all I need to do to go Airborne school was volunteer for it. As for the Ranger training, I did not qualify due to not being a citizen, which required a needed security clearance. I signed away to an 11X contract. A non-citizen can enlist in the military. However, federal law prohibits non-citizens from becoming commission or warrant officers.

days passed at the reception station I began to ask about Airborne School. I was boldly told that if it wasn't in my contract I wasn't doing it. I also found out that having signed to an 11X contract meant that whatever the Army felt it needed in the Infantry tree, that was most likely what I was going to get. Something that should've been mentioned and explained to me before signing up. I would've insisted on an Airborne slot and waited till one was available.

A few days after we were sent down range to our assigned training company, those that were 11X were given their final corresponding MOS. I turn out to be a 11M, Mech. Bradley training. I started feeling like I got the shaft and was just a quota, no Airborne and now attached to a Bradley. I asked my chain of command ..Drill Sgts, Chaplin, a Sgt. from the Airborne school that came to speak to the soldiers that had Airborne in their contracts, and even the CO. “Sorry”, “Can’t”, “No”, and my fav from some of the drills “Thank your recruiter for ****ing up your life.” My contract should've read:

11B + Airborne / or even 11B (regular Infantry soldier, but with the most options open to him)

Well I carried on with what I had, passed all PT, zero No-Gos, was very motivated even though I wasn’t too happy with what I got handed. Around 8th week I had given up on doing Airborne, felt mislead even though I carried out with the training. In my head I felt, I never asked to be in a Bradley, all I ever wanted was to be a foot soldier and get to jump out of airplanes. I volunteered and I get this, no way.

It has been almost 7 years( I left to boot April 1st 1998, ) since I walked away from my training. Not one day has pass that I regret it. Not one day passes that I wish I had a second chance. It is what I wanted all my life. Since then, I have been at my current place of work for over 5 years. Became a father of a soon to be 5 year old. Never been a problem child or trouble maker, not one problem with the law. But have been living my life with too many limits. I would really like resolve my issue and puts this to rest.

You can put this to rest. You sound like such a nice guy, nothing like the other AWOL jerks that come here.

I still have to give you the advice you need.

Please call your old unit, or call Randolf. Tell them who you are. After this amount of time, you could be looking at a serious punishment, or a OTH discharge.

Either way, you will be running from this forever and it could get so much worse for you if you do not just turn yourself in.

[badapple40]

I'd head down to Ft. Sill, OK and turn yourself in. They'll have you processed out in a month or so.

[Lost27]

Thank you both for the replies.

I'm currently working on getting things started. Tieing up the loose ends, making sure my daughter has everything she needs before I take leave. Due to an accident when wife was pregnant, she was born with Hemiperatic Cerebral Palsy. Since her 8 months we have dealt with extensive therapy sessions. Sometimes it was up to 4 times a week, just to give her a chance to live a regular life. My plans were to return years go, but as you can see its not case. I at least feel I haven't let her down the way I let myself down.

With regards to recruiters sir/maam, they can be special. During my short stay I asked those that had everything they requested. Only to be amazed by the stories of how great their recruiters was. Stories of how everything was made sure of by them.

Unfortunately my experience left me bitter to the sound of that word. Just make sure your young adult does his or her research and never takes no for an answer. Its funny how 2 years after I left my training, I still had recruiters calling my house wanting to sign me up. I quized them on how would they go about getting me an Airborne contract, only to be dissapointed with more lies. My recruiter knew exactly where I was and what was the situation, he clearly request never to be bother with again.

April Fools (day I left to boot) day should've been a sign of what was to come. After a 2 hour flight delay at JFK airport due to server weather, a flight from hell. Landing in Tennesse only to be told there was another delay with my connecting flight, later to be told the flight was canceled. Called the number we were given in case of an emergency, the situation was explained. Was told that if the airline was providing housing for the night that it was ok to stay.

But my orders where to keep moving no matter what. So I did, instead of taking up the hotel room that was provide to many, I waited in the airport. 3 hours later there was an aiplane that look like it had industry duct tape holding it together. Jump on the flight along with 4 recruits that decided to follow their initial orders to keep on moving. So now we are on a plane headed to Georgia right? Nope, it was headed to Alabama. From there a van would take us cross border to Georgia and drop us off at the Military post in the Georgia airport. We arrive in Alabama, jump in Van, a 3-4 hour ride into the night. Arrived at the Georgia aiport, guess what? IT WAS CLOSED!!! Security guard told driver he could not leave us there. Now what? Driver clearly told us that his job was to drop off there and nothing else. Well the kind gentle felt pity for us and decided to take us all the way up to Ft. Benning. Bless you kind sir. So after about a 2 hour ride we were dropped off at the MP station in Ft. Benning. Told to stand outside for what seem like an eternity casue it was freezing. Picked up and taken to the Reception sation. Hoping to get processed in, even though we were over 10 hours late not due to our fault of course, nope process in started at about 10PM and it was 7AM. So in other words, we should've taken the room and rested. We were processed in a day late no matter what. Totaly thrown in a diffrent class.

Till this day I laugh at the experience.

[misledyouth]

Don't fret man. Get your daughter with your parents or someone who can really take care of her for a month or two. Buy a plane ticket to Oklahoma city then take a bus to Ft. Sill. When you get there simply go up to the guards and tell them you have been AWOL for how ever long and they will take you to the PCF (personal control facility). Try to get there on a saturday or sunday so you will have the first full week to take care of the paperwork that only gets done on certain days. If your unit filed your paperwork correctly and dropped you from the rolls (DFR), you can be out of there in 5 days. If you get there in the middle of the week your going to have to wait until the next week. Your not locked up or anything your just put in these barracks. When your not doing out processing stuff they usually make you recycle paper or clean. They take you to chow 3 times a day and you can use the phone on off duty hours. Dont bring anything expensive/electronic. Don't talk to/bother the females. Bring toiletries and one set of BDUs/boots if you still have them, if not you get crappy old used ones that probably wont fit if your really small or really huge. Just do what they say and stay out of trouble and they'll get you out of there really quick. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. I was there about a month ago after turning myself in so I know up to date info on whats going on. Good luck.