Dont listen to Eraupike or Marine Seagull... They have no clue about what they are talking about. Ran across this post again and thats just wrong what they are telling you. Many people have issues going on their life or just are not made for the "No control of your life" that you are issued. ERAUPIKE states how it will impact a life negatively but thats not true at all. Since I was given my OTH discharge 4-5 years ago, life has been great. I know for a fact that if I was to have stayed in that I would have got out not to long ago and been right back at the same place before the military, no skills, no job except holding a good discharge paper. I dont mean to bash because I do support the military, I have donated to military families during the past two x-mas and bought school supplies for military kids for the past two years. All I am trying to get across is that its just not for some people out there and you dont have to live being miserable or being insulted or put down by people like them because they dont know and dont care what your reason is.
I'm not putting anybody down for having problems.
You will have to sleep in the bed you make for yourself. Shortfuse is advising you to break the law by going AWOL. Breaking the law has consequences (sometimes big ones). I'm suggesting you do what you agreed to do when you signed the enlistment contract and took your oath, and if you have a problem fulfilling your enlistment contract breaking the law is not the answer. If you do go AWOL be prepared for the possible consequences.
You must not blame others for your own short falls. If YOU have problems then it is up to YOU to fix them. The Army doesn’t hand out lack of skills, that’s something somebody brings upon themselves or refuses to lift themselves up from.
Yes, serving is changeling and there will be times you think you can’t handle it, but you knew that before you signed up for an enlistment. Frankly, going AWOL will only make any situation worse. It will not put you in any better bargaining vantage with the military and as a matter of fact it will only make you venerable to criminal legal proceedings.
Not to mention all the people who do the right thing and get honorable discharges, get rewarded in very unique ways. VA benefits, education benefits, education benefits for your children, health, loan, etc. PRIDE IS A HUGH BENEFIT; I have the self confidence of a Marine who finished his 8 year enlistment with Honor. Plus the people you will be letting down, parents, children (future ones too), and everybody else you told you were joining the army basically.
When I enlisted I had no I ideal it would be so challenging, but I wasn’t lied to, I was just a kid who didn’t realize what I was getting into. But I could read what my contract said and I completed my enlistment. I can tell you there were some who fell short and I’m sure they are missing something that I have gained by finishing my enlistment with honor.
If your only aim is to get out no matter what the cost, then do what you will. When you look back on it you will think “I could have done it.”.
What were you thinking when you first signed up? Were you thinking it would be like The Family Guy parody of the Army and it recruiting style?