HPSP + AWOL = Different?

[AsicsShoes]

What is the name of your state? CA

First of all, I'd like to compliment the other posters here for such a rich resource of information for those looking for advice. I thank you for the time invested in making this such an informative board.

I'm looking for information on AWOL as an Air Force HPSP recipient for a friend you'd like to maintain a little distance from the research. For a variety of reasons, he's realized that he's not only a poor fit for the military, but that his future career is being compromised by the poor standard of training he's receiving. For all involved, a parting of ways would probably be best.

I see that generally speaking, most of those asking for advice are enlisted members of the military, and that generally, assuming they stay away for around 60 - 180 days, they are dropped from the rolls, are given a general discharge, and around 30 days under Article 15.

In your opinions, does being a doctor (apparently a position of considerable shortage) or an officer change the math on this? Is he looking at similar penalties? Is a similar lenth of UA advisable? I assume a voluntary return to the base of assignment remains adviseable. As other have stated, voluntary resignations are simply not going to happen, so he's looking for a non-traditional way to leave the military.

He is also not averse to paying back the monies paid on his behalf for medical school, which I assume would be part of the discharge scenario.

Any experience of help here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[fozzy2]

One thing he should carefully consider is the possible impact on his future licensing. Not only is there the matter of not honoring a contract, but if you bolt then the doctors who normally be references might be a lot more likely to give him a thumbs down. It probably would not be good to get out of the military and then find that you can't be licensed.

[AsicsShoes]

Thanks, yes, quite obviously a great concern.

Something that has come up is the importance of a clean DD214. Many of the folks he's talked to say they've never been asked for one. As a civilian, I know I didn't even know what on was until I looked it up on this board. I see a general discharge frequently noted as being "something that haunts you", but for what? How, precisely, does it haunt you unless employers are asking for it? Are those employers strictly government agencies?

[cvdesign]

Originally Posted by AsicsShoes

Thanks, yes, quite obviously a great concern.

Something that has come up is the importance of a clean DD214. Many of the folks he's talked to say they've never been asked for one. As a civilian, I know I didn't even know what on was until I looked it up on this board. I see a general discharge frequently noted as being "something that haunts you", but for what? How, precisely, does it haunt you unless employers are asking for it? Are those employers strictly government agencies?

If I'm not mistaken (and I very well could be -- I only know of one person who was less than honorably discharged for being AWOL) a "less than honorable" -- or ANY discharge -- comes up in a background check.

So if your buddy decides to work in any capacity that involves any kind of security -- or even a "mall job" -- it will come up. And he'd better be prepared to deal with it.

My ex (the AWOL under "less than") had a wonderful college education, lots of experience, solid work history with 10 years in ... one "less than" later, he's got a minimum wage job he hates.

[AsicsShoes]

Originally Posted by cvdesign

If I'm not mistaken (and I very well could be -- I only know of one person who was less than honorably discharged for being AWOL) a "less than honorable" -- or ANY discharge -- comes up in a background check.

So if your buddy decides to work in any capacity that involves any kind of security -- or even a "mall job" -- it will come up. And he'd better be prepared to deal with it.

My ex (the AWOL under "less than") had a wonderful college education, lots of experience, solid work history with 10 years in ... one "less than" later, he's got a minimum wage job he hates.

Thanks for the background and detail, I appreciate it.

Does anyone have spcific knowledge or experience of a scholarship recipient attempting to leave via AWOL? Time spent incarcerated(?), terms of seperation, if they were administratively seperated, etc.? Some of the attorneys on the board appear to have represented clients through MEB proceedings and other hardship attempts, with little luck, it seems. I'm wondering if anyone's client has taken the next step.

[badapple40]

As a reserve USAF SJA, I can tell you that if your *buddy* plans on going AWOL or not fulfilling his obligation, the military *will* come after him, and they will pursue every charge they can think of. The reason is simple: if they let him go with a slap on the wrist, then others will follow suit, and the USAF already has a problem getting and retaining medical professionals.

Worst case: a few years in leavenworth, and a dismissal (i.e. dishonorable discharge). The federal felony conviction will also likely lead to a revocation of his medical license.

[AsicsShoes]

Originally Posted by badapple40

As a reserve USAF SJA, I can tell you that if your *buddy* plans on going AWOL or not fulfilling his obligation, the military *will* come after him, and they will pursue every charge they can think of. The reason is simple: if they let him go with a slap on the wrist, then others will follow suit, and the USAF already has a problem getting and retaining medical professionals.

Worst case: a few years in leavenworth, and a dismissal (i.e. dishonorable discharge). The federal felony conviction will also likely lead to a revocation of his medical license.

Thanks for the response.

SJA = special judicial...advisor?

So I presume the answer here is that medical officers will be treated differently than your average grunt, huh?

I noted you mentioned homosexuality as the only way out of one of these types of programs. Barring the histrionics of faking gayness, are medical/personal hardships basically a footnote in procedure right now, and are rarely approved?

You seem to have some extensive experience here, and I'd appreciate your real-world take on this vs. the regulations.

And I'm not sure if you're intimating that I'm in the military, but I think given my relative ignorance, I think you can tell I'm not!

[cyberspook]

Originally Posted by AsicsShoes

Thanks, yes, quite obviously a great concern.

Something that has come up is the importance of a clean DD214. Many of the folks he's talked to say they've never been asked for one. As a civilian, I know I didn't even know what on was until I looked it up on this board. I see a general discharge frequently noted as being "something that haunts you", but for what? How, precisely, does it haunt you unless employers are asking for it? Are those employers strictly government agencies?

OK my 2 cents. Yes most employers don't ask for a DD214, most...

Your guy wants to be a doctor, that being said he is going to have more prejudice employers.

They will want a backround check, that is for sure. You can believe that.

They can't get his military records on a backround check but they can:

1) Find out if he was in the military

2) Ask him for a copy of his DD214

3) Deny him employment because of the DD214 being "dirty" or deny him employment because he won't supply his DD214

Good luck you're going to need it.