missing drill right now, now what?

[d-cipha]

pennsylvania
I've never missed anything military related ever. I've been recently diagnosed with a couple mental illness's. All at the request of my national guard unit. I had a death in the family in the last week and my mental state is horrible. I was supposed to report for drill today, but didn't. I was going to get a note from my therapist today, but couldn't get there in time. Either way, you are supposed to give your unit medical paperwork pryor to missing drill. Now my chief (I'm in an artillery unit) is leaving messages that I'm going to be classified as awol this evening if I don't call or report to the bass they are training at what should I do, and what is the worst extent of consequences?

[questionia]

I would say call your chief and discuss the matter with him. A death in the family - immediate family - may be justification for a missed drill. You can miss a drill every now and then. You need to make it up to ensure satisfactory participation though. This is the time when you need to show personal courage and integrity - call your chief. It's a tough situation but you can still live the Army values.

[d-cipha]

but my chief seriously despises me and always does everything within' his power to get me in as much trouble as possible. Nobody in our entire unit likes him. I am just trying to think of a sure fire way to make sure I'm not gonna get in any trouble. They know I have mental issues. They've already received paperwork from my doctor stating the diagnosis and all. I told them I would try to have a note from my doctor today, but I can't get one till monday now.....

[d-cipha]

this is really getting to me, I avoided going because of how stressed and anxiety ridden it makes me. But the thing is, I feel the same way now anyway. You know because they got me so worried about what is gonna happen!

[RealAmerican]

So do you have a legal question or are you just worried about skipping a drill. Look into this site called google and look up the regs on missing drills. Good luck.

He loves his country best who strives to make it best.

[questionia]

I think it might be too late to avoid getting into "trouble". Dealing honestly with your first line leader would have been your best bet. You were probably marked AWOL and now you need to follow up to see what your next steps should be.

I saw you were looking at a post regarding being separated through FT Sill. If you are exploring that option you should really think this through. Do the one or two days a month you are at drill really kill you or is it something else? In other words, if you leave the Guard are you treating the illness or a symptom?

Second, think if the implications of quitting - and I'm not talking a DD or BCD - I think we all know you would most likely get an uncharacterized discharge for unsat participation - I'm talking about establishing a pattern of quitting when things are a little tough. There's no way drill is that physically punishing - especially if you're a red leg ; ) You might find it'll get easier to quit each time you do it - and that's no good.

My advice remains the same then - contact your first line leader, admit your mistake, accept your punishment - a negative counseling statement, delayed promotion, probably not going home on Saturday nights during drill and turning in your gear for a while - and deal with your underlying issues. If you are set on getting out the best way is still to deal with your chain of command. At least get out the right way.

[d-cipha]

The thing is I've recently been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The whole thought of seeing and talking to these people just gets me overwhelmed. Therein lies the problem. Its just a really difficult situation to deal with. It doesn't help that my therapist is out of town for the week. I don't know what to do and I'm at my wits end. These people don't seem to be understanding on any level. They don't even try to understand the nature of my issues. All they do is make everything worse.... I don't know...... I really do appreciate everybody's advice though. I just wish I knew the answers...

[>Charlotte<]

Is there someone else on call while your therapist is out of town? Do therapists even do that?

[d-cipha]

none of the other therapists will write me a note or anything. I don't know what to do. I'm even more anxiety ridden than usual now. I just don't want to call them back myself because I'm thinking I might just want to go awol. If I call them they are gonna ask me where I am and what not. Which will totally ruin that option all together. I mean I'm already awol right now because I didn't go to this drill, but I mean really go awol. So I can do the dfr thing......
I don't know what to do. But I'm am quickly growing weary of not being able to sleep and being tense all over my body, and constantly dashing to the restroom!