Recruiter looking to get discharged

[JJSen]

What is the name of your state?Hi, I am currently a Corporal Recruiter in NYC and I've been trying to get out of recruiting. I am not a "people person" and I also think I have a mild case of social anxiety. So basically, everyday walking around in uniform in the eyes of civilians is hell for me. I talked to my CO about having suicidal thoughts and they sent me to the psych ward at the VA Hospital. I didn't want to be locked in a hospital so I told the doctor that I was never suicidal so that I could be discharged from the hospital. I was then given an ultimatum, recruit or get kicked out. I took a day to think about it and decided to give it another try. Things got worse and I've spoken to my 1SG and have a meeting with him tomorrow. I would gladly take another soldier's position in Iraq if he would trade places with me but the way they see it, if I refuse to recruit in NYC, what would happen in Iraq when I'm in the line of fire? ( which I can somewhat agree with ). It sounds ridiculous but I am less afraid of bullets than I am of speaking to strangers. As I see it, I will probably be facing an OTH discharge. My question is: Can I bounce back from this ? I am a hard worker and have an excellent military record prior to this, its just that I've lost faith in the Army/this unit and how they've dealt with my problem.

[Mister Darcy]

If you're that introverted you're going to have problems in civilian life too. You should try to do something about it. Look, there are three phases to life.

Phase 1 is when you are young and worry about what other people think of you.

Phase 2 is when you are middle aged and don't care what other people think about you.

Phase 3 is when you are old and realize, finally, that people really don't think about you at all.

[fozzy2]

The blame in this case doesn't fall just with the military. After all, you have admitted that you lied to the doctor at the VA about your suicidal thoughts. It is very difficult to assist someone who is not honest about their condition.
I can understand your hesitancy to talk, but you've got to realize that you aren't going to get help as long as you keep denying you need it and keep hiding your problems from those assigned to help you.

Your anxiety about being locked up in the hospital may be an overreaction. Sadly, there is a lot of misunderstanding and nervousness about mental health. The VA is highly unlikely to "lock you up" for simply discussing suicidal thoughts. Only if you are felt to be an iminent risk of actually attempting suicide would you be detained, and then only after they had tried to talk you into voluntarily checking in.

If you think you have some psychological/psychiatric problems, I suggest that you go back and talk to the doctors again. Tell them straight off if you have difficulty discussing your problems or have concerns. If you are not diagnosed with a medical condition (or at least seeking help) the military will figure that your problems are due to a "bad attitude" or simple obstinency, and the military will treat you accordingly.

[JJSen]

I guess I didn't clearly explain what happened. After I spoke to my CO about having suicidal thoughts, he told me to come in to work the next day and that he would speak to me. When I got to work the next day, I thought I was being escorted to battalion HQ but was taken to the hospital instead where I underwent a Psychological Evaluation. I told the doctor how I felt and he had me stay in the hospital that night. This came as a total shock to me, I was not suicidal, I just have these thoughts every now and then, I mean, who doesn't when times get tough? I asked the intern what the fastest way out of there was and he told me to tell the Head Psych Doctor that I was not suicidal, that I just got depressed every now and then, and just wanted to get out of recruiting.
I'm guessing he told this to my CO because his attitude totally changed the next morning when he told me I could stay or get kicked out on a medical discharge. I tried to gut it out and when things got worse instead of better, I got fed up and requested for seperation from the Army. I am currently waiting to sit down with my first sergeant. I am hoping that my chain of command can just send me to a non-recruiting unit, but if they say they can't do that, I am willing to get discharged.

[DRTDEVL]

Dude... You're a Corporal Recruiter. It is only a 12 month tour.

Suck it up, and stick it out...