Son wants out of Army

[tess_621]

What is the name of your state? MN

My son called me tonight and wants to leave the Army. He just graduated from Army Basic/Infantry and airschool in March. He was home for one week and is now stationed at Fort Campbell. He is very depressed and feels he made a huge mistake by signing up. He is going to see the medics tomorrow and tell them he is depressed and tel them about his terrible nightmares. What are his options? Are there any legal options to consider? My son has a history of depression all through his highschool years....and he has ADHD and has been in treatment for chemical abuse just over 1.5 years ago. I know if he just goes awol he will be in real trouble. What recommendations can you provide in this situation?

[cyberspook]

Originally Posted by tess_621

What is the name of your state? MN

My son called me tonight and wants to leave the Army. He just graduated from Army Basic/Infantry and airschool in March. He was home for one week and is now stationed at Fort Campbell. He is very depressed and feels he made a huge mistake by signing up. He is going to see the medics tomorrow and tell them he is depressed and tel them about his terrible nightmares. What are his options? Are there any legal options to consider? My son has a history of depression all through his highschool years....and he has ADHD and has been in treatment for chemical abuse just over 1.5 years ago. I know if he just goes awol he will be in real trouble. What recommendations can you provide in this situation?

Badapple has pointed out the "gay card" strategy. But also be prepared to prove it.

Don't let him go AWOL/UA

Do a search and read. This topic has been covered many times before.

Good luck and I hope things work out well for you and your son

[fozzy2]

I'll ask the obvious question: Was he honest with the military about his history of depression and ADHD and chemical abuse? Or did he lie on his enlistment paperwork?
It doesn't sound as if he should have been enlisted in the first place. If he lied about his medical history then the military has grounds to kick him out as a fraudulent enlistment. If he was honest and came in on a waiver, he may get a medical entry level seperation. Or, either way, the military might want to evaluate and/or treat him and try and keep him in. It will depend on the circumstances.

Going AWOL is a very bad idea. He is probably much better off going to medical and seeking help.

[tess_621]

thanks for your response. No I do not believe he was honest about his past history. I will do my best to encourage him not to awol. He seems to think leaving is not a big deal. He has a buddy that went awol about a month ago...and this guys father is a lawyer. His buddy went to medical and told them he has crones disease....they gave him some meds and told him they would start processing his discharge but that is would several months. This guy decided to awol shortly afterward. This person is telling my son it's no big deal to leave because he has not been in very long. Everything I've read on this site thus far surely does not agree with what my son is being told.
He certainly should not have enlisted...but at the time he did he really wanted it in. Now that he is there...he believes he made a very, very big mistake.

[questionia]

My advice? Tell you son to stay where he's at. If he suffers from depression tell him to get the help he needs. I think what he's feeling is the homesickness he didn't have time for when he was going through his schools. He's in a new place and probably doesn't know too many people yet. Everyone goes through a period of adjustment.

He's clearly motivated if he made it through Air Assault School. Don't let him give up on himself. He can do the right thing (staying in) AND do the right thing by himself and get the help he needs. The two are not mutally exclusive.

You might have to help him as a part of his support system - if he told you he felt like using again would you enable him or tell him to do the right thing?