HELP PLEASE! I got discharged for fraudulent enlistment while in boot camp. How can others find out?

Question

I had a medical condition that YES, I told my recruiter about- she told me to lie (yes she used those exact words). I really wanted to do something selfless with my life but due to the condition I just couldn't hack in in boot camp. I was discharged after six weeks, an uncharacterized early term separation. Will this be on some kind of record? If so what kind of record. FBI? I have no other issues that could be on records but I am very worried about this as I am about to get a new job and they do an extensive background check on new hires. I never told them I was in the military because I do not consider myself to have been in. I did a criminal records check on myself and nothing came up but I am still worried. Is there anyway this could come back to haunt me? Can others find out and how? If they can, what exactly can they find out, how much info will be there? Is there a way to get this cleared from my record? Please help! -especially those in the military. Thank you so much

Answer 1

For your own peace of mind, you should be straight-up honest with any potential employer. Otherwise you'll live in fear for the rest of your life.

If the facts are exactly as you stated them here, I doubt that any employer would hold that against you. Uncharacterized discharges are given to those who fail to complete 180 days of service for any number of reasons, including those who just change their mind part way through basic training. You say that you were trying to do the right thing, but it didn't work out. Tell them that.

Get this out of the way now so that you can sleep nights in the future.

Answer 2

First of all, get out your DD214. I believe it's Copy 4 that has the bottom section with the actualy code that you were discharged under. Your RE (re-entry) code is probably a 2 or a 4, which means it's non-waiverable, you can't go back into the service.

Check the chapter from AR 635-200 under which you were discharged and then check out the link below. That will tell you exactly what you were discharged for. On page 45 an Uncharacterized Discharge is explained.

As for job applications, I don't think any harm will come from ommitting your short amount of service time. Technically you never made it 180 days, so you didn't really qualify as a soldier. Make sense? If you want to include it, you can and explain what happened.

Make your own decision. It's your life, but at least study up on the process you went through so you understand it in order to explain it.

Good luck!

-Tig

Answer 3

From what I know, you cannot get this information stricken from your federal record. If you applied for another government job they would probably be able to pull up your information.

In the civilian world the employer can ask for your DD-214 (Discharge Papers). If your discharge was "other than honorable" than you want to file an appeal to change it to honorable. Any employer with basic knowledge of the military will know that "other than honorable" is not the most desirable way to separate from the service. As far as your medical information goes, that is not open to the public, nor can an employer discriminate against you for a pre-existing condition. Happy job hunting!

By the way, recruiters are notorious for lying. Mine told me to lie about a number of things and luckily my "fibs" were never brought to the light of day.

MST3 cerF
USCG

Answer 4

An uncharacterized discharge is exactly that. Uncharacterized. It is neither positive or negative. Because the discharge is only given to those who those in Basic or Advanced Training, many people have them.

It shouldn't reflect on you in a negative way in any job, except possibly, government service. (And even then, only if it requires some level of security clearance.)

I doubt seriously that you can remove it from the your records, but perhaps you can apply to have the discharge upgraded to "General, under honorable conditions." You can apply to a board to have this done, and I have attached a link with the necessary form.

http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/dd0293.pdf

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

It cannot be stricken. Other's have tried to pull the same stunt, and gotten caught just as you have. It would only be a major issue of you are trying for a Federal job. otherwise, you can tell the truth..you had a medical condition that prevented you finishing boot camp.

and to any lurkers out there who think It's okay to lie about ANYTHING in order to get into the military: Guess what, you will get caught just like this person did. Ultimately, it is on YOU to disclose the truth, no matter what your recruiter may say. your recruiter won't get into trouble ..YOU WILL, unless you can prove without a doubt that they gave you poor advice and told you to lie.. which is damn near impossible BTW.

Answer 6

Hey, that's ok. I know that certain things are on your public record but most employer will not look at that. They will look to see if you are a child molester. They may ask where you were for the last ----- months that you were in boot camp. The best thing is to be honest.
On the great side there is going to be nuclear war over by the Euphrates River and you probably would have been sent there so smile you're in the US and they will be the last to be bombed.

Sept, 12,2006 NUCLEAR WAR STARTING, not the end of people, starting.

Check this site out: http://www.lastdayswarning.clearwire.net/

Answer 7

i dont think hes got any problem, i think an entry level seperation would be the same thing as failing an entrance physical, he wasnt in long enough to qualify for a specific discharge. nobody has to, or will ever know he even enlisted, unless he tells them. i think even the army wont disclose that fact because even if records are kept ive read news stories where the army refuses to confirm basic service and this is for political candidates, i know guys who got dd and it didnt harm their careers anyway

Answer 8

what was the nature of your discharge? There are a number of reasons you get discharged but depending on which one you got it may or may not be on your records.
If it was simply a honorable then you shoudl be fine but if it was another kind you may have to worry about trying to get a goverment job.

Answer 9

Thanks for your service even though it didn't work out. I appreciate your willingness to serve this great country. Anyway, moving on..I'd be reporting that suck a$$ recruiter first! She's supposed to advise you, and lead you, and she failed. Report her a$$! There is no reason she should get away with this. I'll bet she's done this before. REPORT HER.

Answer 10

Why don't you just apply for your new job, and see what happens? Honesty's the best policy, if they ask u about it, tell em what happened.