Can you get out of basic training in boot camp?

Question

My son has been injured his first week of boot camp. He is on graduation hold indefinetly. Is there any way he can get out at this point?

I guess I should have mentioned that he has a stress fracture in his heel that he injured his first week of boot camp. He knew what he was getting into.

Answer 1

Yes, he can get out. All he has to do is ask. It's harder to get out once you are at your duty station.

Answer 2

Because you will end up with enough extra work details without volunteering for any during boot camp and you will get selected more for other duties if they feel you want the extra work and duty in the first place! In basic the more you keep your mouth shut, listen and pay attention to the Instructors...the better off you will be and that much farther ahead....the big mouths become a regular name with Drill Sargent's and that is not always a good thing! Do as you are told, do not volunteer for anything, listens, pay close attention to detail, pass the tests and training , graduate and get the hell out of boot camp ASAP!

Answer 3

I got a stress fracture in my foot when I was in basic way back when. I just sucked it up though and kept my mouth shut until after graduation. They gave me 30 days of medical leave after graduation so it had time to properly heal. No, they won't let him out for just a stress fracture, it'd take a lot worse. Even then its like an act of congress. He's most likely pulling cdo, or what ever they call it at basic training, sitting at a desk 16 hours a day answering the phone, yeah I know it sucks, I've been there done that. He could always go back to sick call and ask his doc about convalescent "medical" leave. They can approve up to 30 days, he'll still get paid and it doesn't count against his regular leave. He would have to find and pay for his own way home though. At least he could heal in the comfort of home rather than being stuck there. He'll just get rolled back in another platoon when he gets back and is fully healed. But again, as far as getting out of the army for a stress fracture, isn't gonna happen. Best of luck.

Answer 4

Stress fractures don't take that long to heal. He will probably be kept for a while until he can continue. I had a guy at my Basic Training that had been there almost a year. He had been there longer than most of the drill sergeants. They treated him a lot better than everyone else, and even allowed him to help with the admin issues. If they can't train, they usually aren't going through most of the hell the others are. If that's any comfort... I guess my answer is no. He'll probably be held for at least a while. On the bright side, there is a two-year window for IET in the military (last I checked), so he can't be there any longer than that.

Answer 5

I'm so sorry to hear about this. I know it's torturous to just not know what's going on with him.

He will be evaluated by medical staff who really know stress fractures... they are VERY common in boot camp. If he recovers and they believe he can continue with boot camp, he will pick up where he left off in boot camp, with a new platoon. If they believe he won't ever be able to handle all the marching , running, and hiking required, they will medically discharge him. This could be a long process though.

What he needs from you right now is a LOT of encouragement. Letters. Cards. Tell him how proud you are of him and how you know he'll heal quickly and get dropped in to a new platoon... Keep him motivated. Being in medical can get depressing, because the whole focus of boot camp is to keep moving forward until graduation... The delays can be frustrating and disheartening. Time to be his cheerleader, Mom!!

If he's in Marine Corps Boot, the BEST place for you to go for advice, information, and support is http://www.marineparents.com Login and go to the RECRUIT message boards... there are threads specifically for parents with recruits in medical... and a lot of other threads that will teach you all about Boot Camp and the process of becoming a Marine. I'm sorry to say I don't know of a similar site for the other branches of our military.

Best of luck to you... As we Marine Moms like to say... Cry on your own time... and Semper Gumby... (Always flexible)... With a son in the military, you'll learn these lessons quickly... You'll find its what HE needs you to do so he can stay strong...

Answer 6

I personally knew several soldiers who were injured in training in basic training and afterward at other posts.
One was discharged dead. Two lost limbs and were discharged afterward. Everyone else from broken bones,
flash burns, to concussion went on light duties until heal process permitted entry into next available training cycle.
Your issue swore an oath to enter the Armed Forces.
There is no wiggle room. It is time to soldier.

Answer 7

There are a couple of ways he can get out, however the quickest way will be to heal and finish boot camp. Hope he gets better soon.

Answer 8

Since it's only his first week, and you didn't specify the injury perhaps he's just having cold feet? We all go thru it. I had it the first two weeks. I had strep throat and bronchitis. I stuck it out.
Glad I did and he will be too.
Usually the Army Doc he sees will make a determination of his status and either hold him in Sick Quarters or recycle him.
If he is not fit for service, they will tell him.

Answer 9

he will have to go before a Med Board. Only if they determine that it will take longer than a few months to heal, or it will not heal will he be released.

In some cases, they actually only send you home to convalesce, but you still have to go back and attend when you are medically cleared.

Answer 10

He will be recycled after he heals from the fracture.

I dislocated my ankle around my 14 week of infantry training and was put in another unit at week 14 when I healed.

Answer 11

He can, but the degree of difficulty in that effort depends on where he is. So, he hurt his foot in the first week, the got to the point of graduation before they put him on hold?