Is there anything a friend of mine can do to get out the military early?

Question

I want him to just fight through a few more years, but he's been threatening to cut himself again. If it's any help, he's a Marine. He's been in a year. A few guys have gone UA and I'm worried he's thinking of following in suit.

What happens if he cuts himself. What will they do?

Answer 1

Send him to Canada, we'll take him.

Answer 2

There really isnt. People think they can, but the military (especially the Marines) have all the bases covered. The unfortunate thing about the Corps is that they know he wants out and they should probably let him out, but he signed a contract, and to them, he's a spot on roster justifying a budget. The higher-ups dont care how much of a burden he is to his unit if he's not performing up to par. He can threaten all he wants, chances are he'll be placed under arrest and sent to the Navy head shrinker for a psych eval. He will most likely also be charged for self mutilation. Anything done voluntarily or involuntarily to make yourself unfit for duty is a chargeable offense under military law, if it can be avoided. For example, extreme sunburns are chargeable if you cant go to work. Your friends threats wont be taken lightly by the Marine Corps if he decides to do something to himself. He would most likely end up in a psych ward in the brig, or if he's in theater in Iraq, he can be court martialed and sent to Fort Leavenworth. It's a very unattractive truth, but your friend knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he signed up, so it's not so easy to try to bow out because it's not like he got drafted. There are probably other Marines referred to as "barracks lawers" that are telling him there are loopholes and ways to weasel your way out of the military. The fact is that each case is handled at the discretion of the Judge Advocate General (JAG), and it's not as easy as it sounds to just waltz out of the Marines. During wartime, the punishments are harsher because it endangers other troops. My advice- tell your friend to strap on a set of nuts and do what he signed up for. I joined the Marines under the Clinton administration before 9/11, and never thought I'd have to fight, but I did, and I saw a young guy like your friend blow his own head off becasue he wouldn't help himself. Help is there if you ask the right people, but dont take the easy way out. It goes against the whole purpose of why he signed up in the first place. There's no question that life in the Corps sucks but you just have to force yourself through it. There's a certain honor felt by being a Marine, but you dont appreciate it until after you get out for the most part. I would tell him to go to one of his NCO's, NOT a chaplain or an officer (they're tattle tales), and tell them the truth. The NCO's are the big brothers of the Marine Corps, and they're there to protect the younger Marines. If he doesn't, and he tries to do his own thing, the Marine Corps will make sure he suffers. He's been in a year, the worst is over. He is the first person who he has to convince that this experience is surviveable.

Answer 3

If he's cutting himself for the explicit reason of getting out of the military early--no. As bad as that sounds, a lot of people pull stunts like that.

If he's having genuine problems, however, such as depression, PTSD, or has suicidal tendencies, he needs to tell his unit, talk to the unit chaplain, and get an appointment with the mental health people ASAP. It might be possible that his case is severe enough to warrant an early release; but then again, it might not. Your friend would do well to take every step necessary to pull himself together and fulfill his obligation honorably. It will be better for him in the long run--for his career, for himself, and for his own pride later, when he looks back at his military service.

Answer 4

Go see a Doctor and have the Doctor put his problems in writing. (Cut himself again?) Does the military (Marines) know about this? Then again the Marines most likely don't care one way or another. Going AWOL won't matter. President Carter pardoned all AWOL people back in 1977. (Remember the Vietnam war?) All military men/women who went AWOL were forgiven and so will the Iraqi veterans in the future.

Answer 5

Well if he keeps trying to injure himself, they will eventually comit him to a mental institution.

He's the one that decided to join the military he wasn't forced to join, so he got himself into it so he can grow up and deal with it for a few years.

Trust me it gets better. I've been in the military for 6 years. A few years ago, I wanted to get out, but after my 1.5 year deployment to Iraq, I'm extending my enlistment.

Answer 6

Find out what unit he's in and tell his chain of command he's thinking of cutting himself. If you can't figure out what unit he's in, call the American Red Cross and ask they send a message to his unit. All they need is his name, and if they can't find him they'll need his SSN. Once his unit gets the message, they'll command refer him to mental health. Hopefully during his sessions the doc can figure out what's bothering him so much to make him want to cut himself, or they'll put him out of the military on a mental chapter. Either way, it'll work out.

Answer 7

If he cuts himself he will most likely get sent to a headshrinker and then get a discharge for having a personality disorder. Tell him to quit being a coward and suck it up. He's a grown man its time for him to face his mistakes and work through them.

Answer 8

He could quit or fake a serious mental condition otherwize he'll have to wait and just not re-enlist.

Answer 9

THOSE IDIOTS!!!!!
THEY WILL KICK HIS ASZ OUT IN A HEART BEAT IF THEY KNOW THAT HE CUTS HIM SELF!
yeah its called personality disorder, go tell him to show who ever is in charge and theyll kick him out for sure, but i dont think you should do that because well its dishonorable.

Answer 10

well if he has sex with another guy in a place where he will be caught he will get an automatic out. Maybe he should find a like minded marine and get jiggy with it in the officers mess.

Answer 11

no he needs to finish out his term.