Can a recruiter be spiteful???

Question

I do not want to to be in the national guard any longer, havent left for boot camp yet and my recruiter is really pissed that ive made this decision..he has threatened to make it a living h**l for me to get out..can get a dishonorable discharge although i havent left yet...

THIS QUESTION ONLY PERTAINS IN NATIONAL GUARD! PLEASE ANSWER ONLY IF YOU KNOW BY 'FACT'!!

Answer 1

The ANG is different than the DEP Program, in the DEP your 1st Oath is possible to get out, fairly unscathed, but in the ANG your 1st Oath is IT.. you are in, and Drilling, and Earning immediately... no, he is telling the truth, you may get a less than desired result. He spent time on you, the Unit has spent time, and money, on you, and you think they are being spiteful? You took an Oath, doesn't your word mean anything? You are giving up many things, but the most important isn't the money, nor the Education benefits, nor the training... the most important thing you are giving up is your Credibility.

Answer 2

. He went through a lot of paperwork-----to get you in, and now you say you don't want to go. I cannot see him being overjoyed to hear this.

Ever play Army Baseball???  Perhaps someone will  enlighten you.



Dishonorable discharge? No.

Answer 3

If you are in the DEP (Delayed Entry Program), you can still get out without ANY type of discharge cause you really have never been in yet!

However, the recruiter wants to make it somewhat difficult to get out because:  

1)  They found someone that qualified (YOU)

2)  They found someone that they think has potential (YOU)

3)  They have quota's / schedules to fill and you have one of the slots

4)  And a lot of people get nervous about the final moments before they ship!

What are your reasons to get out?

If you have a solid / legitimate reason to get out (family emergency, offered a career, found some way to pay for college) I would seek to do what your doing.  Ask to talk to the recruiters officer (not his senior enlisted).  This person should be the rank of Captain or Major.  State that you want to talk to this person IN PERSON!  Explain your reasoning and also that you didn't like the professionalism of the recruiter.

Answer 4

If you have taken only the first oath, NOT the second one (taken at MEPS just before you leave), you CANNOT get a dishonorable discharge as technically you are not a part of the military.

However, if you ever want to enlist in another branch, it may be difficult - few recruiters will want to work with you if it looks like you've wasted another recruiter's time by backing out at the last minute.

EDIT: Whoops.  I, too, just did additional research (I'm AD, not ANG) - and as someone said above, there's only one oath.  You'll get an entry-level separation - technically it's not a dishonorable discharge, though.

Answer 5

In the national guard, even though you have not shipped to basic, you are already considered in the military because you go to drills.  you could get out, but it won't be a living h**l, you would get an entry level separation, basically saying you can't hack it in the military (whether that's true or not that's up to you).  Entry Level Separation is not a dishonorable discharge so don't you worry.

Answer 6

if you've signed the contract, then it will be h**l getting out, and you will not do so with an honorable discharge.  this is a game for big kids; you can't just change your mind.

Answer 7

In any active duty armed forces, two oaths are required, but in the reserves, only one. if you have taken your first oath, you're in.

Answer 8

If you are still in the delayed entry program (DEP) and haven't taken your final oath yes you can leave at any time with no repercussions.  Recruiters are in a bind trying to meet quotas - this is a real stressful time of the year for them as the end of the fiscal year is coming up.  

EDIT:  I stand corrected (I'm active duty) - here it is from the national guard.

This is the case with the active component, but not with the Army National Guard. Because the Guard is a dual-status component (both state and federal), once you swear the oath, you are indeed "in." That's why our new Soldiers drill for pay at RSP prior to shipping to Basic, and can draw Federal Tuition Assistance, and other benefits. That's also why the active component is looking into a procedure whereby someone wanting to get on active duty would first enlist into the local Guard unit for a few months, drill with the RSP, then ship to active duty.

My recommendation for the original poster "Matt" is that he very carefully weighs and considers the implications of an entry-level separation. Take a look at the many messages on this forum to the effect of, "Ten years ago I enlisted, then got an entry-level separation. I now realize how dumb I was, and want to get back in." Because such individuals are considered "glossary non-prior service" (a regulatory category meaning that you joined but never completed your initial obligation) they are ineligible for a bonus until they complete their original obligation. Additionally, they are far behind on their career and retirement points than they would have been had they stayed in.

By no means do I claim that everyone should be in the Guard, or that everyone in the Guard should stay -- as a Recruiter, some of my worst experiences dealt with certain individuals I kept out of the Guard; as a unit commander, some of my best experiences were helping Soldiers transition out. My concern (based on encounters on this forum and in the field) is that the individual do what he's doing for the right reasons, and consider the long-term costs as well as any short-term benefits. Actions you take today will have lifelong impacts, and often in unpredictable ways.

Answer 9

This isn't just a National Guard question, actually. This can happen with anyone. If you haven't gone to boot camp, you don't actually need to go. Even if you've signed something, you don't have to do it. They can't dishonorably discharge you because you don't rate a dishonorable discharge. You don't even rate a discharge because you haven't spent a single day in training.

Ask your recruiter for his superior's number. Get ahold of...no, better yet, have your MOM or DAD contact your recruiter's commanding officer. This will put it to a stop right away.