PLEASE DONT JUDGE ME WITHOUT HAVING WALKED IN MY SHOES... Army NCO'S please help a fellow NCO in need!!!?

Question

I am a US soldier been in the Army for 6 years

to make story short I am getting discharge from it under general conditions because of my sexual orientation.... I never came out to my commander or even discussed my sexuality with any one, I totally lived by the dont ask dont tell......

A sad event in my life caused my commander to know about my orientation and being confronted with physical evidence I couldnt deny it.

Being horribly scared, not knowing what to do lead me to a path of depression and I was just informed that the type of discharge I will receive will be under general conditions.

I was a bit relieved but I heard a fellow NCO say that if u dont have an honorable discharge u can kiss ur dreams of being anything in life good bye

basically I was told with my type of discharge I'll have to flip burgers at mcdonalds for the rest of my life

is this true?

Will my life be destroyed because of the general discharge for being a L*****n?

please help me, I am still in the Army so YES I am a proud NCO that lives by the army values!!

Answer 1

I don't think many people that didn't serve themselves would know the difference as long as you weren't given a dishonorable you should be fine.

But honestly if it were me I would fight it.. it should be honorable. It sounds like they are trying to get rid of you and deny you your benefits at the same time.

Answer 2

a GUH is not a career killer.  

Answer 3

The other NCO is way off base.  Stupid, actually.  You can still be plenty successful, as successful as you want to be even with a general discharge under honorable conditions.   This is just a thought;  you can check with the other service's recruiters and see if you can join their branch and maybe not loose a stripe either.  Perhaps you can continue to serve in the Army Reserve or National Guard.  

During out processing confirm that you still have the GI Bill.

Once out, start the process with the Army Board of Appeals to have your discharge changed to Honorable.  It may not happen but go for it.  

Your attitude is outstanding and your commander made a real mistake.  Good luck, soldier.  

Answer 4

Have they discharged you yet?  If you are dishonorably discharged for being L*****n I think the US Army would be probably discharging alot of individuals.  And because they are going into Afghanistan right now it seems they would need good soldiers about now!  Good luck sweetheart and God bless.  Hope things work out.  And if you get a college education upon your discharge there is no need you have to flip burgers.  But actually there are alot of educated people doing that right now!  

Answer 5

wow...thats really messed up. sorry i cant help but i hope you get some good answers and i really hope that is not the case, it would be pretty crappy if so

good luck

Answer 6

Hmm good question.

But no I do not believe your life is ruined. If it's general you should be ok. If your future employers ask it might be best to tell them you are bi though if it's not public record. Lots of homophobs out there. I know if I were hiring I would care a less what your sexual prefferance is.

Now if you lets say, slapped your commander, or did something illegal then it would be a problem. But being a L*****n, in the civilian world is not a problem.

Wouldn't worry too much about it =)

Answer 7

You will get a general discharge under honorable conditions. You don't lose any veterans' benefits from this and there is no "flag" on it for future employers. The only thing you lose under law is the right to wear an Honorable Discharge pin in your lapel and I haven't seen one of those "ruptured duck" pins in over three decades. You keep your G.I. bill for both education and home purchasing.

As a  retired Navy officer I thank you for serving your nation and want you to know how sorry I am for the circumstances that are leading to your being discharged. Good luck in the future.  

Answer 8

IT can be contested. Question is, do you want to go at it.

You can request a transfer.

An officer cannot make a decision just because w/o speaking with the 1st Sergeant or a CSM... 1st.

Answer 9

My friend was in the British Army and discharged by own request for the same reason even tho she was a Cpl and ready for the third stripe.

she worked for a large shopping chain and became the Manager Of a Large Service Station with a crew of 25 and good wages

Most employers Don't care as long as you can do the job the sky is the limit I would employ you without hesitation and I am a Straight Male

although i don't know how People in USA think

I really hope this cheers you up Retired Warrant Officer Royal Australian Air Force

Answer 10

Your discharge status, as long as it's not dishonorable, or less than general conditions will not affect your civilian life like it would in previous times.  You may ask for your discharge to be upgraded after five years' separation.  You must go to your Congressman to get this done.  However, you won't receive your Veterans' benefits until you get your status upgraded.  Besides, you might just end up with a management position at Micke D's, which is a pretty good postition in life, considering the bonuses and promotions available to you there...

Answer 11

I believe a general discharge will become an honorable one after a few years.  If you got a dishonorable discharge, your screwed.