UPDATED 10:38 p.m., March 27, 2008: I have removed the name of the soldier mentioned in the news article as he requested me to do so in the comments.
This story concerns me on many levels, but I’m not going to talk about any of that. Instead I’m hoping and praying that either **** or one of his family members will google his name and find this post. I’m going to write the rest of this post as an open letter to ****, but it is really written for any 17 year old young man or women who might have second thoughts about joining but feel obligated because they took an oath.
****, I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but I have had the pleasure of knowing many young men and women who are your age, or a year or two older. The young men and women I have known are servicemembers who have called me (I’m an attorney who helps soldiers with military discharges) because they want to get out of the military.
I know you probably won’t believe me until you’re there, but the military is hard, hard place to be. You’re dad is an officer, but you will be enlisted, and believe me it sucks, bad. You will be treated like you are lower than pond scum by your drill sergeants and you have already been lied to by your recruiter and others.
But worst of all, you are signing up to participate in a war with no meaning and purpose. Even if you only serve stateside, you will still be participating in the machine and playing a part in a system that has over 4000 American GI’s so far, and over 100,000 Iraqi civilians.
I don’t say all of this to make you feel guilty, but I do want you to know all of the ramifications of your decision. If you decide to continue on and stay in the military, then do it, but do it in a thoughtful manner.
And if you change your mind, you can still change your mind. The news story doesn’t tell this, but I’m guessing that you are going into the split option program (where you go to basic training this summer, go back to high school for one more year, and then do you advanced training in the summer after that).
Under the regs, before you go to Basic training, you can request that your basic training seat be canceled, and the recruiting command HAS to honor your request. Here’s what the regs say… “(1) Enlisted members in the DTP status may request to have their training reservations canceled based on personal reasons or the unit may request that a soldier’s reservation be canceled.
See USAREC 601-95, section 3-3(a)(1) – PDF download
And if you do go to Basic training but decide to get out before advance training, you have the right to do that, and the military has to give you a discharge. see AR 630-10, section 5-2
I know you might feel guilty about “breaking your oath,” but you shouldn’t. You have a right under the law request a discharge under these circumstances. You did make a commitment to the military, but the military has an obligation to you as well. If you decide to go to college, get a job, or do something else besides joining the military, that is your right. Your life is precious and important. If you decide you don’t want to be in the military, know that you are not alone and that many would be there supporting you.
Best wishes,
James
P.S. If you need help with anything or have any questions about the procedures of seeking a discharge, contact the GI Rights Hotline. They are good folks who can help you work your way through the red tape.
HEY!
Do the world a favor.. if u dont support people signing up for the military keep it to yourself. Dont rob this young man of his dreams by posting online that hes wrong. Freedom of speach is a wonderful thing, but at the same time the right to defend ones country is too!
I’m only telling him he has options. I’ve talked to dozens (probably 100-200) of young 17, 18, and 19 year olds who regret very much joining and who want help getting out.
Also, how am I “robbing him of his dreams”? If he wants to join, I’m not going to stop him. I just want him to know that he is not stuck if he changes his mind. Why is that you don’t want this young man to know about his options?
Listen sir, i understand your concern for a young man being pushed into service to “follow the footsteps of his father.” That is not the situation here. I AM ENLISTING FOR MYSELF! my dad did not join as an officer he enlisted and didn’t get to become an officer for nearly 5 years afterwards. So to this concerned attorney, mind your own business and leave me, my family, and this news story alone. thank you kindly
Hi Recruit,
I appreciate you telling your side of the story. It sounds like you’ve thought it through well.
My concern is that I work with a lot of people who also are sure that the military is the right thing for them, but they later change their mind and think they can’t get out, when they actually can.
If the military turns out to be great experience for you, great.
If it doesn’t, then call the GI Rights hotline for help.
Either way it is your choice, and I just want to make sure you know that you still able to change your mind despite what your recruiter might tell you.
Also if you haven’t seen it yet, I would encourage you to look at this website…
http://www.quakerhouse.org/documents/enlist.html
The website features a cartoon of “Sgt. Abe, the Honest Recruiter” who explains the nature of the military enlistment contract.
First of all this young man should be the poster child for “why” to serve in our military. If someone signs up and then wants out thats well within their right, however this young man has always made good desisions about certain things in his life. As a member of the family in which Seth is apart of I am proud not only of him as person but as an american. Shame on you for trying to become famous off of someone who has integrity and respect because it is clear to me that you have none. Therfore you have no right to say anything about him in anyway, shape, or form. It is an honor to serve in the armed forces of this country and I am extreamly proud of Lt. Col. Duppont, my uncle, and seth. Respect go’s a long way in life. Go out and find some before the next time you insult men and women who are proud of what this country stands for.
Hi Derek,
I’m sorry if I offended you or our family. Nowhere in my post did I attack Recruit’s decision. I did want him (and others like him) to know that he is legally not bound to stay in the military, unless he wants to.
I very much respect the members of the military and I take offense at you saying otherwise. Please re-read what I posted. Did I ever attack the individual members of the military, Recruit, or his father?
No.
And as for my motives, I wanted Recruit to know he has options. I try to talk everyone young person I can who is signing up and tell them the same way. Since Recruit’s story was in the media, I thought it would be an easy way to reach out to him since I assumed that folks might google his name.
I understand that this is a very touchy subject and I really do mean no offense. I hope and pray that if Recruit stays in the military, that he has a good experience and is able to serve his country with honor.
sir, this entire post has gone out f control. being an attorney you must be well learned in the ramafications of using a person’s name without permission. thank you for thinking of me and providing information to me, even if it has no affect on my decision, however, i would appreciate it if you removed this website from the internet. if this website is not removed i will contact my lawyer and we will discuss my legal rights on the subject. and for the record, you are not my lawyer. please remove this website, it has caused nothing but arguments in my house and family since you did me the favor of posting it. thank you kindly
Legally when you allowed yourself to be in the press, you became a public figure. While you have the right of privacy, you waived it when you went public with your enlistment. (over 60 news outlets ran your story according to Google news)
That said, as a courtesy to you, I’ll remove your name from the post. I will not take down the post though, and I will not take down the link to the news article.
I also went ahead and changed your name in the comments to be “recruit” instead of your real name. After a day or two passes, I don’t think Google will pick up this post.
Take care and good luck.
I just completed BCT Aug 14 08. I am split option in my senior year. Can I quit?
Hi Shane,
You can definitely quit.
Feel free to call me or email me (my contact info is at http://www.girightslawyer.com) or you can contact the Oklahoma GI Rights Hotline at (405) 231-1138 or at http://www.okgirightshotline.org.
JMB