US Army for Dumbos: Discharges: Unless you die or run away to a far away country, you will be discharged, one way or the other.Characterizations simplified: Honorable (Go or Passing Grade):"A" Honorable"B" Under Honorable ConditionsNeutral (Go or Passing Grade, but by the slimmest margin)"C" General Discharge with no characterizationDishonorable (No Go or Failing Grade):"D" Less the Honorable "F" Dishonorable How to avoid bad characterization?If you have already gotten into trouble, you must serve 6--six years to achieve a fully "A" Honorable Discharge, even if your re--enlistment code will be "0" or "we will not call you back even if a million troops of the Red Chinese Army has already landed within one kilometer from the White House." Example of how not to act:In the barracks, the upper echelon may put pressure on you (example: Major Clay threatening three soldiers who came back from Afghanistan injured and who, by talking amongst themselves, were spreading rumors about how cowardly was their Company's CO; I want to assure you that among commanders neither from HHC "Head Hunters, " nor from Alpha/Apache also known as Alphatraz there were no cowards. I do not remember which of the other two companies that was, and I do not want to remember...I believe that the situation was resolved amicably; the three soldiers got transferred and as long as they faked respect, saluted, their former commander, Mr. Clay left them alone), in the war zone, they may put even more pressure on you plus it is easier to play with your head (it is hard to think straight when you get stabbed in the back). This is what happened to my wife's distant friend.He did agree to a 4-year extension on top of initial 4 years.He went AWOL as of 5th year, and was gone!They caught him, put him in jail, and hooked him up with Dishonorable: Less--then--Honorable Discharge.He should have been shrewd!He should not have told anyone except his SGT or SSG (one person only!) that he wants to get out (no details; just "I want to get out."). Most SGT's or SSG's would help him, since he was deployed and otherwise a good soldier: they rather that he gets out and possibly comes back than to loose him forever.When a situation occurred, SSG Oravsky has done the same for me. Thank you! “Doctor”“Ski” D.A.D.” SPC “Ski” SPC Robert Kolakowski (Elizabeth, NJ)At the time, he was my Squad Leader, and later, my last P.S.They would most likely make him wait until the end of the sixth year of service to make double certain that he gets Honorable: (fully) Honorable discharge, an “A.” Unless, you have a way of escaping to a none--NATO and non—Middle Eastern state, do not run away!What if you ran away to Australia?They will not ask for you!For two reasons:-1) too much money and effort;-2) this would mean that you not just fed up with the military, but with the USA and the Northern Hemisphere; they do not need you, not even in the stockade.
Posted by vincovitanj
at 5:50 AM EDT
