how late is too late to get out.

[ummidrinkcherrycoke]

I'm a younglife leader who works with highschool senior guys and one of my guys signed up for the Army a couple of months ago as a minor. His parents I guess Signed the contract as well. He now regrets this decision and doesnt want to go. His recruiter says that its too late and that he has no choice.

I was just wondering if that was true. I remember having some friends who signed up and quit before or during basic training but I don't know the details of there situation.

With that said is there any way he can get out of that contract?

 

[old06]

I dont really know if there is a way of backing out there must be a phone number he could call beyond his recuiter. But why the change of heart what is his reason now not to go? How serious was he when he first signed up ?

 

[Glaz]

Its not impossible to back out of the contract, but he'll probably need a lawyer to help him do it.

 

[Shown Much Mercy]

I'm a younglife leader who works with highschool senior guys and one of my guys signed up for the Army a couple of months ago as a minor. His parents I guess Signed the contract as well. He now regrets this decision and doesnt want to go. His recruiter says that its too late and that he has no choice.

I was just wondering if that was true. I remember having some friends who signed up and quit before or during basic training but I don't know the details of there situation.
With that said is there any way he can get out of that contract?

It is very easy to get out of the contract as long as he has not sworn in prior to shipping out. You normally do that the day you leave for basic training and that actually starts your first day of active duty. I have seen it numerous times in the past. I have done it myself to a degree. When I got out of the Marines Corps after four years I joined the Army about six months later. I was supposed to ship out and go straight to Airborne school but on the day I was getting ready to go, I decided that I wanted a different option and duty station. The liason officers and recruiters tried to tell me that I had to ship but I reminded them that I did hometown recruting while in the USMC and that I knew very well that I did not have to ship. I did not ship plus I got my choice duty station and a bonus. Been here since 1999. Good luck

 

[daveleau]

I'm a younglife leader who works with highschool senior guys and one of my guys signed up for the Army a couple of months ago as a minor. His parents I guess Signed the contract as well. He now regrets this decision and doesnt want to go. His recruiter says that its too late and that he has no choice.

I was just wondering if that was true. I remember having some friends who signed up and quit before or during basic training but I don't know the details of there situation.

With that said is there any way he can get out of that contract?

Until he goes to basic, he is not committed. Once he goes to MEPS and swears in on his way to basic training, he is committed to go to training, but he can SIE at any time (self-initiated elimination). I signed a contract for the USMC reserves before going to college. Once I found out that it would conflict with my school dates, I decided to wait and did not go. It was 3 days before going to basic that I told my recruiter over the phone that I was not going. I ended up going in at a later time, albeit not with the USMC (not out of need because of this past "contract" but by choice). The recruiter is just trying to protect his quota.

God bless,
Dave

 

[Orchids]

After the Army nearly killed him in basic, a guy we met got out during basic training. They put them on a long run in hot weather, and one recruit died, and many others passed out. He got out with the help of his parents.

 

[FlyerBoy]

I'm a younglife leader who works with highschool senior guys and one of my guys signed up for the Army a couple of months ago as a minor. His parents I guess Signed the contract as well. He now regrets this decision and doesnt want to go. His recruiter says that its too late and that he has no choice.

I was just wondering if that was true. I remember having some friends who signed up and quit before or during basic training but I don't know the details of there situation.

With that said is there any way he can get out of that contract?

How old was he when he signed? I signed last year to get shipped off to basic training in July. But cause i was under 18 i still have one more paper to sign before basic trainging. I have already been to MEPS and Sworn in. So It depends on age I believe.

 

[daidhaid]

Besides or in addition to contacting an attorney there are a number of organizations who may provide free assistance in various ways. (links upon request)

GI's for Peace
VVAW
Society of Friends, the Quakers
The local news media might take an interest, the last thing a recruiter needs are his problems made public.
And as already mentioned just not swearing in and standing firm.

 

[LostnFound]

I too ended up not going. I was delayed enlistment for 9 months, and when the time came, issues in my life had totally changed the direction of my life. I told my recruiter I couldn't go, and that was the end of that.Until you swear in, at the Meps, and get on that bus, or whatever, you're still a civilian.

 

[Mirelys]

If he has not shipped, it doesn't even matter if he swore in. Whatever his recruiter says, all he needs to do is not show up. For those in training who decide it's not for them, they're fine as long as they have been in for less than 180 days.

In either case, if he changes his mind later, he has to wait two years from the date of his refusal to ship/train before re-enlisting.

Disclaimer: The information about refusal to ship is from a friend who is a recruiter. I learned about the refusal to train while making sure that my discharge was an EPTS (medical condition Existing Prior To Service), and not an ELS (Entry Level Separation, which includes those who refuse to train).

 

[WalksWithChrist]

daveleau and the others are right. I was in DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program) for the Air Force while I was in high school and still a minor and backed out before shipping when I found out after going through MEPS that I had a problem with my color vision that would keep me out of any position that wasn't just a desk job. I wanted to do something technical and all tech positions were summarily closed to me. Anyways, I had to sign a form and I was released. My recruiter informed me that this would bar me from joining the Air Force in the future, but I don't know how true that is. So, yes. If you ain't signed that final paper before shipping out, you can back out. That doesn't mean your friend won't be intimidated by: recruiter, parents, or processors at MEPS. The decision is up to the individual person. No one can make it for them. Hope this helps. = )