Trying to Understand How This Could Happen!!!

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Permalink Reply by Gefyon on November 12, 2009 at 2:43pm

If you are saying the recruiter told her lie about a medical condition, all I can say is she should have known better.

Just because someone in authority tells you to lie, doesn't mean you should.

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Permalink Reply by my military mary on November 12, 2009 at 2:57pm

Well when you have someone telling you how to answer questions and that this what will help her get in quicker she was doing what she was told by someone she (trusted) She was up front with the recruiter and told him everything and why in gods name do you think it is ok for him to tell her to lie in the first place? Do you not think he holds some responsiblility for his actions? She is not alone this happens all the time.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa (Tucson) on November 12, 2009 at 3:21pm

I do not think the intent of the recruiter was to cause a medical discharge for your daughter. Just the opposite, these recruiters meet with young people who desperately want in the Navy. They are trying to get these young people in the Navy and making a judgement call as to whether or not their prior medical condition will prohibit that. I'm sorry your daughter had to go through what she did. I hope her medical condition does not keep her from serving her country. Had her recruiter told the truth, she wouldn't have even made it to MEPS. Our recruiters need to learn not to be so compassionate with our sons/daughters and let them know up front if they have a medical condition that will keep them from serving their country, let's deal with the bad news to begin with and not even start the enlistment process.

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Permalink Reply by Anti M on November 12, 2009 at 3:19pm

I suppose the first step is to not to lie. It goes both ways in my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by my military mary on November 12, 2009 at 3:46pm

She was up front with her recruiter about (past) medical history and he told her how to answer qusetions at MEPS spec. and he told her how to answer all question at MEPS to make it where she could go then she gets to GL and you get to Moment of Truth and bam guess what she gets scared it hits the fan so I hold the recruiters partly to balme. Your right she does know right from wrong that why she said something when she did I hope she is not the only one punished.

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Permalink Reply by Achseh on November 12, 2009 at 7:48pm

She lied. She knew she lied which is why she got scared at the "Moment of truth". Lying to enlist is a fraudulent enlistment. She should be glad she's not being charged with the felony that it is. The recruiter is a piece of you know what, but ultimately she's an adult and knows right from wrong.

If he had told her that jumping off a bridge would get her enlisted, would she do it?

Lesson to you moms--do NOT allow your children to lie to enlist. If it's wrong, it's wrong. Do NOT trust the recruiters 100%, they are not your best friends and they do not look out for your best interests. Do your homework always and know the truth.

I'm sorry this has happened. I know what you are going through. Hopefully she will be able to work this out but don't hold your breath.

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Permalink Reply by intheknow on November 13, 2009 at 9:53am

I have a couple of questions/commenst on this issue.

Did your daughter experience some sort of medical problem in bootcamp that brought this "lie" to the surface?

If she was experiencing problems in bootcamp and she recieved an RE-8 discharge she isn't being prevented from serving her country. She is however being "benched" for a period of time that should allow the problem to resolve so she can try again when she is ready to train.

Serving your country isn't a right. It is an opportunity for those who are fully qualified - medically, legally, morally, mentally, physically.

There are millions of GREAT Americans out there who will never be able to serve their country through the military because of medical or other issues. However, they serve in many other areas and we should always be mindful of their service. The Goodwill workers at the RTC galley's are great examples. Many are hearing impaired or have some other diability that prevents them from joing the military - yet they get up every morning, put a uniform on and go to work to provide nutritious meals to the recruits. Great Americans who found a way to serve their country in the capacity they are qualified to serve.

What part process of getting dischraged from the Navy do you want changed? My goodness it only takes about 2-3 weeks on average to process them out. That isn't an unreasonable time. What is it about the seps process that has you so upset?

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Permalink Reply by my military mary on November 13, 2009 at 12:54pm

untill you go through what they go through you will never know and if you want discuss the pain and torment these kids go through we can the truth is what needs to come out I am glad she tells me what happens there maybe your children dont but mine does and I DO understand breaking down and building them up my father was where she is 40 years ago my uncle and my great uncle and my grandfather is a retiree and my dad weeps over what has and what goes on with the kids its illegal and they steal from them I can go on and will when she gets home I am however very surprised she still wants to server her country who has done such to her. Its moraly wrong our own soldiers whom I love and I am so proud of are jailed for how they are traied in bootcamp someone has to speak if we cant trust the recruiters 100% like I have been told who can we trust no one but ourselves. So when you know the things that happen in SEPS 3 weeks is along time to process them out when tax payers are footing the bill, pushing paper if its medical send them home the military wont take care of them so let their parents or let them take care of themselves. You must not know how or what really goes on in that nice 90 million dollar place that looks so good on the internet. feel free to reply I'v been mad for days and she has been hurt by the Navy for weeks. Its not all her fault she is taking her part she not leaving volentary.

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Permalink Reply by Arwen on November 13, 2009 at 11:30am

Many people enter the Navy lying about something, especially for medical stuff. I didn't tell them about my history of asthma when I joined because I knew it was very unlikely to give me problems (mild childhood asthma that went away) and it was a disqualifier. I was right, I had no problems. Similarly, my BIL also lied about his asthma and about his allergies. He managed to do a full 20 years in the Navy and retired as a Senior Chief.

But I also knew those who were caught and discharged.

Yes, the lie happens. Telling the truth keeps you out, period. Telling the lie give you a chance, but there is also a chance you will be caught in your lie. If that happens you have to take the consequences.

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Permalink Reply by Anti M on November 13, 2009 at 11:54am

My recruiter thought he was getting me to lie about drug use (you've only tried marijuana fives times or less, yes? wink wink?). What was funny was I didn't use drugs at all! He did not believe me. I had mild asthma, but didn't know it. I did know when I was around my dope smoking friends my lips turned blue and I wheezed, but I never made the asthma connection until I was diagnosed years after separating from the Navy. It was never much of a problem, once I was active duty I quit hanging around the druggies.

I do agree the recruiters should quit suggesting the recruits bend the truth, there are so many qualified applicants these days it makes no sense.

But unless there was a witness sitting in the room, it becomes he said she said, and the recruiter is not the one who is going to pay the price. Not saying that's right, just that's what it is right now. I can foresee recorded conversations in the future.

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Permalink Reply by my military mary on November 13, 2009 at 12:58pm

I guess it was a good thing I was in the room with her then and her dad was to. I can see your point the medical problem is mild headaches and the Navy excludes women for them and because she has not been off meds long enough they are discharging her except with fraud. because of the lie were going to JAG.

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Permalink Reply by Achseh on November 14, 2009 at 12:48pm

Hopefully she'll get someone sympathetic to her plight and get a discharge that doesn't mention the fraudulent enlistment charge. Technically it's a correct charge, but she might get someone who knows that these recruiters sometimes get the enlistees to lie and will take pity on her to get a discharge that doesn't mention anything fraudulent.

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