Wow, the things people don't know.

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Seems like every day I find out something I didn't know about my situation and whats going on. So many people, even doctors and lawyers have been wrong when they tell me whats going on.


I'm about to get out of the army (I think, I'm waiting on some paperwork that will confirm it). Every day it seems like I get bad news about it. Today I found out from a friend whose getting out for the same thing that it actually states on your DD214 (army release paper work that you've got to show to people when you apply for a job) that I have a personality disorder (doesn't say what just says personality disorder).


I don't think it will effect my current career prospects. I plan on working for my grandpa's company (long story, I'll just say he offered me a job that under current conditions looks really nice). Its just kind of a low blow right now. My dad along with one of my brothers has been telling me that by getting out this way I'm making a huge mistake and I'm throwing my life away.


Everyone seems to have their own opinion on what I should do and they all love putting their two cents in. A lot of people are telling me I'm throwing my life away, other people are telling me their paranoid or that in a few years when I may be allowed to re-enlist I'll come running back to the army after I see how bad the civilian world is (I'll say in all honesty I'd rather die, and if my life gets that bad I'll probably die before I even get to those two years after I get out).


I'm dead set on getting out of the army. But what if they are right, what if having these two words on my DD214 will make it impossible for me to get a good job? What if this is it, this current horrid state of life is the best I will ever know. If thats true I'll become an outlaw, whether it be a bandit, dealer, or a pimp. May sound crazy but I'm serious, theres gotta be a better life then this.


All I want out of life is a reasonable job, to work with reasonable people, to be able to go home to either a house or apartment, and a few spare hours a day to continue my writings which I hope one day will be published. I haven't given up on the prospect of finding love, but I've lived this long without love or worse loving people that don't love you back (I figure if I've lived this long without love its not a pre-requisite to living). Aside of those things financial stability, I don't really feel like I'm asking for much. But everyone seems to tell me that these simple things are only a pipe dream for me. I don't know, life seems to have it in for me. I've been getting the short end of the stick for a long time now.

That sounds really terrible. I don't know if it'll affect your chances of getting a job. I'm only 15, but I think it wouldn't really change it for the worse.

Aright, I JUST went through this process with the USAF(6 months ago). It is a little difficult getting a job but it can be done. Remember, if this is a mental disorder discharge, it is prolly administrative, NOT MEDICAL. It will most likly be a honorable discharge. If you've been in long enough and signed up for the gi bill, after a year of paying into it, it's yours as long as you have an honorable discharge.

The Va will be available for you and you can put in a claim to be reviewed for disability benefits. There should be a service clerk somewhere near your base that works for veterans to get thier claim into the va and reviewed. If your disorder affects you enough, you may be rated for disabilty to help with income.

You have a few options in the carear path. You can go to school and get a degree towards a job, or you can try to get in the career field you're in with the army. You can also try to start entry level somewhere like home depot or best buy, and work your way up. Remember, you're a veteran if you're honorably discharged. It means something to corporations. Shows you've been in a structured work forced, learned teamwork and discipline(honarable discharge of course). Hell, they could even realize your needs and make your job more comfortable(depending on your diagnosis).

Lifes not over, it just may be a little more difficult. You could always be a delivery driver for a pizza hut or domino's. They USUALLY make good money in every CITY. Ever need some help or advice, just ask.

Thanks for servin our country man, doesnt matter if you didnt make it through a term.You did what most of our country wont even consider, protect it.

Passion Patience and Perseverance.

Thank you for your service to our nation and good luck in all your endeavors.

Iruka,

Look, they don't live your life. Also, they don't know the future any more than YOU do. So what if you can't live their life? All this "going on your permanant record" crap is what they tell children. Remember the progress they have made in diagnosis in just the last twenty years, and think that later the personality disorder can be amended to what the DSM V will say about it.

I became the outlaw you were talking about. I am not dead, yet. But you know, when I am on my death bed, I will have no regrets, none! I am unique and need to do what I have to do. And isn't that the measure of a man?

I wish you the absolute best. You are no cog in a gear, you are not cannon fodder. There is a bigger world out there to be forever cowed by what other people will think.
Work for your grandpa, get some education and then get out there and see what else there is besides the United States of America.

I watch people on this chatter being suckered into the normal life when we aren't normal, we are different. There are different rules for us, and no one GIVES you rights. . you take them.

Buck up, son. this is just the start.

Merle

_____________________________
In this world of froth and bubble, two things stand like stone
kindness in another's trouble, courage in your own.

Your welcome, I'm surprised to hear that someones actually thankful even though I didn't serve out my contract. Most people around here just call me a p**** for not fullfilling it (Then again these are the same people that make fun of the fact that my moms in a mental hospital and part of the reason why I'm so admant about getting out of the army is because I want to help her). I will be getting an honorable discharge, I went to legal and they gave me a statement in writing saying that.
I plan on going to the VA soon, I want to file a claim for this not really sure how that will work out. I got a friend with PTSD and he's saying that nows the time to go to the VA. He said recently there was a huge scandal with veterans not being taken care of and the whole system is being overhauled. Don't really care if I get money or not just glad to be getting out. They said sometime within the next week I'll know for sure, if it happens I'll be a lot more active around here (I had a job before I joined the army but I still had a lot more free time).

Edit: To Sins Boldly: That sounds very interesting, I'd like to hear about it sometime. You know, I like this place... People are just so much more understanding then the people I have to deal with in my every day life. Thanks for the support, it helps.

Any time, dear. My first husband was in the 101st Airborne (as in "I wanna be an Airborne Ranger, live my life on guts and danger") during the Viet-Nam War, so I understand quite a bit. They treated him like excrement both while he was in and after he was out, too.
He was MIA for 18 months and lived with the locals there because he couldn't stand to do what they made him do.
So I understand the pressures. You've just got a different morality is all. You have made a "Seperate Peace" with yourself that THEY who mock just don't or can't (no really, they just don't have the circuits in the brain) to understand.
Much love to you and yours.
Merle

And don't be surprised that people agree with your decisions and are still grateful for your contributions. You are just too close to the situation to see it from a broader perspective.

Good luck, and I think wishing to leave partially to help your mother is honourable in itself... don't think the worst, try and think the best and just ride through the bumps if and when they come. I would say the main thing right now is to just get yourself out, and then look closely at the rest.

You are done. Many get out early, family problems, could not deal with it and be in the service. Discharged, with Honor, just a Vet.

About the only differance? Time served counts if you want to work in the Post Office. Most jobs never check anything, no one every wanted to see my Diploma.

Most employers only look at recent work, maybe call the last employer to see if you were fired for coming to work nude or something.

Two years with gramps and you are top pick employee. Do get some education.

From the employer side. We might be stuck with this person for a long time, can they be upgraded?

No background here, but learn a skill, IT, and those who can write G Code, can come to work nude.

The workforce is made up of millions who were recently in prison, or the Funny Farm, most have a permanent learning disability.

In the choice between social approval and money, take the cash, it is worth something.

Grandpa has a company? Best learning possible, someone who will tell you how it all works. Most are raised to be workers, few rise to manager, owner is way cool.

I have a small business, I do next to nothing and the money comes in, lots of consumers, few producers.

There is always room at the top, is true, we work with apes. In the land of the blind the one eyed is king.

Sweep the floors, support the workers, learn everything. Grandson in training, a shot at the top starts at the bottom.

When the dishwasher quits mid shift, go wash the dishes. Back up the team.

All respect is earned. How can I improve things for others?

Do your assigned work, then help others, do what needs to be done, and be aware of the edges, where it came from, where it is going, a business is a machine. Learn the system from bottom to top. An MBA prepares you for management, unpluging the toilet in the women's bathroom prepares you for ownership.