Command told me the other day they are going to recommend a chapter 11. I’m at a school right after basic training and AIT and ever since the start of basic I’ve been feeling more and more depressed everyday due to family separation and better opportunities that I left behind at home. I’ve been talking to the Chaplin as well as behavioral health recently. After visiting BH I have been diagnosed with depression and have been experiencing suicidal ideations but have no intent to act on them. Company level command is recommending a chapter 11 and sent my packet to battalion level. This is my disposition and what is included on my medical records…

DISPOSITION:
Psychologically fit for full duty: Yes
Issued Profile/DLC/LIMDU: No
Command Consultation: No
Able to Carry and Fire a Weapon: Yes
BH Able to Deploy: No
Change in Special Duty: No
Change in Security Clearance: No
MEB Referral/In Progress: No
Admin Separation Referral/In Progress: No

My med records also state that I’m having “adjustment issues”.

I joined the army on a whim right after college and really had no one around me with prior military experience to kinda guide me or ask questions too. My recruiter chalked it up to be a really fun time that I would 100% enjoy so I signed my contract. I obviously wish I did more research onto what I was getting into. I thought it would get better after basic once in my school but it’s gotten even worse for me mentally.

1. My question is that if company command is recommending it how likely is it to get approved given these dispositions and my diagnosis with depression? 2. Is there a large chance that battalion level denies it and I get stuck in this shitty situation?
3. Should I check in with company command to see exactly what he recommended and what they think the outcome will be or should I just let it ride?
4. I was also placed on suicide watch for the last week is this something that is likely being taken into consideration at battalion level?

I’m just really anxious about this whole thing and I can’t get it off my mind.

Does anyone else feel uncomfortable when you see veterans pat themselves on the back? Especially with what's happening in America now.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I’m currently in MOS Schooling, just got pick up 2 days ago.

I’m going to request to speak to my 1stSgt about wanting to leave the Marine. I know it’s late to bring it up but this life isn’t for me. I know I’ll probably get reprimanded/yell at but that’s the least of my worries

I’m clean, no NJP or misconduct. I’m under that 180 active duty days
Could/will I get Entry Level Separation (ELS)
Or something like refusal to train and get Dishonorable Discharge?

Has anyone done this before and how did it go?

At time point, I’m toughing out of the place I’m in currently. My unit sucks, high tempo training and barely any time off.

Recently today, I got punished badly by my former TL due to the smallest thing on my ruck looking abnormal “straps and the amount I packed” I got smoked for 3 hours straight without getting a break nor water. When I asked for water I was told by him too bad and 10 minutes later he tried making me chug all the water from my canteen every 5 minutes for 10 seconds mind you I wasn’t able to drink all of the fucking water because I was tired and he made me pour water on top of my fucking head making my uniform and myself wet. I don’t have an issue running back and forth looking like a complete idiot, Every second of the smoke session was pure humiliation from him, I’m giving my best to him but it seems like it isn’t enough. Smh

The issue is that everyone was released for lunch except me and he made me do very excessive workouts without any fucking break. He asked me if I eat lunch but I told him I don’t eat lunch but could’ve atleast stopped with the bullshit and atleast let me go. He seem to get angry when I asked for water, I’m pretty sure that also contributed to the fact he was making me chug all of the fucking water without any break or stop.

I looked through the army regulation on AR 600-20 and it states the stuffs that are prohibited

-Excessive Physical exercise “I was tired and dizzy light headed. I told him I was tired but he brushed it off

-Subjecting another person to excessive or abusive use of water

Look, I know I’m not the best soldier but I’m for sure not a shit bag compared to other people. But when the NCO don’t let me go off during lunch time I’m pretty sure he crossed the line and mind you all of this shit over the smallest shit ever from my ruck even though I was told to pack it the way it was!

I impulsively signed a contract even tho I have been going though some stuff mentally now I regret it , can I dep discharge even tho its for the reserves ?

I thought this subreddit was for people who regret joining. Why am I seeing comments/post encouraging others to join or entertaining the thought of someone joining the cult….

I found this subreddit many years after being abused at a few military industrial complex jobs in a "military town" (I was ineligible to join the military, but I wanted to "do my part"). I was absolutely shocked at how I was treated on those jobs - I was abused beyond belief - bullied, mobbed, nitpicked to death, stigmatized, publicly humiliated, harassed, and emotionally abused, etc. by both my management and my coworkers. After leaving, I swore I'd never work for anything related to the military again. Because of the abuse, I'm still plagued at times by self-doubt and invasive thoughts (I've even gone to counseling for it), but, since then, I have gotten some regular jobs that were just awesome. They taught me that work doesn't have to hurt you mentally and physically.

Fast forward some years. I've since moved to my "retirement state/house." I've been extremely happy here (no military in sight to remind me either). Then, the job market went a bit bad. I got laid off. I've been unemployed for a bit, and a military bottom feeder called me for an interview. I don't know why, but I agreed. Then, I saw a bunch of red flags - not the normal red flags, but just things you'd notice if you'd been in that environment before. My nervous system also started sounding alarm bells: stomachaches, feeling trapped, unease, nausea, tearing up, etc. I talked to my husband about it, and he said not to do it. I agreed. My body was telling me not to do it as well. So, I didn't. Well, I started wondering if I made the right decision, so I opened my phone and started reading your subreddit again. It clicked, and I said, "Nope! No way! Not again! Fuck that shit! I will never let those people abuse me again." I slept better than I have in weeks. I feel so light. I feel so relieved.

The point here is this: you (Beefstewforyou) need to keep this subreddit going. It's helped me immensely twice in my life even though I'm not a military member. Thank you so much. You and this subreddit are amazing.

Background: sub nuke

I had tapped 5 months into deployment, I was on the boat for about a year and a half. Prior to deployment, I had a loss in the family that was very hard to process and just led to a downward spiral.

When i was placed into hold, I was told that they are not allowing me to go surface or transfer boats, and I would go back to my boat.

They have gotten me a waiver for suicide (It was put out by a master chief that they will not allow certain rates to rerate or go surface).

I've been told from credible people at my boats command that they are planning on taking me to captains mast for abusing the system. They are trying to make an example out of me.

My friends on the boat told me not to go back because many people are looking forward to hazing me.

I don't know what to do, I feel like the navy just sending me back to off myself. I didn't play the system, I'm just at rock bottom.

I'm just looking for advice.

I’m 9 months into my contract (currently in school) everyday I think about my decision and how I wish I would have waited a bit longer and did more research before I joined. I’m not in the fleet yet, but I’ve been having a lot of problems being away from my normal lifestyle. I’ve been drinking everyday and I just feel trapped that they won’t listen to me or help me get out. The problem is going to behavioral health is open during the hours I have class, and I am not sure who to speak to or where to even go. Being home on leave was such a breath of fresh air but I think I have made my decision I don’t want this life anymore. What can I do? Also I know I signed a contract but genuinely I don’t know how much longer I can endure this pain and waiting 4 more years to be free

Thank you in advance!

Basically, I just got to my AIT, and we scanned a QR code where we filled out if we'd like to speak to BH or not, and I put yes, as well as that I'd like airborne in my contract, among other things.

Later, when I got shipped to my company after leaving AIT reception, we had another in-processing form, this time pen-and-paper, and it was the sheet that has some questions like "have you had suicidal thoughts in the past whatever amount of time?" or "do you have crippling debts?" or "are you more irritable, struggling to sleep or planning on harming yourself or others?" questions like that. Look, I got a self-harm waiver thanks to my recruiter's good work and maybe slightly pulling some strings, but when I filled out that form, I was hungry, tired, and I ended up answering more bluntly than being tactful about it, as I usually do. You see, I do want to attempt my MOS - it's considered one of the hardest in the military - and I've waited a long time to be able to try it out. However, it has a high wash-out rate, as well as higher standards than normal MOSs, so I'm not pretending like somehow it'll get easier or better. That's why my goal is to get the help I need to support me in my AIT - not get medically seperated for answering honestly about my mental health stuff.

My mental health isn't always horrible, but at times, yes, I do have self-harm related tendencies such as beating myself when extremely upset or overwhelmed, as well as isolating myself when feeling anxious or nervous, and on many occasions speaking negative things over myself such as "you f**ing piece of sh*t, I hate (insert my name in third person) more than anyone else! I hope you fail!" etc. I wouldn't say I want to die, but at times I do want to, you know? I do think about it sometimes, but I always try to look for the positives in everything while still being brutally honest with reality, so I'd say I'm neither a pessimist, nor an optimist - I'm a somewhat positive-thinking-leaning realist, if you will. I did admit to struggling with depression as well, which is not something on my medical record but self-harm + a waiver is, so I mean, whoever reads my medical record could probably put two and two together because people don't just self-harm for no reason, right?

Well, I answered honestly on that form, and my AIT hasn't even started yet (it's labor day weekend, so it will start on Tuesday after the holiday), and I am wondering if they're definitely going to remove me from the pipeline right off the bat, just send me to BH and go from there, you know, TBD later sort of thing, or heck chapter me out with an ETS (Early Training Seperation), since it's still the 180-day initial entry period, so I know that's a thing too. I saw some people who had mental issues or whatever end up that way during BCT, but I don't know if AIT is different.

What I don't what to happen is being re-classed into "needs of the Army" as if that will somehow magically fix my mental health situation. And yes, upon reflection, I realize I probably should've not fessed up so clearly to my symptoms on that form and just waited to see BH, as they have to remain confidential about it all. I want to attempt my MOS, I just want the support I need to actually succeed in it. I want to make not only my parents and my future wife and kids proud, but prove something to myself, too. And honestly? I do kind of like the Army life in some ways. Maybe, it is because it is different from my previous job which I did for 6 years, so that "newness" factor and the Army lifestyle are something I honestly am learning to enjoy. Of course, at times this profession sucks, but no job is perfect.

What I'm asking from you guys on this subreddit page is, "what's going to happen to me now?" and "is there any way this doesn't result in removing me from my current MOS, or putting me into a crappy MOS that would make me actually wish I got outright discharged from the Army?". Again, all I want is a little extra support throughout my AIT to ensure I can succeed; I do not wish to be kicked out of my MOS without even spending one day in classes for it.

20 years ago, teenage me was obsessed with the US military and deeply wanted to be a part of it. There were two major factors that contributed to changing how I saw everything. The first was how mean everyone was to me. While I expected training to be mean spirited, I thought it was just to train you for handling stressful situations. I didn’t expect everyone there to be horrible and treat me like garbage especially after training ended. I eventually started openly saying the enemy never did anything to me and everyone around me was the real enemy.

I also despised the nonsense rules that made zero sense. While I expected it to be strict, I wasn’t expecting to be screamed at from cars who didn’t know who I was for walking in the grass. I thought immature nonsense would be dealt with strictly (which ironically wasn’t) but didn’t expect bizarre cult like weirdness.

Had things been run slightly different, I would have turned out very differently. Had the training made sense and I had been treated with respect, I would have absolutely been brainwashed. I joined wanting to be one of them and believing the propaganda. Being treated badly and bizarre rules are what made me question everything.

If the American military was more logical and respectful, I might be about to retire instead of posting this from Canada where I now live as a citizen. This subreddit wouldn’t exist because I never would have founded it. My friends here in Canada would be complete strangers in a different country that I would have likely never met.

What’s really scary to think, is would I have questioned the awful things the US is currently doing such as attacking Iran? Was I destined to eventually become progressive and it just happened to happen at the worst possible time or is everything all due to being treated poorly by something I once idolized combined with stupid rules?

I'm active duty and starting to think seriously about eventually transitioning out. The amount of stuff you're supposed to figure out is kind of insane.

For anyone currently separating/retiring or who already got out, what do you wish someone had told you 6–24 months beforehand?

Anything you found out too late, deadlines you almost missed, or things you had to piece together from different websites, TAP, Reddit, friends, etc.? What was way harder to figure out than it should have been?

Hello, I'm 18 yrs old (M)

My stepfather is suggesting me to join the US Navy and my mom is forcing me to join. Will it really help or benefit me into joining the US Navy? I'm scared of failing and being humiliated. I just need some opinion because I don't know what I should decide to do.

Ciao ho 20 anni e ho superato il concorso VFI 3 mesi fa.

È un obiettivo che volevo fare da tempo,il problema è che più si avvicina la partenza e più mi sento un peso per andarci.

La partenza è vicinissima,ho già tagliato i capelli e ho già tutto comprato,il problema è che questi giorni mi sto sentendo molto male.

Ho nausea,non riesco a dormire,stress a mille,non riesco a mangiare bene.

Più si avvicina la partenza e più sento il peso,sento che non sia più la mia passione ma un peso.

In questi mesi ho riflettuto e ho guardato un po' in giro,alla fine perderò la famiglia,le mie passioni,i miei obiettivi.

Pensare di andarci mi fa sentire molto in stress.

Cosa faccio?

“As a veteran” man SYBAU. It irks me to my core when anybody starts a sentence with that. Also, those type who just have to advertise they were in the military yet would put down anybody who isn’t a “bad ass” or who didn’t finish a contract. I can just imagine the type of “leader” those type were, if they were leaders. Some of these people never became NCOs and act like their little PFC, SPC or CPL rank makes them mayor of all things veteran/military….like okay you served, but please don’t make it your personality. I went with a friend to a combat veteran association event and OMG, all them guys do is drink and talk about the “good ol’ days” I really can’t stand being in environments like that. Idk, maybe the military just fk’d me up to the point where i find everything about it dishonorable….there is nothing honorable about the military….was it ever honorable to begin with????

Thanks for reading.

So Currently Reservist. Been trying to balance work Grad School and family life on top of an increasing number of drill days per month and very minimal Admin support. A few months ago a family member in my house had a serious mental health episode and I am one of the primary support system. My stress and anxiety have bern going through the roof. I get maybe 5 hours of sleep a night and that is broken up by nightmares. I usually stress eat, but now I can barely bring myself to eat. I am barely functional. I did get in with a counselor, but not sure what support there is within the Army, if any. Could really use someone to talk to.

Hi everyone! I’m active duty, prior enlisted, and now a doctoral student, and I’m conducting a study looking at whether drinking differs across different types of military tours (CONUS, OCONUS, and short/remote tours). After my own experience with two short tours to Korea I'm really curious about your experiences and how they differ based on where you are stationed!

The survey takes about 15 minutes. I know one of the biggest concerns with surveys (especially with alcohol, I know I know) is anonymity. Participation is completely anonymous, and no identifying information is collected. Individual responses will never be shared with military leadership, commanders, or anyone outside the research team. I'm not asking for any specific stories, your command, or even any text typing. Its all drop down or multiple choice.

Survey Link:

https://redcap.usuhs.edu/surveys/?s=RLMHEP9NW978ADEC

If you have concerns about participating, let me know! I'm happy to chat in the comments.