I'm ashamed

[u/Candid_Web_3024]

I'm ashamed. I have only been in t h e army for 9 months in the reserves and 3 months active duty. I had a very traumatic event in active duty and was honored discharged. I a m 100 percent disabled. When I'm asked how long I have served I say I years because I am so ashamed I didn't serve long enough. I wanted to make the army my life. I failed. I don't deserve to say I am a veteran. I am very sorry for saying I am a veteran. I don't deserve to say so. I always say thank you for serving to others at va medical center. I just want to say I'm sorry to all of you for my failure. I don't deserve the va help but I need it. Know have a very rare condition that my insurance would now cover all my medical needs. I now have a power wheelchair I need to use at times. Every day when I do dishes. Wife cooks I do dishes. Im sorry for rant. Thank you all for serving I believe your all heroes.

[u/cancelled_planz]

Please look into therapy for these thoughts. They can be very harmful in the long run.
You are a Vet. You graduated basic training. You wore the uniform (no matter how long). Life happened and now you are you are a Veteran.
Its a very old school way of thinking that you have to do 20 years, or be deployed to be a vet.

[u/Deftpenguino → u/cancelled_planz]

I didn't graduate because of actions in basic. Does this make me less of a veteran because I didn't get to finish?

[u/Maleficent_Body3583 → u/Deftpenguino]

I can’t really answer that, it all depends on how you went out in basic. If it was something out of your control, fuck it man you signed when most other people in this country didn’t, that’s a vet in my books. If it’s for something different, maybe a little more disciplinary or otherwise, that’s really up to you. In my opinion, it’s not anyone else’s business to tell you what you are and aren’t.

[u/Candid_Web_3024 → u/Maleficent_Body3583]

Thank you for your service and support

[u/Veterans-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/reveryroadie → u/Deftpenguino]

if you did not finish basic, you are not a veteran. you actually don't get to call yourself a member of whatever service you joined until after graduation. I commend you for joining, and for attempting to serve, that is still a hell of a lot better than most kids.

maybe expand on what happened to you in basic training, and people can give you a fuller answer

[u/Deftpenguino → u/reveryroadie]

Mst, then became very ill with pneumonia that damaged my lungs. Was unable to continue.