Can You Get Out of a Military Contract? A Service Member’s Guide
Some people change their minds about their service commitment. Not everyone is cut out to become a military member, and that’s fine. When you enlist in the military, the Armed Forces spend thousands of dollars to finance your training to become an asset to the Air Force or your chosen branch. In return, you’re expected to devote three to six years of your life to the military.
But can you leave before you render service forthe agreed period? We’ll explore the possibilities in this article. While quitting the military early can have long-term consequences, it doesn’t mean you have no options.
Contents
Can You Get Out of a Military Contract?
Yes, you can leave military service before finishing the agreed service period. However, the circumstances surrounding your quitting are vital in its long-term effects. In some cases, a recruit can simply leave the military and return to civilian life. There are also instances wherein the person who leaves the military has to put up with having a bad conduct discharge in their files.
Quitting Before Basic Training
Technically, you aren’t bound to the military until you have taken the Oath of Enlistment, despite signing legally binding paperwork. While you might have signed a contract, certain rules permit you to leave if you’re not fit for the environment or don’t meet the qualifications.
Suppose you’ve gone through the necessary process of becoming a service member but haven’t taken the Oath of Enlistment or been to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). In that case, you can quit the military whenever you please.
It would be ideal if you gave your recruiter a courtesy call to inform them of your decision as soon as possible. It pays to be courteous and professional in case you change your mind.
Leaving the Military During Basic Training
Some people get cold feet when fulfilling their commitment to the military, drill instructors in basic training are trained to help people get through this. After a period of time, if issues remain unresolved, that officer may determine you’re not fit for the role.
At the end of the day, you can quit, but you’re not entitled to an honorable discharge or recognized as a veteran. Choosing this path means you forfeit veteran benefits, and your file won’t reflect your brief period in the military.
Getting Out of the Military After Reporting for Active Duty
Once you’ve finished basic training and recited the oath, you’re officially part of the Armed Forces. Your contract doesn’t contain provisions for early separation or quitting unless the Department of Defense deems it necessary for you to have an early discharge for their best interests.
Despite this, there are circumstances where you can leave the military early.
Administrative Separation
Administrative separation, also known as an administrative discharge, is given to a person who can’t fulfill the requirements of being in the military. It can be challenging to obtain this non-judicial punishment.
You can get an administrative separation for failing to manage your military travel credit card properly or not meeting the physical fitness requirements of the Armed Forces. While it’s not necessarily a punishment, the requirements to obtain it may seem punitive.
Conscientious Objection
According to DoD instruction 1300.6, a conscious objector is someone who decides to be a pacifist not because of a particular conflict but because they’re opposed to all wars in general. The recruit is required to present evidence that they developed this sense of pacifism after they signed up for the Armed Forces.
Contract Breach
There are cases wherein some facts come to light that force your commanding support staff to reassess your enlistment eligibility. Suppose it’s revealed that you have lied about something important during the recruitment process, such as drug use, crime history, or dependency situation. In that case, you may be involuntarily removed from the military.
Hardship Discharges
A hardship discharge is given when a recruit is permitted to leave their service commitment due to familial obligations. This occurs in limited cases, and the service branch and circumstances involved play key roles in their warrant.
Medically Unfit for Military Duty
You may be discharged from military service if you’re medically or physically unfit for the job. Unlike other early out options, being deemed medically unfit for duty doesn’t have much stigma. The most common cause for this type of separation is asthma. Some people don’t develop this condition until later in life or may have had it in their youth, but it went away for a while.
Types of Early Separation
Basically, there are two types of early separation: voluntary and involuntary. The type of early discharge you receive can have a significant impact on the benefits you’re entitled to once you leave the military.
Voluntary Separations
There are cases wherein the military offers you to leave the military. Most of the time, this option comes with a commitment to serve in the Guard or Reserves. As a result, you might have to become member of Regular Reserve or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
You might be entitled to certain benefits if you meet some requirements. Some people get a bonus or separation pay. People who’ve served for a long period may even be offered early retirement by the military.
Involuntary Separations
Essentially, this type of separation means you got booted out from the military. A program called Force Shaping has forced the military to downsize. However, getting involuntarily separated from the military usually doesn’t happen during your first term of service. Usually, you’re just not allowed to reenlist because the job you used to have no longer exists.
If you’ve served in the military for at least six years, you’re entitled to involuntary separation pay.
The Circumstances of Leaving Active Duty Military Service
The type of discharge you receive plays a vital role in your post-military opportunities. For example, if you’re forced to leave the military because of a court martial or a dishonorable discharge, you might find it challenging to get a job in the government in the future. If you leave for medical reasons, you won’t face much stigma because leaving the service was out of your control.
Leaving the military early also means you miss out on military benefits, like veterans benefits and rights provided by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA grants active-duty military personnel certain financial and legal benefits to make military service more manageable.
Conclusion
It’s possible to leave active duty service, but doing so has many consequences. Among these consequences is forfeiting SCRA rights. It would only be wise for landlords and businesses dealing with military personnel to confirm if that person is eligible for SCRA benefits.
SCRACVS can help prove someone’s active duty status as quickly as one business day. Click here to sign up at SCRAVS and verify active duty status.
FAQs
Can you back out of a military contract?
Yes, but it can be a complicated process. The circumstances surrounding you leaving active duty play a key role in the consequences of your quitting.
Are you considered a veteran if you leave the military early?
It would depend on how long you’ve served in the military and if you’ve received a dishonorable discharge. You must have served for a minimum service period of six months to qualify as a veteran.
Can you pay to get out of a military contract?
No, this practice, known as discharge by purchase, was abolished in 1953. When it was legal, those who used it received a general discharge, which is less severe than a dishonorable discharge.
Can you get out of a military contract before boot camp?
Yes, you can leave the military as long as you haven’t recited the Oath of Enlistment or been to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). You won’t be recognized as a veteran but can return to civilian life without any circumstances.
Are there any financial penalties for leaving a military contract early?
It depends on the circumstances involved. If you’re forced to leave early because of a court martial decision, you might have to forfeit a portion of your military pay.
