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can you leave the military once you are already in it?

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Kim’s Answer

Naileah,

If you leave the military, simply by walking away, they will track you down and arrest you. There are several types of separation from duty. Honorable Discharge means you did everything right. There are others, such as General, Medical, Dishonorable. Job applications for all types of jobs ask about military service record. If you have anything other than an Honorable Discharge, it can keep you from getting certain jobs. If you have reservations, this might not be the thing for you to do. It takes a lot of courage to give somebody total control over your life. I admire the many people who have done so. I did not feel ready to make that commitment right after HS, although I later considered going in as an officer.

If your school has an ROTC program, you may want to try it out to get a glimpse of the military lifestyle.

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Robin’s Answer

No, you can't just "leave!" When you enlist, it normally will be for either 4 or 6 years. If you don't like "structure," then the military isn't for you. You need to join with your "eyes wide open" so be sure to talk to various recruiters as much as you can and if possible, members of each service to get their take on their military experience. Have your recruiter take you to a base for a visit if possible. And if you enlist and find it isn't for you, complete your term, take college classes during that period if possible using Tuition Assistance (if it still exists), and then use your GI Bill benefits when you are discharged.
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Jerry’s Answer

By finishing your contract honorably, but if you are looking to get early then I would suggest you talk to your unit Career Planner and they can guide you thru your process to leave the military.
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John’s Answer

Naileah

When you join the military, it is done as a contract. X number of years in a given career. My first tour was 5 years active and 3 inactive. I reenlisted for another four years so in the end I did a bit over 8 years of active service. When I got out of the active service I joined the National Guard who had similar tours of service.

As for if you can leave when you are already in it, well No! You can be asked to leave, or as we like to call it, get thrown out but that normally is because you have messed up royally. Also there are consequences for getting thrown out. You can be made to repay the government for bounces, or paying off your student loans. Not to mention the normal loss of pay that comes with the administrative disciplinary action.

Trust me it is best to think good and hard about reenlisting and leaving with an honorable discharge. For more information consult a recruiter.

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