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I have work obligations that are in direct conflict with my drill obligation. I get out in September, and I am in financial distress as I have started my own business and I have to work (which is commission only) on the weekends when I have drill. I have applied to the ING program (back in September of 2011), only the rescind my paperwork because it is a deferral program and my unit has taken so long to send it through the appropriate channels the get an answer. My unit has stated that they will not let me split my drills. Should I go pursue a general discharge?
Optional Information: State/Country relating to question: Georgia
Thanks for the chance to help. I am an attorney with over 12 years military law experience.You can sure pursue a general discharge. The guard may approve that request. And that is much better than if you do not go to drill and they give you an "other than honorable" conditions discharge. A financial hardship can be grounds to request a discharge...though they are not commonly given. THe best way to pursue this would be to get your chain of command to support you. IF your Battalion commander will support the request you have a much better chance of success
The problem that I'm having is that I don't have any support in my unit. They are hard-lining me due to the fact that they need to keep numbers up (I am only asking that they give me this Saturday to split, and I will be back Sunday). Is there any other course of action, I don't want to not show up, but I'm being pushed into this type of situation, and I think they want me to do that and make an example of me.
Any other options? Not really. You signed the contract and are obligated to it. There is no easy way out at all...You can make the request up the chain of command but without battalion support it will not likely go anyplace.I would work with your chain of command...or try and find a work around.Sorry to have to bear bad news.
I am doing this because of financial difficulties due to having to go to drill, would a general discharge be a bad thing?
NO. A general discharge is not a bad thing. If you can get it then for you it may be a good thing.It is not as bad as an OTH discharge which you get for not drilling
Experience: Retired Marine Corps Lawyer, Veterans Services Officer (VSO)