Is there a legal way to get out of a enlistment contract with the army?

[sandmanwake]

I've got a friend who's really impressionable and met with an army recruiter. Long story short, they talked her into enlisting even though she wanted to wait until she got her bachelors first. They may have told her a few things which may not have been the whole truth (I don't know I wasn't there) when she signed the contact. Well, she didn't realize how badly her dad would take her enlisting, so now she'd like to go back to her original plan of getting her bachelors first before joining the army. Is there a way to get out of her contract or finishing school first before joining? Had her call the ROTC office here at school and they said they get this a lot and there are ways of getting out of it, but they'd have to get back to her. I thought I'd check with people here also to see if you guys had any ideas. Legal ideas; can't have her going around committing crimes or anything like that.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

She could get pregnant.

 

[Brutuskend]

She can always refuse to take the oath.

I'm sure there would be some sort of repercussions though.

 

[wetkleenex]

have her apply to the United States Military Academy (West Point). this way, she'll pick up her undergrad and then be commissioned as an OFFICER.

http://www.usma.edu/

http://www.usma.edu/admissions/

 

[sandmanwake]

Pregnacy probably a bad idea. What's this oath thing?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Well, she could go to Canada, but she'd have to stay there a while. You're best off to wait and see what the ROTC office has to say, then go from there.

ZV

 

[AnthraX101]

Say she was high/drunk when she signed the papers.

Armani

 

[NDGeist]

IF she's in the delayed enlistment program she can just not go. they will give her an "undiscriminative discharge" and nothing will change.

after high school, i decided i wanted to go to college rather than the army thing.

-Chip

 

[911paramedic]

Its not really official until they go to the MEPS for final processing and take the oath. I am not sure how to get out of it before but I know it is something you can do honestly and without any problems.

 

[sandmanwake]

She wasn't high or drunk, just tired when she signed the contract. They had just given her the physical and tests and told her she had to sign the contract then or she wouldn't be guarenteed the job she wanted when she joined.

 

[Shack70]

how old is she?? If she is under 18, the contract is void without her parents consent

 

[StageLeft]

This will be a great learning lesson for her

 

[911paramedic]

and told her she had to sign the contract then or she wouldn't be guarenteed the job she wanted when she joined.

Oldest trick in the book. They are salesman, they have to fill quotas.

Tell her to ask about the Oath before she leaves, they always leave that part out...

 

[sandmanwake]

What's the delayed enlistment program and what's the MEPS? Thanks for all your help guys. There seems to be hope for her yet.

She's 18. No pic, so don't even ask.

 

[perry]

One of my third or fourth cousins, that I've never met, enlisted because she thought it would help her get her life back on track. She lasted 3 weeks at basic training before quitting. So there is a way...

MEPS is the physical.. Go see the doc and they do all the tests and stuff.

ROTC is a good idea if she really does want to go in to the Army. They give you a monthly stipend for your last two years, even if you aren't on scholarship (at least AF ROTC does).

Here's more info on MEPS. I bet if you look around that website, you'll find info on delayed enlistment stuff.

 

[Brutuskend]

Before they ship you off to boot camp, you have to take a oath of allegiance.

It goes something like "I swear to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic .. yadda yadda ...

Also have her ask her recruiter about the "UCMJ" (uniform code of military justice) another little thing they never mention. Then have her say she refuses to comply with such a set of rules.

Is she IN the ROTC now?

If so, it may be a bit harder to get out of it because she should already KNOW many of these things!

 

[GasX]

Tell her to drive her car into a telephone pole at high speed. She'll be excused for sure.

 

[sandmanwake]

Well, called her back and she says the ROTC here told her she can either try talking to the recruiter's superior or just not show up to take the oath.

I do just want to make sure that they won't hunt her down or anything if she doesn't show up for the oath. Anyone want to verify one way or another for me?

 

[TheGameIs21]

If she took the Oath then she is pretty much stuck with at least reporting to Boot Camp. If she didn't take the Oath then she can get out of it at any time.

The moderm military DOESN'T want anyone there who doesn't want to be there. If she took the oath have her contact her MEPS station and let them know how she has changed her mind etc and see if they are willing to work with her. HAVE HER GET EVERYTHING IN WRITTING!!!

Boot camp is the easiest point at which to get out of the military without dishorable Discharge. Have her tell every person she meets (medical to drill instructor) that she made a mistake and doesn't want to be there and she needs to do what it takes to get out. Someone will listen and take care of it for her.

You were asking about different things like MEPS and OATH. There are going to be more and more questions by you from our answers. It's best to ask your friend. The quick answer is:

OATH - Oath

MEPS - Military Entrance Processing Center

 

[perry]

Ask online at goarmy.com... Chat room

 

[wetkleenex]

wow.

nothing said of MY idea?!?!?




<< have her apply to the United States Military Academy (West Point). this way, she'll pick up her undergrad and then be commissioned as an OFFICER.

http://www.usma.edu/

http://www.usma.edu/admissions/ >>

 

[Amused]

Three simple words:

"I'm a lesbian"

 

[sandmanwake]

Sorry I didn't say anything about your idea wetkleenex, I thought I had posted, but I guess I pressed cancel. West Point would probably be bad also from her dad's perspective. Also, there's no guarentee she'd get in. Anyway it sounds like she's going to try to talk to the recruiter's superior and if he/she won't let her out, she'll just not show up when it comes time to take the oath.

Thanks for everyone's help; even you AmusedOne, though that'd be lying as far as I know. You've put some really naughty thoughts in my mind now.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Is it that she does not want the service at all or just wants to finish college first.

The delay until college finsh should allow a lot of leeway, even if she goes enlisted vs OCS or ROTC.
Opting out completely, may require some paperwork. If she has already signed a paper and does not wish to go through with it, then the proper paperwork should be completed ASAP. Talk to the recruiter and superior about this matter.

Not showing up is a bad thing and may create some legal backlash/problems if the Army chose to pursue it. I suspect that they would not, but it would be better to keep everything above board. The service will not wish to waste time on some-one that does not wish to be there.

 

[BoberFett]

MEPS = Military Entrance Processing Station, if memory serves me. Been a while since I've been to one. You go through the physical, filling out paperwork, etc. After it's all done you swear in and take "the oath". At any point up to that she could just walk out. She'd have recruiters hounding her, but it's not illegal to just walk out.

She could also "fail" the exam. Pretend her hearing is bad when they test it. Pretend she can't read the chart. When they ask about if she's seen a phsychiatrist for any reason, she could tell them that she suffers from severe depression. They'll send her packing, and probably never hear from them again.