17
Jan
My brother-in-law has enlisted in the army, and is currently in boot camp. He says it’s very hard on him mentally, and unfortunately thinks he is unable to handle this life style. I don’t think he would be able to cope once basic is over and things become real.
What are the chances of them allowing him to leave? What would the process be? Will this discharge affect or be with him the rest of his life?
January 17th, 2010 at 1:30 am
It will be easier after Bootcamp.
If he can’t handle it well then, he can’t handle it. He should either quit or keep going?
January 17th, 2010 at 2:06 am
Basic training is hard and for a very good reason. We are training civilians to become soldiers. Actually service in the Army on a day to day base is much easier than BCT. Encourage your brother-in-law to stick it out. He made a commitment and I’m sure he had good reasons for doing so. He will not want to go through the rest of his life thinking himself a quitter. Good luck to your family!
January 17th, 2010 at 3:01 am
zero to none. The military is not a revolving door. Army basic (Army term – bootcamp is a Marine term) is not very hard. All he has to do is follow instructions: Be where he is told to be, do what he is told to do, do it how he was shown to do it, and do it without questions. Not so hard, don’t you think. Really pretty easy. If he has problems in basic, he will be recycled until the problems go away and he graduates. The Army is very patient with slow learners. If he can’t complete Army basic, he won’t be able to suceed in the civilian world either, especially in jobs that require people to follow basic directions.
Encourage him and don’t go along with his request for sympathy. After basic, he will be on top of the world and will be much better off in the long run. It will pay big dividends after he completes his military obligation.
Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps-Retired
January 17th, 2010 at 3:09 am
Boot Camp is horrible, so I’ve heard. I haven’t gotten there yet:)
The mental game is probably harder than the physical part. They break down the individual and build them up as a team, from a civilian to a soldier.
Some advice I’ve heard from a friend, who’s a T.I. is to go ahead and tell your family before you head out that you’re going to be fine, because on that first phone call home, you probably are going to sound (and be!) miserable!
But good luck to him!