Getting out of the British Army early?

[alixxx1]

What is the likelihood of getting out of the British army before the four year period is up?

Does anybody have any experience with this or know anybody who has tried and been successful?

Tia

DH bought his way out when his first wife gave him an ultimatum. It is possible - it's a job not a prison sentence - but it's not as easy as leaving a regular job. He regretted it though.

@VienneseWhirligig unfortunately they don't offer this no more I believe which is a shame as it really does feel like a prison sentence x

The only sure-fire way I can think of is to get dishonourably discharged. Drug taking, drunkenness, fighting, racist behaviour, done appropriately can get you kicked out. You have to be careful though to not go too far with criminality because you might get locked up as part of the court martial process.

Woah, I didn’t know this was a thing! Sinister!

@ChainJane do you know how long the dishonourable discharge process takes? X

@alixxx1 wow, that's a blow. He left in the early 80s though so it was a long time ago.

Do not go down the dishonourable discharge route

Has he (sorry I think you mentioned it was someone else, and a him, on another thread) spoken to his instructors? He should know exactly what he's signed up to, he will be able to find out easily enough through instructors or PSF.

Wow. I've nothing to add but didn't realise this was a thing. You can't leave!?

You are actually considering a dishonourable discharge?

Don’t do that.

@GiantToadstool

Wow. I've nothing to add but didn't realise this was a thing. You can't leave!?

Well the army invest a lot of time and money, training and courses etc so 4 years is the minimum to sign up to. I can understand it.

Lots of companies that pay for training say you have to say X amount of years so they get their money's worth or if you leave, you need to pay the fee. Usually thousands

Take cocaine a lot, you'll be sure to fail the random drug test eventually. Worked for my friend!

Seriously, the advice to go DD is ludicrous. Don’t do that.

The only real options are medical or dishonourable discharge, neither are good.

Why does the person need/want to leave? If you give a bit more context someone might be able to help.

Yes and you do have a period you can leave in the first 6 months (after 6 weeks) if you really don't get on with it, it's all made very clear.

That said with the care the military (should) be taking with mental health these days if it really is very detrimental to stay in I'm assuming you could leave, though that may need to be some kind of medical discharge based on mental health? And would probably mean you couldn't re-enter.

My partner just left the RAF, likely a similar experience when it comes to leaving. He gave the 12 month notice and left but was outside of his basic commitment to them. A friend of his was within his 2 years you have to commit after learning your trade and they outright told him
Not a chance until he’d done his time and then he could put his 12 month notice in. I know once your notice is in you can ask to leave early if you have job opportunity etc but I can imagine they won’t be able to leave

[quote alixxx1]@VienneseWhirligig unfortunately they don't offer this no more I believe which is a shame as it really does feel like a prison sentence x[/quote]
My uncle got a prison sentence for being AWOL from the army .

Very few people in the family knew about it until after he'd died and the letters his sister wrote to him while in prison were found in his belongings.

My brother was released on medical grounds (for mental health). He never had an official diagnosis, but they could see he wasn't happy and let him go...

So what do they do if you've said you've had enough and don't turn up to work?

The reasons are relatable to mental health issues caused by being in the army. Not only on the employee but on family too. I'm not sure if it's unreasonable to think leaving would be on option on this basis? But surely keeping someone in an environment that is causing a serious decline in mental health would be unethical to not allow him to leave? Maybe I am wrong though.

How long to go?

But seriously, can you/they change roles within the army if what you're currently doing doesn't suit? Is that allowed?

What if you're unable to meet the fitness requirements? Or do they shout at you/chase after you with a gun so you do?

@GiantToadstool

So what do they do if you've said you've had enough and don't turn up to work?

See my previous post about what used to happen several decades ago. No idea if it's still the case.

@alixxx1 he really needs to talk to his instructors, padre, med centre, welfare. He won't be able to leave on medical grounds without having sought help for it first. I am sure leaving is possible on mental health grounds (he needs to emphasise his own mental health for medical discharge I'd assume) but it will be a process. Has he spoken to anyone? I know it's frustrating but there really isn't anything you can do, he needs to pick this up himself (unless you are concerned he is a danger to himself in which case I'd call welfare immediately).

If it’s affecting his health, I.e. depression or anxiety then he can get medically discharged, otherwise he should just go with the minimum term.

When he joined he would have had to go through a rigorous interview and onboarding process. He would have had to convince them that he was committed to the term. What changed?

OP medical reasons including mental health are valid reasons to leave. But you need to go to a doctor and jump through the hoops. You can get medical discharge for mental health. Youre OC and colleagues will likely start giving you * though.