USMA Separation

[raptorfromspace]

I type this with a heavy heart, still Cadets have not heeded your warning Ex-Cadet12... If my Cadet is discharged, how long will he be phyically at West Point, how fast did you leave the post, did you work details until your discharge?

I'm not sure how it is at USMA, but it took my paperwork 3 days to go through at USAFA.
Granted, I was outprocessed for medical turn-back, but the paperwork is all the same. Best of luck.

 

[Ex-Cadet12]

I was caught on Dec 3rd..had my board in Feb. and was separated April 3rd. There was Christmas and Spring break in that time frame. Best of luck and feel free to contact me if you need any help with the process..

 

[Capt MJ]

ex-cadet12, your DD-214, when you eventually get it, is an important piece of paper you should never lose track of. It will document your time in uniform and the nature of your discharge. Some research on www.va.gov and your home state's veterans department/agency page will give you specifics on what you qualify for. Many benefits hinge upon time served or other specifics. There are federal and state VA walk-in centers that you can go into and get counseling on what might be open to you.

I appreciate your candor on here. "Good mids do bad things" is something I often said while on staff at USNA, and I saw many a good mid go out the door after a major conduct incident. When decisions like that are made, leadership has evaluated the incident and chosen a judicial process through a couple of lenses: what's right for the cadet/midshipman, what's right by the service regulation/UCMJ, what is past precedent for this type of case and individual record, and very key, what precedent does this punishment set. Take some small comfort that there are those, whom you will never know, who have watched what happened to you, and they will exercise restraint.

Best wishes for some windows opening as you leave this closed door behind.

 

[usna1985]

Parents, there isn't much help you can do for your son or daughter if they are in trouble at an academy (unless you are a grad or O5 or higher),

Just want to comment on this statement. Don't count on it.

Last year, a 1/C USNA midshipman was separated after a breaking and entering (and alcohol) incident on the night of service selection. His father was (if I recall correctly) a grad and 4-star admiral. Separation still occurred.

I'm not naive enough to believe that, on occasion, having an "important" relative won't help. However, it can also work the other way b/c all eyes are on the situation waiting to see if there will be disparate treatment and the leadership (Supe, Secretary, etc.) may bend over backwards to be sure it doesn't happen.