There are many tricks, but they should be used as a last resort.
You could apply for a hardship discharge, but you'd have to meet the
requirements to get one approved.
You could have a medical condition that gets you a medical discharge
(if you hid something in the past, if it came to light now you'd
better be sure your bases are covered there or you'd get nailed with a
fraudulent enlistment). For instance, Asthma that is not under
control by 2 or more drugs is grounds for a medical discharge.
Sole parenthood could get you a medical discharge, or diminished
mental capacity of your spouse to where she is deemed unfit to parent
alone is grounds for a hardship dischage. Once again, this is all
tricky stuff.
Avoiding deployments is another issue altogether. Some reserve units
are dedicated to take over slots left behind by active soldiers being
deployed. If you are in one of those units, you've got it made. If
not: Transfer to one. Move? But then you'd be required to go to that
area for training and have an "official address" of another location.
Depending on how much you'd "lose", I'd just deal with it because you
signed up and should commit to your obligation. Your job is not
allowed to release you lest a lawsuit slam them, and military pay
should cover basic costs you need. Of course, if your home is much
more expensive and this puts you at risk to lose alot: A HARDSHIP
could possibly be proven....of course, they will expect your wife to
work probably along with your income in determining this. I'm afraid
if you deploy, your wife cannot be a stay-at-home mother if you got
bills to pay.
By the way, don't let a woman drive your decision (if you are getting
pressure from her) because it is your life and your decisions you'll
have to live with forever if you are discharged unfavorably and then
she gets up and walks. (It has been known to happen to the best of
us.)
If she is a good person, she'll bust her butt to make ends meet with
you deployed...if you know THAT can't be enough to make ends meet
start the hardship paperwork right now.
Good luck. On a personal level, I think the reserve & guard have been
terribly abused in the last few years with many people I know being on
active duty for longer than they have been off it. Unacceptable.
Boz |
