Rules on Getting Out of the Marines
The Marines and other armed services branches are employers that hire only by contract. Unlike most jobs in which you can leave at will, getting out of the Marines requires that you fulfill certain criteria that have occurred since your last enlistment. Caution is always advised if you seek to avoid fulfilling any military service contract.
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Pregnancy
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Although pregnancy will get you out of the Marines, it will not, in all likelihood, be a permanent release. The Marines define pregnancy as grounds for a short term release, as pregnancy and maternal leave lasts for less than the 36 months required to qualify as a long-term hardship. You can, however, petition to have your contract canceled after childbirth, but it's not a sure thing.
Conscientious Objector
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A "conscientious objector" (CO) is one who applies to leave military service on religious or spiritual grounds, following a decision or religious conversion made subsequent to enlistment. Although this is one acceptable way to get a general discharge, caution is advised; the applicant must be examined by a staff psychiatrist and chaplain. CO applications take about 18 months to process, and there are dozens of newspaper stories about Marines applying for a CO discharge who were quickly transferred into active combat duty. Bear in mind also that you cannot apply for CO status if your religious or spiritual ideals were in place at the time of enlistment, which would constitute falsification of enlistment.
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Humanitarian Transfer
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You can request a transfer to another station, temporary release (less than 36 months or the end of your term of enlistment), or permanent release if the affected time span is greater than 36 months. To qualify for a general hardship release, several criteria must be met:
1) The situation must be more severe than those typically encountered by Marines. 2) It must have been aggravated as a result of the Marine's initial enlistment.
3) The Marine must have taken every effort to resolve the situation by taking personal leave, contacting social services in the area, filing for dependency applications, registering allotments for family support in the area, seeking legal assistance at the present duty station, and by seeking medical treatment for family members.
4) Resolution of the problem must require the Marine's personal presence.Examples include a terminal illness in the family or the death of a spouse. Transfer to a local duty station is the usual course of action for these events, although the Marine may be eligible for discharge if the event has caused severe enough mental trauma to make the Marine unfit for service.
Homosexuality
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You can get a general discharge from the Marines for being gay, provided that you meet a few criteria. You must not have been gay at the time of enlistment (which would constitute fraudulent enlistment), and there must be physical evidence of homosexuality (pictures, video, witnessed by commanding officer etc.).
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