To those of you with quick answer to my dilemma, I will ask my question first and provide details afterwards.
My question is:
If I receive a General Discharge (Less-Than-Honorable Discharge) from the National Guard due to not meeting the Height/Weight Requirements (being overweight) and nothing else, how negatively will that discharge hurt my chances of finding employment as an RN once I graduate in one month and pass my NCLEX?
The situation:
I am a member of my state's National Guard, assigned to a unit (which I will not disclose for security reasons), and am also a graduating Senior under my college's BSN program, and will have my BSN by May, and plan to take and pass the NCLEX within one month of my graduation. Unfortunately, due to my poor judgment and planning, I have failed to meet the Army's standards for Height and Weight, by being too overweight, for a period of time that has required punitive action against me, should I fail to meet standards again in the coming week's monthly Drill. At worst, I am facing a General Discharge (one step below Honorable Discharge), and owing a certain amount of money to the government, as my contract dictates. The latter punishment is inconsequential to the question at hand.
My contacts in the military state that under no circumstance do I want this. They behave as if this will render me completely incapable of finding a job, which, obviously, has me terrified.
My contacts in nursing state that they don't think it will hurt my chances very much, if at all, and this has me confused. Granted, these contacts have no say in hiring, and are generally from staff at my practicum and my instructors, so while I value their opinion, I doubt the legitimacy regarding this matter.
BACKGROUND:
I am male.
I have been in the National Guard for 11 years.
My rank is Sergeant, pay-grade E-5.
I have served one deployment to Iraq, and received an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) as a result of my service there.
I have no other disciplinary actions against me regarding my military service, and have otherwise had a successful and favorable career in the National Guard.
I expect to graduate my College's BSN program in May, with a GPA of 3.0.
I have been on the Dean's List 3 times, and I expect to make the Dean's List this semester.
As mentioned, I expect to take the NCLEX within a month of graduation and pass it on the first try.
POINTS I FEEL I SHOULD MAKE:
Above all else, the most beneficial course of action, which I am currently undertaking, is to meet, maintain, and hopefully surpass the Army's Standard. My question concerns the unfortunate possibility that I do not meet Standards by the end of this week.
I am, under no circumstances, questioning the legitimacy of the Army's Standards. My situation is a result of the actions, and inactions, I have taken over the course of the last 12 months, and I take full responsibility for the position I find myself in my military career.
Criticisms and derision of my failure to meet the Army standards, though I may deserve them, donot answer my question. Similarly, praise for my service and reassurance of my situation, though they are greatly appreciated, again do not answer my question. The most important thing to me, at this moment, is INFORMATION.
I am aware that my situation is HEAVILY dependent upon individual HR staff at hiring policies spread across thousands of hospitals across my state alone. With this in mind, I do not expect to find one answer that will satisfy my curiosity, instead, I wish to take the experiences, information, and advice from nurses and those who are in charge of hiring and training them, and consolidating them to a general understanding of the situation I may find myself in.
This question is asked under the assumption that, all things considered, upon a background check of my military history while reviewing my resume, the General Discharge is discovered.
If my resume awards an interview, the question also works under the assumption that the interviewer feels it noteworthy to ask why I received a General Discharge, and not an Honorable Discharge.
I realize that this is a lot of information to process, but regardless of your replies, I greatly thank and appreciate any and all information you are able to provide me.
I'm in a hurry, so I didn't have time to read through your whole post, but as someone who faced an "other than honorable under honorable conditions" discharge, FIGHT FOR YOUR HONORABLE DISCHARGE. Without it, you won't be eligible for your MGIB or any vet benefits. I didn't know it at the time, but I am SO glad I fought for it. I had a spotless record, and was able to argue my way to an honorable discharge when they were filling out my paperwork.
I don't think it is going to matter in the real world.
FWIW, we refer to it as "the civilian side". When you're in, the service is one's "real world".
Also, it's noteworthy (and perhaps a bit ironic given your post) that the military sees a much higher percentage of the "real world" and at a much younger age than your average American civilian: war, injury, death, disease, and all the consequences therein. That's about as real as it gets.
I'm in a hurry, so I didn't have time to read through your whole post, but as someone who faced an "other than honorable under honorable conditions" discharge, FIGHT FOR YOUR HONORABLE DISCHARGE. Without it, you won't be eligible for your MGIB or any vet benefits. I didn't know it at the time, but I am SO glad I fought for it. I had a spotless record, and was able to argue my way to an honorable discharge when they were filling out my paperwork.
I have been pouring over the Regs, and found this piece in AR 135-178, regarding Separation of Duty.
"The services of soldier's separated under [Failure to Meet Army Body Standards] will be honorable."
This is assuming there are no other disciplinary actions against me, including the APFT (of which I have on record as passing, and could pass if required to take it in the next month or two). Perhaps it's possible, if I have a particularly tough disclipinary officer (NCO?), they may try to push for a GUH for any number of reasons, but I feel secure in my knowledge that, while I may not be a superb soldier, I have at least met the ARNG Standards in all other aspects of my career, and this foreknowledge of AR 135-178 helps put my mind at ease, but I won't truly know until this Sunday after weigh-in.
FWIW, we refer to it as "the civilian side". When you're in, the service is one's "real world".
Also, it's noteworthy (and perhaps a bit ironic given your post) that the military sees a much higher percentage of the "real world" and at a much younger age than your average American civilian: war, injury, death, disease, and all the consequences therein. That's about as real as it gets.
I was USAF myself.
Sorry you are offended by my choice of words.
I think you might be taking it a bit too much to heart.
I recall (from way back when, when weight control first became an issue) that feedback was often that employers understood that a few pounds did not necessarily make a bad soldier or bad civilian employee. But I also recall a certain maniacal first sergeant in INSCOM who made it his mission in life to see that early separatees lost their Top Secret/SCI security clearances on their way out the door. He destroyed as many potential successful careers as he could. But for someone going into nursing? I rarely see the question about military service on job applications any more. I would focus on the positive if I were you. You have a good future ahead of you.
I have been pouring over the Regs, and found this piece in AR 135-178, regarding Separation of Duty.
"The services of soldier's separated under [Failure to Meet Army Body Standards] will be honorable."
This is assuming there are no other disciplinary actions against me, including the APFT (of which I have on record as passing, and could pass if required to take it in the next month or two). Perhaps it's possible, if I have a particularly tough disclipinary officer (NCO?), they may try to push for a GUH for any number of reasons, but I feel secure in my knowledge that, while I may not be a superb soldier, I have at least met the ARNG Standards in all other aspects of my career, and this foreknowledge of AR 135-178 helps put my mind at ease, but I won't truly know until this Sunday after weigh-in.
Hopefully it won't come to that- good luck with your weigh in!
Should it come to that, I would print out a copy of AR 135-178 and arm yourself with that when you're in the process of doing your checkout.
I really think it's a shame how the service is so quick to tarnish someone who has been an excellent service member over something like a waistline, particularly when they are still perfectly capable of doing their job WELL. Just one of my beefs. Then you have those people who are honorably discharged who we all know perfectly well are... "other than honorable."
Your post is so thoughtful and well-written. I would not for one minute hesitate to hire you. As a matter of fact, your resume would be closer to the top of the pile if it was as well-written as this post.
I would imagine your Military experience will be a benefit to you under any circumstance. I wouldn't know the difference between a general discharge or honorable discharge, and if I asked and you told me the reason- it would make no difference.
I have found that a lot of companies have the HR person screen you first, and you could give your reason at that time.
I doubt you would be asked in the actual interview with the hiring manager. In any case, that reason for discharge is so minor, it wouldn't make a difference.
I would make certain that this was on my resume-" served one deployment to Iraq, and received an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) as a result of my service there."
Like someone else said, thank you for serving our country.
Good luck. I think your military experience will prove to be an asset and will push you one notch up above the other new grads.
One thing that will hurt you is your RE code even if it is a honorable discharge. If you have a RE 4 you will not be eligible for federal employment. Not sure how it effects state or local government employment.
FWIW, we refer to it as "the civilian side". When you're in, the service is one's "real world".
Also, it's noteworthy (and perhaps a bit ironic given your post) that the military sees a much higher percentage of the "real world" and at a much younger age than your average American civilian: war, injury, death, disease, and all the consequences therein. That's about as real as it gets.
I agree with what you are saying but Rua does have a point. Somewhere along the guaranteed paychecks, delusional dependents, slacking service members, entitlement and mega-posts there is a sense of isolation from the real world besides deployments
RunBabyRN
3,677 Posts
I'm in a hurry, so I didn't have time to read through your whole post, but as someone who faced an "other than honorable under honorable conditions" discharge, FIGHT FOR YOUR HONORABLE DISCHARGE. Without it, you won't be eligible for your MGIB or any vet benefits. I didn't know it at the time, but I am SO glad I fought for it. I had a spotless record, and was able to argue my way to an honorable discharge when they were filling out my paperwork.