The Army owns you, soldier

Hamradioguy

Pyrrhonist
Hamradioguy
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
2,297
"You belong to the Army now, soldier." Most vets who went through Army Basic Training likely heard that on more than one occasion from their DI. Now it seems that there really is some truth to that.

A local man, Army Spc. Frank Chapman, is prepared to donate a kidney to his mother who is dying of kidney failure. But a high blood pressure reading has caused the Army to tell him, "No." News reports quote him as saying he's planning to go ahead with the transplant anyway, and there may well be a resolution before then.

But here's the kicker: Someone in the Army has said that if Spc. Chapman goes ahead and subsequently has health problems that would require his discharge from the Army, he would be given a, "Less than Honorable Discharge for destruction of government property."

As Randi so often says, "Folks, you just can't make this stuff up." "Military Intelligence" indeed.
 
Hamradioguy said:
But here's the kicker: Someone in the Army has said that if Spc. Chapman goes ahead and subsequently has health problems that would require his discharge from the Army, he would be given a, "Less than Honorable Discharge for destruction of government property."
Click to expand...
I hope someone else in the Army finds that moron and tells him to get a clue. I am reasonably confident that with even modest support from the medical corps and the JAG, a hardship discharge is an option.

Case in point: in the mid 1980's, we routinely endorsed "General Discharges" to female sailors who were pregnant and asked for a medical discharge.

ETA: How is this guy offering his kidney any less of a medical critetion? On the other hand, there may have been a few rules changed that would alter my understanding.

ETA: 2

Ah, the system may work for him in the end. From the article, further down.
A spokesman for the Army Medical Department said he was not familiar with the specifics of Chapman's case and referred queries to Fort Sill. A Fort Sill spokeswoman was seeking answers to a reporter's questions on Friday afternoon.

A change could be in the works.

After the Chapman's disputed the decision, the Army medical officials agreed to a reconsider their opinion following a 24-hour period of blood pressure monitoring. Tiffany Chapman said Friday the monitor is being shipped to them in Fort Sill.
Click to expand...

DR
 
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Hamradioguy said:
A local man, Army Spc. Frank Chapman, is prepared to donate a kidney to his mother who is dying of kidney failure. But a high blood pressure reading has caused the Army to tell him, "No." News reports quote him as saying he's planning to go ahead with the transplant anyway, and there may well be a resolution before then.

But here's the kicker: Someone in the Army has said that if Spc. Chapman goes ahead and subsequently has health problems that would require his discharge from the Army, he would be given a, "Less than Honorable Discharge for destruction of government property."
Click to expand...

Ah, that ever-elusive "someone." I don't know who the "someone" is who told SPC Chapman that he would be charged with "destruction of government property," but that is complete nonsense. No, you do not get charged with "destruction of government property" for injuries/sunburns/body tattoos/piercings/anything else. You might get charged with disobeying an order, or violating other regulations as appropriate.

That being said, obviously the guy ought to be allowed to donate his kidney to his mother. This case doesn't surprise me that much, unfortunately. The Army is a very large, bureaucratic organization, and is also heirarchical -- meaning if one fairly high-ranking individual somewhere along the line looked at his case and said "my god, this isn't safe! We need to protect this Soldier from his own decision-making!" that can be enough to put a halt to it, and make the guy have to jump through a bunch of red tape.

Hamradioguy said:
As Randi so often says, "Folks, you just can't make this stuff up." "Military Intelligence" indeed.
Click to expand...

Apparently, you can. At least the "destruction of government property" bit. That's one of those neat little myths that has been going aroud forever.
 
The video is here:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=427_1180776493

The quote about destruction of government property is made by the reporter who is quoting an uncited Army source.

Somehow I doubt the Army would equate the humanitarian donation of a kidney with say, deliberately driving a jeep over a cliff. Can't help but wonder if this was some Army spokesperson's lame attempt at humor.

Having been in the military I'm well aware that the stock answer to most unusual requests is: "No, you can't do that, soldier." I'd guess that as this matter works its way up the chain of command cooler heads will prevail. (Hey, it's good PR for the Army to support a soldier wishing to make a sacrifice for his mom. Far better than to kick him out without an Honorable discharge.)
 
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