After talking with the one SGT last night at my house I thought we came to an agreement that I am financially in ruins and I am forced to do everything to fix it so I can continue to provide for my family. So thinking that we will be able to work on a compromise together I went to work this morning in a fairly good mood. I got there and the PLT SGT that I have been having problems with tells me to come with him. We run to the company, grab a single piece of paper then to the MP station.
The whole time I am thinking that this is some kind of scare tactic, because they can’t do anything to me involving the MP’s. At least not until I go AWOL for 30 consecutive days. We sit there for around 30-45 minutes while he bites his nails and spits them out the window the entire time before calling the commander and ask what he was suppose to do. Then we walk into the MP station and he gives them the paper which requests to have my driving privileges revoked. I am thinking this must be a joke, how am I suppose to go anywhere on post and get anything done if I can’t drive? Well, that isn’t all they have planned for me.
After the MP station we go to see the Battalion commander (BC). I explain I can’t live like this I need a job or some other type of income, so my family can live. Showed him my LES which paid me $304 on the 14th this month, and will pay me $151 at the end of this month. The entire month of September I will have earned $455. I earned more than that in high school getting paid minimum wage at a fast food place, 12 years ago. He claims he took that into consideration when he reduced me in rank for “wearing unauthorized insignia”, which he agreed wasn’t my fault. Now he has no choice, for the better of the organization, and to make them mission capable, or in my words, so he can make an example out of me, he is now activating my suspended punishments.
I am now a PV2, and am fined another $864. Which if I don’t pay the fine before I get out of the Army then I will have to pay it after I get out, which it may be taken out of my income tax return if I don’t pay it by then. He continues by telling me that he was trying to consider my family but now he has no choice. I explained that I have been told that I am not allowed to go to any appointments or doing anything productive to assist myself with separating from the Army. My PLT SGT who was present didn’t make any attempt to defend himself at this accusation. Which was later proved my refusing to let me attend my 9am appointment for marriage counseling with my wife at the behavioral health clinic.
After I explained my financial situation and my obligation to my family, I informed him that I was working a second job and had earned a little over $500 this week. He asked me if I was sleeping and eating and made the comment that I looked like I was going through ranger school. I leaned over a little bit and noticed he had a ranger tab on his shoulder, which made it clear this was an analogy that he had personally experienced. I explained a little about the work I am doing, and the hours I am working and he assured me that he could tell. I am doing about 90% at night and getting little or no sleep. This also causes me to over sleep often resulting in me missing the first formation.
After the ordeal with the LTC, I went to the company where the company commander (CO) informed me of some new restrictions. My driving privileges on post have been revoked, I am restricted to post and can not leave post without permission and under supervision from someone in my chain of command, I am not allowed to wear civilian clothes, I have to sign into CQ every two hours, and I should be lucky that I don’t get another article 15 for having a second job. Which in order to work a second job I need approval from him.
I asked him how I am suppose to pay my bills, reiterating what I told the BC about creating over $7,000 worth of debt with a personal loan and credit cards since ShamSchool was exposed 4 months ago. He changed the subject like every other person in a command position that I ask that. I am beginning to think that they give these guys classes on how to change the subject when asked a question they don’t know the answer too.
He expressed his anger and told me “You are pressing my button”. On the brighter side this whole incident caused them to expedite the chapter. I signed the chapter paperwork today and was able to get the paperwork I need to clear without orders. They said that I should be able to be fully separated from the Army within two weeks. Which is great, except I haven’t paid my car insurance in two months and they will cancel it on the 30th. I have $66 left in my bank account and that is after I deposited the $500 I made this week. I have no savings in the bank, I have no method to move anywhere as they will only move my belongings and not provide me with the money needed to get a new place. I am looking at getting so far into debt that I won’t be able to recover for some time.
$455 for an entire month? This isn’t a joke, its an insult. If this were any other job I would quit on the spot and go look elsewhere for work. Some people have been in the Army so long, it seems they forget that its also a job and a way to provide for your family.
I have over 45 days of leave right now, would it be so hard to let me use them to find a job and manage my family? I thought so, but they laughed at me and informed me I must be out of my mind. I am so confused right now I don’t know which way is up.
In the 6 months I have been in this company of about 30 people, I will be the fourth one to get chaptered. I was going to be the 5th but he went AWOL over a week ago. At least I didn’t try to slit my wrist with a dull blade that couldn’t get through the first layer of skin, jump on a blackhawk as it was taking off, or down an entire bottle of pills to cry for attention like some other people in my company. They all got plaques, going away parties, and honorable discharges…, I built a website intended to help faceless soldiers because I loved being an NCO and helping others. This is my thanks.
