Question:

I need legal advice. Two years ago, I called a Veteran Crisis Line. An hour or so later, the police knocked on my door and told me I had to go to the hospital. I was discharged, cooperated with prescribed therapy and my case was closed with my being listed as low risk. I ETS'd around the time that my assigned therapy ended (discharging honorably, not medically). Now, I'm starting a family and, because I need access to medical care and education benefits, I am working to reenlist, but the recruitment and sustainment command is saying that I can't because I called a crisis line and was hospitalized. This doesn't strike me as correct or legal, given that the only reason I knew about crisis lines was because I was told of them in resiliency training and we were assured that calling one would result in no negative consequences. Please advise, Jack

Jim's Reply:

Reenlistment options change greatly according to the need of the force. In years past young men were told by judges in their hometowns to sign up for the Army or go to jail. We don't hear that these days...standards are a bit higher.

During a time of need, such as the Vietnam War era, standards of education, past behavior and so on were lowered to fulfill manpower needs. It was a joke that if you could fog a mirror you were eligible to go to Vietnam.

Today the force is relatively well filled with voluntary recruits entering their training so standards change to match what is needed for the future. That you've had an inpatient (Baker Act?) mental health crisis may restrict you from many future privileges that you haven't learned of yet. For example, you won't be allowed to purchase or possess firearms unless and until you appeal your status to the FBI NICS system.

If you would like to pursue your opportunities to remedy this, these folks may be able to help.

I have to point out that if you're an honorably discharged veteran the VA is there for your health care and education benefits as well as helping you with some counseling to get you way past the current problems. You can apply for health care here.

You can get readjustment counseling at a Vet center here.  This is one of the best services available...go for it.

Good luck.