My 19 YO son enlisted in the Army. He signed papers for 4 years active duty. Has not passed AVAB yet. What can he do?

Question

My 19 year old son enlisted in the Army.  He signed papers for 4 years active duty, 4 years reserves. He hasn’t even passed the ASVAB yet.  His recruiter is awful and won’t answer phone calls or texts most of the time.  He has my son going to a 3 week study class to help him score better on the ASVAB.  He’s wanting to go in for welding but was told that it’s really hard to get that career focus and it may not be available after basic training.  What are his options?  My son, Blake, doesn’t want to do anything else?? Does he have any options to get him out of his contract? What can he do??

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

Your son still has some options, even after signing his enlistment contract. Since he hasn’t passed the ASVAB yet, he hasn’t fully qualified for service, and this may give him some flexibility. He could work with his recruiter or someone higher up to explore if there’s a possibility to delay or adjust his enlistment based on his ASVAB results. 
 
If his heart is set on welding, it’s important to keep communicating with the recruiter about this specific career path. While recruiters sometimes suggest that career fields might not be available after basic training, your son should continue pushing for what he wants and make sure his preferences are noted officially. It might be a good idea to seek a different recruiter or someone in the recruiting office who is more responsive to his concerns. 
 
If your son is feeling uncertain about his commitment, he can inquire about a possible discharge under certain conditions before basic training begins. It's worth contacting the local recruiting office or a legal professional to explore these options, as it can vary depending on the timing and circumstances of his contract.

Q: My 19 YO son enlisted in the Army. He signed papers for 4 years active duty. Has not passed AVAB yet. What can he do?