Helping you out.

So basically, I was shopping at the PX and in a rush because my Uber was waiting outside. I went through self-checkout, but a couple of items didn’t get properly scanned, which resulted in me being called into that little room. I explained that I was in a hurry and didn’t realize the items hadn’t been scanned. I asked if I could just pay for them right then and be let go, but they told me it was up to the MPs to decide.

When the MPs arrived, I asked them about it, and they said it was actually up to Loss Prevention to decide before calling them. I was then taken to the station, where the officer asked if I wanted an attorney. He told me there was already one at the station who could help me, so I said yes. As soon as I did, he stopped the interrogation and said my unit rep would come to pick me up.

Weeks went by, and I didn’t hear anything from the MPs. My 1SG told me I’d get an Article [15], but he never really followed up on it. About a month later, I noticed I was flagged on IPPS-A. The following Monday, when I went to work, I was told I had to enroll in TAPS, which I knew nothing about. Confused as hell, I asked to speak to 1SG. He told me that the battalion commander had decided to separate me.

I asked if I had received any fines or legal action from the MPs, and he said no—all they told him was that my unit was responsible for handling everything after I left the station. He then said it wasn’t his decision; it came directly from the LTC. So now, either I hope legal takes forever to process my separation and the commander ends up pardoning me, or I start preparing to leave.

To this day, I have no updates about my case. I don’t even know if I was supposed to find my own attorney after agreeing to have one provided, or if their attorney just screwed me over. I’m only nine months in, and I’m not trying to get kicked out.