More often than not, at least in the Navy, they were used in cases of individuals who simply were not suited for the service, for whatever reason – they might not have been bad folks, but they simply did not work well in the military environment.

In this particular case, it was probably just a matter of expediency for the military. For instances where people misbehave in basic, the Navy very rarely viewed them as worthwhile of taking to courts martial and doing the whole shebang on them – just get them out, and keep moving. Unfortunately, in this particular case, that expediency still allowed an apparently violent and unstable individual to legally own a firearm.

The form 4473 may ask about “other than honorable,” (if I remember the phrasing correctly) but the statute specifically says “dishonorable.”

18 U.S.C. 922

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person–
[...]
(6) who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions; [emphasis added]

The plain language of the statute controls, so an administrative discharge should not make him a “prohibited person.”

The form 4473 is quite specific about that.

The paper is not correct here.

Early reports mentioned that he threw a lunch tray at his Drill Sergeant (and survived :P ). I guess that was enough to throw him out, but not enough for a bad conduct discharge.

1. He popped positive for drugs when he showed up at PI (results take a few weeks).
2. Criminal or juvenile record they tried to hide when they enlisted – shows up as the FBI processes their Security Clearance.
3. Physical Fitness – Recruits who can’t keep up are sent to Physical Conditioning Platoon (living Hell). If the still can’t keep up in a few weeks, they get discharged.
4. Psyche problems – sleep walking, freak-outs, threats of suicide.
5. Refusal to train, disobedience, etc. – low enough level to not warrant a Bad Conduct Discharge. The Corps just dumps this garbage.

Probably not an injury. They just put recruits back into training after they heal. If it is too serious, they get a Medical discharge.

I felt for the guys in my Platoon that got hurt, and one who tried to hid his sleep walking but got picked up by MP’s wandering the base in the middle of the nights.

The ones who just pussied out were worthless pieces of shit like this guy.