It all began with a pattern of substance abuse.
My husband was an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. The first time he failed a drug test and his leadership went to bat for him. Understandably, they didn’t want to leave him behind. He was demoted, put on extra duty for a month and ordered to briefly attend substance abuse classes.
Less than two months later, I found out I was pregnant and two weeks after he was charged with his first DUI.
Since it was his first documented offense, he went through the Kansas Diversion Program and his charges were dismissed.
The Army, however, took a harder stance. The circumstances called for an Other Than Honorable Discharge, but his command went to bat for him again and secured him a General Discharge, allowing him to retain Veteran Affairs benefits.
I was about six months pregnant when he was discharged.