I often get asked if I'm a veteran by employers. I've never pretended that I am a veteran. I was in the army, made it through basic and infantry school. After 3 weeks at my first duty station, I went to the Doctor to seek help and treatment for depression.

My squad leader was extremely disappointed and angry that I had gone to the doctor, and was treated as if I was convicted of a crime. That's genuinely what it felt like being diagnosed with depression. It was as if I had committed a felony, or something

Ended up getting chaptered out as entry level discharge which was not something I had a choice in. As soon as I was diagnosed, they just started the process. So as of today, I don't really consider myself a veteran because of entry level separation. But I do have completion of basic and infantry school, blue cord, active duty war campaign badge. But I've never really called myself a veteran and kind of keep quiet about it.