<P> For the first three seasons, details on Booth's family background were generally sketchy as he rarely mentioned his family members . He is still uncomfortable discussing his childhood and becomes especially defensive when asked about it . Prior to Jared's appearance in the episode "The Con Man in the Meth Lab", Booth's long - time friend Dr. Camille Saroyan was the only one who knew about his childhood; in the same episode, Sweets observed the brothers and independently came to the conclusion himself that they were products of a physically abusive household . However, it is not until Season 5 when Booth's grandfather Hank is introduced that his abusive background is fully revealed . </P> <P> In Season 8 Booth bluntly tells Brennan that he "grew up in a household of violence and hatred", one of the few times the character has ever openly spoken of his past . When his younger brother Jared is first introduced, it becomes apparent that Booth was estranged from his family . Their father was an abusive alcoholic; this was reinforced by the fact that Booth is able to almost instantly recognize suspects with a drinking problem even when they are sober . Booth used to protect Jared from their father when he became violent, and was extremely protective of him . The extent of their father's abuse was never fully revealed but based on Booth's vague admissions throughout the show and Hank and Marianne's own statements, it was likely that he was also emotionally neglectful of his ex-wife and sons . One of Booth's deepest fears and insecurities is that he would become like his father, which continues to trouble him to this day . It is implied that their mother was also subjected to abuse by their father as she once mentioned to Brennan that she was thrown down a flight of stairs by her ex-husband . Eventually she left the family out of desperation . In the Season 8 episode "The Party in the Pants", she contacts Booth for the first time in over two decades to invite him to her wedding . The boys were essentially singlehandedly raised by their paternal grandfather Hank (Ralph Waite), whom Booth affectionately calls "Pops". Hank had stumbled upon his son abusing Seeley and drove him out of the house . He calls Booth "Shrimp" as Seeley was a young child then . From then on, he raised his two grandsons as his own . Booth has admitted that he might have killed himself as a kid had it not been for his grandfather . </P> <P> After losing his athletic scholarship Booth enlisted in the United States Army . He is at least a third - generation military servicemember--his grandfather, Hank, was an MP veteran of the Korean War and his father was a veteran of the Vietnam War . It is mentioned in season 4 that, prior to Jared's court - martial and dishonorable discharge for stealing evidence to save Booth, "no Booth has ever gotten a dishonorable discharge ." Based on facts subsequently revealed throughout the show, he would have served during the 1990s, prior to joining the FBI . He was a sniper in the 101st Airborne Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and Special Forces . He served in the Gulf War, Somalia, Guatemala, and Kosovo, along with other places . He also stated that he has trained with Delta Force operators and it has been indicated that he has experience in clandestine operations . For a time, he held the record for the longest shot made in combat ("over a kilometer"). In the Season 5 finale, he is shown wearing a 101st Airborne Division combat patch, Ranger and Special Forces qualification tabs, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and Parachutist, Military Free Fall Parachutist, and Air Assault badges . He also has a Pathfinder Badge in his shadow boxes in his office . His achievement and service medals can be seen in the shadow boxes mounted on the wall behind his desk in his office . While in the military, he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart, and an Army Good Conduct Medal . He separated from the Army at the rank of Master Sergeant . </P> <P> In the episode "The Beginning in the End," Booth is approached by a Colonel Pelant and handed a letter from the Secretary of Defense requesting him to return to active duty to train Afghan soldiers at "tracking and apprehending insurgents ." He is offered a promotion to Sergeant Major and a position as an advisor to the Afghan National Army . Although initially reluctant, Booth accepts and is deployed to Afghanistan during the time frame between Seasons 5 and 6 when he, Bones, Angela, and Hodgins leave Washington, D.C. for a year - long sabbatical . </P>

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