What kind of discharges are there from the military

Contrary to popular belief there are not only the two most well-known discharges which are characterized as Honorable and Dishonorable. There are many more. Some military discharges are punitive, others are administrative. Some are related to medical conditions, some are for the convenience of the government.

Knowing the nature of a specific discharge can help a veteran or a family member better understand what VA benefits and other options are open to a veteran who was discharged without the Honorable designation.

It is very important to remember that several of these discharges are purely procedural and do not reflect poorly on the veteran, but where the military discharge is punitive, the phrasing of that discharge is usually a very good indication of that, especially in the case of those characterized as Dishonorable.

The various branches of the United States Military may have terms for these discharges that are unique to that service, whether used formally or informally. In the Air Force, for example, the Administrative Separation process for military discharges that do not require a court-martial is sometimes referred to shorthand-style as an Admin Sep.

Some may refer to entry-level separations as Basic Training separations or a Basic Training discharge. This is the highest discharge a military member can receive. It indicates the service member performed duties well, faithfully executed the mission, and was an asset to the branch of the military where the member served. This type of military administrative discharge is motivated by different things depending on the branch of service.

The overall conduct of the military member may have been exemplary in some areas, but other areas of misconduct or failure to adapt to the military environment may have resulted in such a discharge. Depending on the severity of the problems mentioned in the DD Form , the veteran may receive a reenlistment code that determines the service members eligibility for any future military service.

This is the most severe of the administrative discharges which do not require a court-martial. Reasons for the OTH discharge may depend on the severity of the offenses, how a particular branch of the military has traditionally handled such issues, and other variables. Security violations, trouble with civilian authorities, assault, drug possession or various degrees of drug violations or other problems could all potentially motivate an Other Than Honorable Discharge.

The OTH should be considered to be a barrier to future military service. A Bad Conduct Discharge comes as the result of a court-martial and may be followed by prison time depending on the nature and severity of the conduct. This type of military discharge is not considered an administrative one and is a barrier to future military service. This is the most punitive of all military discharges and is given as the result of a court-martial.

A Bad Conduct Discharge BCD is one of the forms of a punitive discharge, meaning that it must go through the military justice system to happen. This type of discharge is for a military member who exhibits bad conduct in some way, but it's less severe of a punishment than a dishonorable discharge. Some potential reasons for a BCD include alcohol or drug abuse or repeatedly failing to follow orders.

Often, people who receive a BCD are imprisoned beforehand, either through the military or as a civilian. The discharge leaves a negative mark on a person's record and will prevent them from getting veteran benefits. A DD will also likely note the reason s for the discharge.

A dishonorable discharge is the type of military discharge that carries the most consequences. This discharge typically comes from behaviors or actions that go entirely against military rules, such as rape, murder, or missing from military service. The punitive discharge stems from a court-martial process and remains on a service member's permanent record like other types of military discharge.

With this discharge, not only will a service member not receive VA benefits, but they also are unable to have firearms or ammunition. The discharge can show up on federal background checks, making it challenging for a veteran to find employment. Veterans with this determination may also not be able to vote, work for the government, get a loan, or receive government assistance.

Commissioned officers who need to be discharged from the military undergo a different process than non-officers. Although they still may receive a negative discharge, they do not receive a BCD or a dishonorable discharge for wrongdoings.

Instead, they may receive what's known as a dismissal or officer discharge that relieves them from their service. Although the names aren't the same, an officer discharge carries the same weight as a BCD or dishonorable discharge in terms of the officer's record and their ability to claim veterans benefits later. With an officer, discharge can come with a lowered rank set to the last rank the officer completed without issue and the inability to receive benefits.

This happens if the officer has been court-martialed. Willful misconduct , by definition, is the purposeful act of doing something wrong or improperly. In the military, someone may perform willful misconduct if they intentionally go against military rules and regulations, like driving a vehicle while intoxicated. This is a purposeful act that the person knows could cause harm to themselves, yet commits the act anyway.

If the VA determines that your actions leading to an injury, disability, or death are subject to willful misconduct, it can refuse to pay you disability compensation. Similarly, the veteran's family may not qualify for VA benefits if the veteran's actions fall under willful misconduct.

Tobacco use, alcohol or drug abuse, and suicide can potentially fall under willful misconduct definitions. Your military discharge remains on your record permanently and may affect your ability to find civilian employment and receive VA or government assistance. In most cases, veterans with punitive discharges are ineligible for any VA benefits, and some benefits are not made available to veterans with discharges other than honorable. Your discharge can also affect your ability to reenlist.

The military does offer an appeals process for military members who feel that their discharge is inaccurate or unfair. However, these appeal requests frequently get denied. If a veteran does make it to the point of a discharge review, they must show plenty of evidence to the administrative discharge board to turn over a decision, especially in the case of a punitive discharge.

Share Tweet Pin It Email. A court-martial trial is required before an enlisted service member can be given a punitive discharge. There are two types of punitive discharges that apply to all branches of the armed forces. A military service member will receive a bad conduct discharge after being convicted of an offense in a court-martial and usually after they have served time in jail.

Some of the offenses warranting a bad conduct discharge are: being absent without leave, being drunk on duty, driving under the influence, committing adultery, arrest for disorderly conduct and passing bad checks. Only general courts-martial can order a dishonorable discharge, which is the worst type of discharge a service member can receive.

It is often given along with a stint in military prison. The type of offenses warranting a dishonorable discharge include: murder, fraud, desertion, treason, espionage, and sexual assault. In addition to losing VA benefits, those with a dishonorable discharge also lose civilian rights, such as the right to bear arms.

This is the military equivalent to having a felony record. They may have difficulty finding work in the civilian sector. Officers in the armed services can be imprisoned in military prison for serious crimes. They cannot be reduced in rank by a court-martial, nor can they receive a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.

It may be a mental or physical condition that prevents continued service. Here are some examples:. They are unable to complete basic training, unable to adapt to military life, or unwilling to complete the training. Such discharges are not considered good or bad. These are rare and take place when it is in the government's best interest to discharge the service member for a mental of physical condition.

For example, a Navy enlistee whose training is in shipboard communications suffers from severe and intractable sea sickness. Or a service member has a personality disorder that makes it impossible to work in groups. These are used when a service member becomes ill or is injured during their military service and are now unable to perform the duties required of a productive member of the military.

These separations are based on a medical evaluation. Most people who receive a medical discharge are entitled to VA benefits. If it is a service related injury or medical condition such as traumatic brain injury, combat injury, PTSD, or a chemical exposure, the individual may be eligible for disability benefits.

There is a process that allows veterans to appeal their discharge status in the hope of having it upgraded to an honorable discharge. This is through the Discharge Review Board. Every branch of the military has its own Discharge Review Board.

The petitioning veteran must compile evidence, document the reasons for upgrading the discharge, and submit an application packet to the review board.