The discharge also proves that the service member is no longer required to perform services in the armed forces. There are two types of military discharge by which each distinction is characterized: administrative and punitive.
An administrative discharge is one in which the military separates you from service through administrative actions. This can be an involuntary separation due to medical reasons or improper conduct, or voluntary reasons, such as deciding to leave the service after completing the current term. Administrative separation can lead to an honorable, general, or Other Than Honorable discharge. A punitive discharge is one that commonly results in a dishonorable discharge.
Punitive separation requires the court to step in for reasons such as substance abuse, misconduct, security breaches, or failure to perform military service duties. This unfavorable discharge can affect a service member's ability to complete future military service and receive veteran benefits, like VA disability benefits , from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In most circumstances, service members will receive a discharge under either dishonorable or honorable conditions upon leaving the armed forces.
The following sections explore types of military discharge that fall within administrative and punitive discharges. An honorable discharge is the most common type of military discharge. This discharge shows that a military member did not leave the service under dishonorable conditions, like bad conduct or committing a crime. An honorable discharge allows a military member to receive VA benefits, such as a pension, VA home loan, and health insurance. To receive an honorable discharge, a service member must have completed their service or have a legitimate reason for not doing so and followed the armed forces' rules and expectations.
This form of administrative discharge does not require the military member to go through the court system. Service members who get honorably discharged from the military may also have a medical reason for not continuing their duties.
Such is the case with post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD symptoms, pregnancy, or a disability occurring while on duty. A general discharge is another form of administrative discharge, but it is not counted the same as honorable.
However, a general discharge does not come with the undesirable discharge characterization of a dishonorable discharge. Military members who receive a general discharge often do so because their branch of service considers them to have served honorably.
Still, they may have some marks on their record that prevent them from receiving an honorable discharge. Veterans with this service determination do not have misconduct issues that would not require a judicial punishment, as with a dishonorable discharge. Still, a service member's DD Form may denote why a general discharge was given, and the reasons can be very specific. Cancel Sign In. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks.
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However, they cannot reenlist and do not have eligibility for the GI Bill. This is the third type of administrative discharge and the most undesirable. Security violations, arrest and conviction by civilian authorities, assault, abuse of authority, and drug violations are all examples of the type of conduct warranting an Other Than Honorable discharge.
Although an OTH is considered an administrative rather than a punitive discharge, it can have consequences in civilian life. 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:. If an officer is discharged by a general court-martial, they receive a Dismissal notice which is the same as a dishonorable discharge.
If an individual leaves the military before completing at least days of service, they receive an entry-level separation status. This type of military discharge can happen for a variety of reasons medical, administrative, etc.
In some situations, you may be eligible to apply to have your military discharge upgraded to a higher rating. However, despite, the rumors, there is no automatic upgrade process.
You must then submit the form to the Discharge Review Board within 15 years of your discharge. If your discharge was more than 15 years ago, you must request a change to your military records.
Here is more information about military discharge upgrades. This information should be used as a reference only — especially if you are an employer researching a job applicant.
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