What kind of military discharges are there

No military benefits or future military service is possible with a military discharge characterized as Dishonorable. These separations generally happen before the new recruit has served more than days. A Medical Discharge may be given to service members who become sick or injured to the point where military duty is no longer possible based on a medical evaluation of the medical condition.

This process can be lengthy and may or may not be appealed depending on a variety of factors. Military members who receive Medical Discharges should apply for VA compensation for service-connected medical issues, especially those that resulted in the discharge. Certain VA benefits and other perks of military service require certain types of military discharges. Veterans who want to apply for VA compensation for service-connected medical issues, VA benefits, or VA services are required to have a military discharge characterized as anything other than dishonorable conditions including Honorable, Under Honorable Conditions, and General.

When applying for VA education benefits and services through any other VA educational benefits program, the discharge may be anything other than under dishonorable conditions Honorable, Under Honorable Conditions, General. When applying for eligibility for VA home loan benefits and services, the military discharge may be characterized as anything other than under dishonorable conditions Honorable, Under Honorable Conditions, General.

The military discharge a veteran gets does not necessarily have to follow them around for life, thanks to an official military process known as the Discharge Review Board DRB. The act of getting a military discharge changed is sometimes known as a discharge upgrade, and all veterans have the right to apply for such an upgrade. There is no automatic upgrade provision available for military discharges regardless of circumstances.

The service member is required to state his or her case for the upgrade and justify it. Each branch of military service conducts such boards, which require the veteran to compile evidence, document reasons why the military discharge should be upgraded , and submit an application package to the review board.

Depending on the branch of military service there may be time limits imposed on the application process for a DRB discharge review; the veteran may be required to apply before a certain time frame expires.

Military discharge review boards may not be able to address certain portions of the discharge such as changing the Narrative Reason For Separation to or from a medical reason. Upgrading a military discharge solely to become eligible for GI Bill benefits or other payments is not permitted, nor is upgrading a military discharge for compassionate reasons, or because of a change of character.

The Discharge Review Board may not be able to address a discharge that was the result of a court-martial. In January , the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs announced an online tool that veterans can use to help them appeal a discharge and have it submitted to a service-level Discharge Review Board.

The online tool, available at the Vets. Gov official site, is said to simplify the process and customize instructions for the veteran based on the answers to preliminary questions. 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. 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 discharge should be considered to be a barrier to future military service.

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. Desertion, murder, fraud, and other crimes performed in uniform can result in court-martial proceedings that lead to a dishonorable discharge.

No military benefits or future military service is possible with a military discharge characterized as dishonorable. These separations generally happen before the new recruit has served more than days.

This process can be lengthy and may or may not be appealed depending on a variety of factors. Military members who receive medical discharges should apply for VA compensation for service-connected medical issues, especially those that resulted in the discharge.

This often happens because of a medical issue or failing to meet the demands of the military, such as not being able to keep up with basic training. For an entry-level separation to occur, an individual's command must take proper steps before serving the separation. For instance, opportunities like one-on-one meetings with the individual or written notices can prove that the individual's command attempted to solve a problem before taking other measures.

In many cases, these opportunities may be enough to get the servicemember back on track. If not, their command can initiate a discharge through the ELS process. Medical discharges can happen for various reasons related to an injury, condition, or disability. In some cases, a medical discharge stems from a condition that is made worse through military service.

In other cases, the injury, illness, or disability may have occurred during military service, preventing the military member from serving properly. A medical discharge is an administrative discharge that typically is not viewed negatively on an individual's record, depending on the condition's circumstances.

To receive this type of military discharge, a service member must undergo a medical evaluation that proves that they are no longer fit to continue their duties.

Often, military members with a medical discharge can apply for disability benefits through the veterans' benefits system. This program requires a service connection before paying out benefits, and veterans can usually prove the service connection with evidence from medical evaluations used to trigger the discharge process. An Other Than Honorable OTH discharge is an administrative discharge that is not viewed as favorably as an honorable or general discharge.

This discharge characterization is usually reserved for military members who have not withheld the integrity expectations of an armed services member. Some situations that could lead to this type of discharge include being found guilty of adultery while in the service or receiving a conviction in civilian court.

The military often gives this discharge to service members who break the rules or exhibit negative behaviors but their actions don't warrant judicial intervention, as is the case with a dishonorable discharge.

Because of the circumstances surrounding it, it is rare for veterans with an OTH discharge to be eligible to receive veterans benefits.

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.