Military discharges in the U.S. Armed Forces determine a veteran’s eligibility for benefits like VA healthcare, GI Bill education, and disability compensation. There are five primary types, each reflecting service quality and circumstances of separation. Here’s a breakdown:
- Honorable Discharge: The highest form, issued for exemplary service meeting or exceeding standards. Veterans receive full benefits, including education, loans, and medical care. Most separations (about 80-90%) fall here after completing enlistment or honorable early release.
- General Discharge (Under Honorable Conditions): Given for satisfactory but not outstanding performance, often due to minor misconduct, medical issues, or administrative reasons. Benefits are mostly available, but some (like certain GI Bill perks) may be restricted. It’s common for those with performance lapses not warranting punishment.
- Other Than Honorable (OTH) Discharge: The least favorable administrative discharge, typically for serious misconduct like drug use, absence without leave (AWOL), or patterns of misbehavior. Veterans lose most VA benefits but may appeal for upgrades. It carries a stigma, impacting civilian employment.
- Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD): A punitive discharge from a special court-martial for offenses like theft or assault. It strips nearly all benefits, prohibits firearm ownership, and is equivalent to a felony-level mark. Only enlisted personnel receive this; it’s not administrative.
- Dishonorable Discharge (DD): The most severe, issued only by general court-martial for grave crimes like desertion, murder, or sexual assault. It results in total loss of benefits, voting rights in some states, and felony-like consequences. Rare (under 1% of discharges), it’s essentially a military “felony conviction.”
Discharge type appears on DD Form 214. Veterans with less-than-honorable statuses can apply for upgrades via Discharge Review Boards, but success rates vary (10-20%). Understanding these helps in navigating post-service life.