What are the different types of military discharges and what do each represent?

MAJ David Vermillion — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:45:54 -0500

What are some benefits of each discharge?
Can they be changed?

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 15 at 2016 9:50 AM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:50:46 -0500

most interesting ... Good Picture of a Good Looking Team... Pre 9/11
DOL Brothers...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 9:55 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:55:58 -0500

http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/news/leaving-on-good-terms-types-of-discharges-their-consequences/article_7a646c48-8852-5ba4-a8d3-d4c01e90c662.html

and

http://military-law.lawyers.com/veterans-benefits/discharges-and-their-effect-on-veteran-benefits.html

will answer that question

Leaving on good terms: Types of discharges, their consequences

When a Soldier completes his or her obligation under a service contract and separates from the Army, the Soldier receives a discharge. In general, there are five different types of

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 9:57 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:57:44 -0500

Types of Discharges are Honorable, General, Other than Honorable (OTH), Bad Conduct Dischrage (BCD), Dishonorable, Medical just to name a few without getting into specifics.

Honorable is as it is, you served your time without any NJPs (non-judicial punishments).
General. This can vary depending on situations. Some which can be based on NJPs, medical with a short time in service (being diagnosed with asthma, pregnancy up to 20 weeks, etc.)
OTH: This can be stemmed from NJPs, AWOL/UA situations just to name a few.
BCD: UCMJ based, mostly from disobeying a direct order to assault on senior enlisted, same rank or officer, etc.
Dishonorable: Worst (IMHO). Stemmed from serious criminal charges brought up from UCMJ violations. If it's bad like manslaughter, DUI, murder, arson, etc. this is what comes about.

BUT......sometimes those charges can be dropped for a lesser punishment and it can change the level of discharge.

To answer about changing/upgrading your discharge: ( I quoted because I got it from militarywallet.com).
"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 apply to have your discharge upgraded by downloading DD Form 293 –Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States. 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."

EDIT: The honorable discharge portion, is dependent on your record and time of service. Things can happen and yet it's not serious enough to lose an honorable discharge.

Response by SPC Greg Campbell made Apr 24 at 2017 1:19 PM

SPC Greg Campbell — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:19:28 -0400

I had a problem with the hole between my nose and chin

Response by LTJG C Mader made Apr 24 at 2017 5:20 PM

LTJG C Mader — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 17:20:11 -0400

Not just the type of discharge but the code is important

Response by SGT Adrian Thompson made Apr 24 at 2017 6:28 PM

SGT Adrian Thompson — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:28:05 -0400

They can be upgraded, but it's a lengthy process.

Response by SPC Kyle Williams made Apr 24 at 2017 8:46 PM

SPC Kyle Williams — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:46:51 -0400

U forgot general under honorable conditions

Response by SFC Tom Caldwell made Apr 24 at 2017 9:43 PM

SFC Tom Caldwell — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 21:43:48 -0400

There use to be a "General under honorable circumstances ". I received one due to a blown knee. After it was repaired, I was good for enlistment again. Second was an honorable.

The spin code on any discharge is really what can make or break you.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Apr 24 at 2017 10:22 PM

CPT Tom Monahan — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 22:22:37 -0400

When I chaptered a soldier out for DWI, drugs (I did give a second chance to anyone), or just not being a match for the service I processed them out honorably. Why? They usually were still in their 20s and I was basically firing them, not trying to ruin the rest of their lives. Now I had a few that got chaptered for violent acts, dealing, or theft and they got generals or went by the Courts Martial recommendation.

Response by PO1 Jerry Gregorcyk made Apr 24 at 2017 11:02 PM

PO1 Jerry Gregorcyk — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 23:02:26 -0400

Had a nephew that had just graduated Ranger school as a USA Officer. Went out with his buddies after grad and got snot slingin drunk and promptly got tased and arrested when he tried to run from and fought LEO. Ended up with a dismissal which is supposed to be the equivalent of a dishonorable for enlisted. Less than 5 years later he was CFO of an oil field supply company making high 6 figures, now he has his own business buying and selling oil leases making 7 figures per year. So I have to wonder if the officer equivalent of a dishonorable is really that bad at all!

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Apr 24 at 2017 11:22 PM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 23:22:01 -0400

You don't know? Oh lord help us.

Response by PFC Jesse Stinton made Apr 25 at 2017 1:26 AM

PFC Jesse Stinton — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 01:26:40 -0400

Dishonorable discharged.. earned for something serious like killing a man or sleeping with a generals daughter.

Response by MSgt Elaine Bowman made Apr 25 at 2017 7:52 AM

MSgt Elaine Bowman — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:52:35 -0400

Had a nephew who couldn't make it through basic (he was Guard), decided he didn't want to be in the military, even the guard, so he kept failing PT. They discharged him with an honorable, BUT, his re-enlistment code tells the story - the only way the military would let him in was if the zombie apocalypse and the North Koreans were invading at the same time - he was/is a little whiner to begin with and the military just couldn't make him shape up. He works in a cell phone store and has the ambition of a garden slug.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 7:52 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:52:36 -0400

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43928.pdf

Some fairly recent info

R43928.pdf

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Apr 25 at 2017 1:49 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:49:12 -0400

There is one problem that precludes too damned many prior service people who have a lot of highly needed specialized skills that no one has mentioned. We are all too damned old and been hurt too badly too many times. Some of us have 100% disabilities from the Department of Veterans Affairs. If the Army doctors could just correct those little problems we would love to reenlist and would do it in a heart beat!

Response by PFC Howard Bryant Blackshear made Apr 25 at 2017 2:08 PM

PFC Howard Bryant Blackshear — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 14:08:26 -0400

''The Army created a new board in ''P.T.S.D. Discharges ''only'' go to http://arba,army.pentagon.mil/adrb.p.t.s.d. '''''And get it upgraded to a ''HONORABLE'', DO IT KNOW'', THANKS FOR SERVING''

Response by PFC Shawn Sabino made Apr 25 at 2017 9:18 PM

PFC Shawn Sabino — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 21:18:02 -0400

Can an R-4 discharge be changed?

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Apr 25 at 2017 11:36 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 23:36:23 -0400

One that I don't see mentioned here is one that we used a bunch in the late sixties. It was called an "Undesirable Discharge" and was printed on yellow paper. I don't remember all of the details on what it was awarded for but it was an administrative discharge and did not involve any punishment other than a discharge. It simply meant that the army felt that you were not fit to serve. When I was our unit operations NCO we handed out a bunch of them. Despite the fact that it was classified as being "less than honorable" lots of the scumbags that got one were actually proud of it.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Apr 26 at 2017 7:05 AM

CPT Tom Monahan — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 07:05:31 -0400

All, this is a huge leadership issue. A soldier who has served honorably deserves that type of discharge. Now if the are misconduct issues fix them with NJP and don't award Good Conduct Medals or Gold Stripes in the Navy. Every time a commander uses NJP means the case doesn't warrant a courts martial but it must be ready to go to one. The soldier always has the option to turn down NJP and go to court. Offering NJP means you as a commander don't think the troop needs their life ruined; as a mater
of fact, you see the soldier as a
a non-criminal. You are letting them off with a slap vs a Federal Convictions. Now, the charges you use NJP for do matter. A brawler or wife beater is not honorable in my mind. Someone who gets popped on a drug test or gets a first time DUI is dealing not a violent criminal. They are not suitable to be soldiers anymore, but are they bad people? We cannot have people in the service who violate orders, but at the same time we cannot crucify people for doing things that are somewhat socially acceptable in the civilian world. If you firing the person vs convicting them you should usually go with a honorable discharge.