Many civilians commonly assume that people “retire” from the military when they leave the service, which isn’t always the case. Receiving a discharge, or separation, is not the same thing as military retirement. A military discharge is simply defined as a military member being released from their obligation to continue service in the armed forces. A discharge relieves the veteran from any future military service obligations where as a retired reserve individual may be called back to active duty. A separation from the military can be voluntary or involuntary, and may leave additional unfulfilled military service obligation that will need to be carried out in the Individual Ready Reserve.
Types of Military Discharges
The type of military discharge a veteran receives will be listed on his or her DD-214 Military Discharge Paperwork. The following are a list of various types of military discharges:
Honorable Discharge
If a military service member received a good or excellent rating for their service time, by exceeding standards for performance and personal conduct, they will be discharged from the military honorably. An honorable military discharge is a form of administrative discharge.
General Discharge
If a service member’s performance is satisfactory but the individual failed to meet all expectations of conduct for military members, the discharge is considered a general discharge. To receive a general discharge from the military there has to be some form of nonjudicial punishment to correct unacceptable military behavior. A general military discharge is a form of administrative discharge.
Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge
The most severe type of military administrative discharge is the Other Than Honorable Conditions. Some examples of actions that could lead to an Other Than Honorable Discharge include security violations, use of violence, conviction by a civilian court with a sentence including prison time, or being found guilty of adultery in a divorce hearing (this list is not a definitive list; these are only examples). In most cases, veterans who receive an Other Than Honorable Discharge cannot re-enlist in the Armed Forces or reserves, except under very rare circumstances. Veteran’s benefits are not usually available to those discharged through this type of discharge.
Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD)
The Bad Conduct Discharge is only passed on to enlisted military members and is given by a court-martial due to punishment for bad conduct. A Bad Conduct discharge is often preceded by time in military prison. Virtually all veteran’s benefits are forfeited if discharged due to Bad Conduct.
Dishonorable Discharge
If the military considers a service members actions to be reprehensible, the general court-martial can determine a dishonorable discharge is in order. Murder and sexual assault are examples of situations which would result in a dishonorable discharge. If someone is dishonorably discharged from the military they are not allowed to own firearms according to US federal law. Military members who receive a Dishonorable Discharge forfeit all military and veterans benefits and may have a difficult time finding work in the civilian sector.
Officer Discharge
Commissioned officers cannot receive bad conduct discharges or a dishonorable discharge, nor can they be reduced in rank by a court-martial. If an officer is discharged by a general court-martial, they receive a Dismissal notice which is the same as a dishonorable discharge.
Entry Level Separation (ELS)
If an individual leaves the military before completing at least 180 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.) and is neither good or bad, though in many cases, service of less than 180 may prevent some people from being classified as a veteran for state and federal military benefits.
How Military Discharge Information Should Be Used for Job Interviews
This information should be used as a reference only – especially if you are an employer researching a job applicant. Due to legal issues surrounding Equal Employment Opportunities and related laws, one should be careful in the interview process. It is generally illegal to ask which type of discharge a military veteran received, unless it is to ask whether or not an applicant received an Honorable or General Discharge if you are ascertaining whether or not the applicant qualifies for veteran’s preference. Read more about illegal job interview questions.
However, even if the veteran did not receive one of these types of discharges, it doesn’t necessarily mean they were discharged for bad conduct, as the reason could have been a medical discharge or other administrative discharge. It is usually best to keep the line of questioning centered around the job applicant’s experience and qualifications. For example, you can ask them if they have military service,the period of their service, rank at time of separation, type of training, leadership, and work experience, qualifications and certifications, and anything else relevant to the specific position for which they are applying. See your Human Resources office for more information.
Comments
Doing some research: Is it a law that Dishonorably Discharged service members cannot own their own businesses?
Thanks!
I haven’t read anywhere that veterans with a Dishonorable Discharge can’t own a business. However, it is possible there are some regulations which don’t allow government sponsored business loans to people with a Dishonorable Discharge, or otherwise receive federal benefits.
Do you have a reference to the link?
I am composing a list of Veterans for our Church Newsletter. We have one young man who I understand was “dishonorably discharged” but I have no details, etc. Is there a way I can find out if it was the “ELS” or truly a dishonorable discharge without having to ask his family?
Terri, as far as I know, there is not a public record which lists the type of discharge a former military member received.
An Entry Level Separation occurs when an individual serves less than 180 days, and the individual is therefore not classified as a veteran according to most guidelines. An Entry Level Separation can happen for many reasons and is neither good nor bad (it could be administrative, for medical reasons, etc.). I don’t know how to determine if someone was separated with an ELS classification without asking that person or a family member or friend who would know.
A Dishonorable Discharge usually occurs due to a serious offense and in many cases there is a crime involved. In some instances it may have been mentioned in the press. If so, it may be possible to research the individual using a search engine like Google or Bing, or by doing a background investigation on the person.
That said, I would be careful with this situation, as it might bring about some unwanted attention to the individual in question. I would consider speaking with your pastor or church leader to determine the best course of action here, and possibly ask him or her to approach the family to ascertain the individual’s veteran’s status.
If the former military member does not qualify as a veteran then you should leave that person off the list. Otherwise, I would avoid listing an individual’s type of discharge along with his or her name. This could be considered an invasion of privacy and invite unwelcome questions about an individual. It is best to celebrate a veteran’s service without limitations or qualifications.