View Larger Image

What You Need To Know About Other-Than-Honorable Discharge

Photo Credit: The U.S. Army

Unfortunately, all too often I am asked what members should do if they are discharged with something besides an honorable discharge (like general, other-than-honorable, etc.).

First, let us address the different types of 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. Veterans 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 member’s actions to be reprehensible, the general court-martial can determine if 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 U.S. 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.

Searching for resources that’ll help you land your next job?

Did you just get out of the military? Click the banner below for our Mother Of All Transition Guides for what to do next.

Pages: 1 2

G.I. Jobs Staff2018-10-03T15:38:19+00:00

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

”The G.I. Jobs team provides a world-class experience for Veterans and the military community, this leads to transition success. Every day they provide the strategic experience that changes lives, affects the military community and exceeds expectations! This is the one-stop shop for great content and resources."

1SG(R) Justin C. Pearson, U.S. Army

”What sets VIQTORY and G.I. Jobs apart for me is their engagement with the military community. Co-Founder Chris Hale, Justin Pearson and Darryl Williams don't just talk military support - they live it. I saw this during my own transition and continue to see their positive impact on service members and military-friendly employers today".

SGM(R) Michael Quinn, U.S. Army

”Thank you G.I. Jobs for sharing HOT degrees for Veterans. As a Lifelong Learner, there were times when I questioned my degree pathway. For example: I was considering an undergrad in Kinesiology but thankfully my mentor said: “consider Business Administration so you have a full grasp of the business side of training”. Educational attainment should be relevant and current with the future of the industry. Again, thank you for providing this invaluable information."

TSgt Chaunte Myers, U.S. Air Force

”G.I. Jobs Magazine has been a tremendous resource for me as I begin doing the prep work for a successful transition. For example, when reviewing the June 2018 edition, the advice given by CEO Mike Stevens immediately caught my attention. Mike gives great information on career paths in freight railroad, career paths in real estate, and for those who want to be their own boss a franchising feature. As I moved along in the Magazine, I found 11 Resume Tips that can help prevent a sloppy resume. According to Shane Christopher, " A sloppy resume tells employees that you are a sloppy worker" (p.8). Attention to detail and a quality product are critical to success. These are just two examples of how G.I. Jobs Magazine has provided much-needed information in the Journey of the Unknown."

SGM Manuel Atencio, U.S. Army, Vice Chair, Sergeants Major Academy

”Working with Justin and G.I. JOBS, I saw an IMMEDIATE impact on my online visibility, direct contact activity and personal productivity in my focused job search activities. Their job search board immediately identified multiple high paying, skills appropriate positions in my area with companies that I’m excited to explore employment opportunities with. Once we identified those companies, then the team went to work to help me build connections and personal relationships with influencers and inside recruiters and executives at the targeted companies to make sure that I had my foot in the door from the start! My LinkedIn activity increased by more than 5,000% in less than 96 hours. My active contacts (in person or on phone) with in-house recruiters went from 2 contacts in 30 days to 15 contacts in less than 4 days. His ability to connect me with leads and a path to interviews just blew me away! Thank you, Justin and team G.I. JOBS!"

MCPO(R) Chris Thorne, U.S. Navy

”HOOAH! G.I. Jobs has provided a venue for all our brothers and sisters to share experiences from transitioning from the service. They also provide companies a platform to connect with the skilled professionals (service members) they need. I am proud to personally know and served with 2 members of their awesome team. One team one fight!"

1SG(R) Gregory Stafford, U.S. Army

”You made it so easy. Using the G.I. Jobs Veteran Job Board offered another great tool in my transition process. I just selected my area, added my MOS and it pulled up the employers that were looking for me in my hometown. So simple. Thanks, G.I. Jobs Team!"

1SG(R) Brian Hucik, U.S. Army

”I found G.I. Jobs to be helpful in both the general and specific sense. On the general side, G.I. Jobs clearly highlighted not just employment opportunities, but also education and entrepreneurial tips as well. For someone who may just be beginning the move from uniform to the civilian world, it gives a great overview. From a more specific perspective, G.I. Jobs does quite a handy job of showing all walks of military life: they are quick to highlight the junior enlisted as well as the senior officer. It gives the burgeoning civilian the chance to see folks just like them being able to successfully navigate what can be the tricky world of post-military employment."

CW3(R) Jim Verschueren, U.S. Army

”My experience with G.I. Jobs was phenomenal! When I reached out for assistance during my retirement from the Navy last fall the team at G.I. Jobs, and especially Justin Pearson, were invaluable. Justin took time out of his day to do a interview with me and then in turn publish it so potential employers could get to know me. This catapulted my job search as it provided me with the much needed exposure to hiring managers. Secondary to that the job board on G.I. Job's website was a great resource. There are a large variety of positions available and the best part is they are connected with those employers! I would apply to a position, give Justin a heads up, and he would connect me with someone at the company! It doesn't get any better than that!! I cannot thank Justin and the team at G.I. Jobs enough! You all are ROCKSTARS!! If you are veteran, get connected with them. If you are company looking for great people, get connected with them NOW!"

SCPO(R) Patrick Drabick, U.S. Navy

”Transition is often an overwhelming task for most veterans and having a good starting point is key. G.I. Jobs provides this resource. For me it helped me try to identify what industry I wanted to work in and then start to identify companies where I wanted to work. As I was working with my friends Startup PM-ProLearn, G.I. Jobs was a great resource to learn about marketing and business analytics. I wanted to partner with G.I. Jobs so we could be included among the great resources."

S/F Capt, Josh Atkinson, USMCR

”Transitioning is tough. After 20 years of service with multiple deployments, I found transitioning to the civilian world the toughest challenge yet. G.I. Jobs provided the resources that I needed to get me to the next level. After coming onboard to G.I. Jobs, I got to see first hand the team that provides the resources daily to Veterans. Their commitment, dedication, and motivation to assist servicemembers transition to the workforce is nothing less than invigorating. Now as a member of the team, we speak for you every day. We educate employers about your skills, capabilities, and leadership attributes you possess. We are here for you, just like how G.I. Jobs was there for me. "

1SG(R) Darryl Williams, U.S. Army

”"G.I. Jobs is the equivalent to manuals that we used throughout our different military services to learn the particulars of our jobs or profession. The magazine in combination with the website and job board are keys to learning what is needed and how to transition into meaningful employment toward a new profession. "

TRADOC CSM, David S. Davenport Sr., U.S. Army

”"G.I. Jobs is much more than just “Jobs”. It is an amazing One-Stop Shop for anyone transitioning from military service. I used it as a resource during my transition and found the Interview Insights to be incredibly helpful. Today, the Lifestyle and Career Development sections are my go-to. I’m living my best post-Army life, and I thank G.I. Jobs for the role it played in getting me here!"

SFC(R), Anika Anderson-Hack, U.S. Army