How Does Military Discharge Work?
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Typical Discharges
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A military discharge is the releasing of a soldier from service in the army. In the United States military, enlisted men and women usually serve an 8-year military service obligation (MSO), but only serve 6 years of this on active duty. At the end of 6 years, they usually receive a "separation" allowing them to return to civilian life with the possibility of being recalled. After 2 more years, they can receive an honorable discharge. Military discharges sometimes occur for other reasons, however.
Administrative Discharges
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The three types of administrative discharges are honorable, general and other than honorable (OTH). Soldiers whose conduct has been rated good to excellent receive honorable discharges. These can be given for pregnancy, physical or mental disabilities, a hardship such as a sick family member who can't make ends meet without the soldier, because of military cut-backs, or for other reasons. General discharges, by contrast, are usually punitive. They can be given out for drug use and, currently, for open homosexuality. They can also be given out for poor conduct by a soldier.
An OTH discharge is the most severe sort of administrative discharge. Usually, someone who receives an OTH has been convicted and sentenced to prison by a civilian court, sometimes, the OTH is given to service members who have been divorced because of adultery in marriage, or have done something else that is seen as discrediting the military. Both general and OTH discharges disqualify service members from some military benefits. -
Judicial Discharges
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Judicial discharges are only given after a court martial. A bad conduct discharge is often given after a sentence in military prison. A dishonorable discharge is the most severe kind, and is almost always preceded by prison. Dishonorable discharges are only given out for the most serious offenses such as murder, sexual assault or desertion. Both kinds of discharges result in the loss of military benefits. Judicial discharges, as well as general and OTH discharges, can be appealed in a military court.
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