How to Find Employment With a Bad Conduct Discharge From the Military

How you conduct yourself as a military service member can have lifelong affects. Receiving a bad conduct discharge, or BCD, not only leads to forfeiture of all military and veteran's benefits, a BCD can also hinder your post-service employment opportunities, says Field Artillery Officer and Army Times writer, Mathew B. Tully, Esq. There are no federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination against criminals, but some states prohibit employers from discriminating against job applicants on the basis of criminal charges, which includes punitive military discharges.

Things You'll Need

• DD 214 discharge certificate

Instructions

1. Obtain a copy of your DD 214 military discharge certificate, which lists the exact wording of your discharge. While bad conduct discharges are usually ordered for serious violations, BCDs are commonly given for nonviolent incidents such as desertion, according to Associate Publisher.

2. Attach a copy of your DD 214 to your job application. Many civilians often confuse a BCD with an outright dishonorable discharge, which is the most severe punitive discharge which comes from serious crimes such as robbery or violent crimes. Additionally, enclose a written explanation that details the circumstances behind the violation that led to your punitive discharge, and discuss the changes you have made since separating from the military. If you are upfront and honest with a prospective employer, he may take more favorably to your BCD, rather than finding out on his own when he runs a background check.

3. Request discharge upgrade to remove the BCD from your military record. If you can demonstrate that the BCD has an adverse affect on your ability to find employment, your respective military branch may upgrade your discharge status. Keep a record of each job denial you receive and contact an attorney or other professional with experience in military affairs to file a discharge upgrade request. Consider waiting a few years after receiving a BCD before requesting for a discharge upgrade to allow time to establish a stellar post-service conduct record, suggests Tully.

4. Apply for jobs that do not require a background check where your BCD will go undiscovered. Most jobs these days require a background check as a part of the job application. However, some small, local businesses and some online companies do not employ background checks in their application process. If you are unable to find this type of employment, consider starting a small business that requires little start-up capital.

Tips & Warnings

• Remain out of trouble after receiving a BCD to prevent accumulating civilian criminal charges. If you accumulate post-service charges, this will deter your ability to demonstrate that your BCD was a one-off situation and further hinder your chances of finding employment.

References

• Eielson Air Force Base: Different Types of Military Discharge; Emily Wilson; October 2008
• Army Times: Less-Than-Honorable Discharge Does Not Have to be Permanent; Matthew B. Tully, Esq.; September 2008
• Military Benefits: Veteran's Benefits Explained
• Associate Publisher: Military Discharge
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Employment Background Checks: A Jobseeker's Guide; February 2011