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What Does A General Discharge Mean?

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Last updated on 4 min read

General discharge means that you met the requirements of service , likely with some minor disciplinary actions, or failure to meet certain standards. However, overall, your military performance was considered satisfactory.

Why would someone get a general discharge?

General discharges are given to service members whose performance is satisfactory but is marked by a considerable departure in duty performance and conduct expected of military members.

Is a general discharge bad?

A general discharge under honorable conditions means that your service was satisfactory , but did not deserve the highest level of discharge for performance and conduct. Many veterans with this type of discharge may have engaged in minor misconduct.

How does a general discharge work?

General Discharge

A General military discharge is a form of administrative 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, Under Honorable Conditions.

Is a general discharge the same as an honorable?

In contrast, a “General, Under Honorable Conditions” Discharge (commonly referred to as a General Discharge) is for service members whose service was satisfactory , but involved situations where the Soldier’s conduct and/or performance of duty were not so meritorious to warrant an Honorable Discharge.

Will a general discharge hurt my future?

With a General Discharge, Under Honorable Conditions, these rights remain intact. 5. It won’t impact future job opportunities in most circumstances . It is true that a future employer is going to prefer an individual with an Honorable Discharge over an individual with a General Discharge, Under Honorable Conditions.

What benefits do you lose with a general discharge?

General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions

Veterans who receive general discharges under honorable conditions are entitled to all VA benefits , with the exception of GI Bill education benefits.

Can you become a cop with a general discharge?

Active Duty and Military Reserves

General discharge and uncharacterized discharge are also accepted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who are currently in the military must provide a letter from their Commanding Officer stating the expected discharge status and date.

Are you considered a veteran with a general discharge?

Under federal law, a veteran is any person who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. Discharges marked “general and under honorable conditions ” also qualify. ... They would be considered a veteran no matter how long they served.

How long does a general discharge take?

From start to finish, the process usually takes at least 2 months and can take over a year to complete .

Do you lose your security clearance general discharge?

Do you lose your security clearance general discharge? Generally, a security clearance after separation from the military is good for 24 months or 2 years .

Can you upgrade a general discharge?

If you have a general courts-martial discharge or want to a change your discharge to or from medical retirement or medical discharge, you will have to apply to the Board for Correction of Military Records . DRBs do not have authority to make these sorts of changes.

Can you rejoin the Army with a general discharge?

There are several types of discharges that can keep you from re-enlisting in the service, including a bad conduct discharge, an “other than honorable discharge” and a dishonorable discharge. On the other hand, if you received a general or honorable discharge, you may qualify for re-enlistment .

Do you still get your GI Bill with a general discharge?

The GI Bill has special eligibility requirements. For the GI Bill, your DD-214 has to actually say “Honorable.” A General discharge isn’t enough, and unlike all other VA benefits, you cannot become eligible for the GI Bill through a successful Character of Discharge decision .

How do you get a general discharge?

You can obtain an Army honorable discharge simply by fulfilling your enlistment commitment . You may also be discharged for falling short of Army standards, failing basic training, committing a major infraction of Army rules or an outright crime.

Is administrative separation an honorable discharge?

For administrative separations, a service member can be separated according to one of the following three categories (you cannot receive a dishonorable discharge through an administrative separation): Honorable; General (Under Honorable Conditions); or. Other than Honorable.

Edited and fact-checked by the FixAnswer editorial team.
David Martineau

David is a home and garden expert who writes about home improvement, gardening, interior design, and property maintenance.