Many people enlist in the military and finish their time successfully. Those individuals will likely receive an honorable discharge. For some people, things happen and they aren’t able to finish their enlistment term, so they may receive a different type of discharge.
While some people know about other-than-honor and dishonorable discharges, there are others that don’t necessarily have to do with bad conduct. Understanding these may help these individuals as they navigate life after discharge.
General discharge
A general discharge is one step down from an honorable discharge. Individuals who receive this type of discharge are said to have served honorably, but there’s something minor in their record that prevents them from having an honorable discharge. The reason for the general discharge may be noted on the long-form DD-214.
Medical discharge
A medical discharge isn’t viewed as a negative discharge. It simply means that person had a medical condition occur that prevents them from being able to serve in the military. This can be an injury, illness or disability. In some cases, the person who’s discharged may receive a disability rating that enables them to receive services from the Veterans Administration or other programs.
Entry-level discharge
An entry-level discharge is one that occurs within the first 180 days of service. This administrative discharge can occur for a variety of reasons. It’s not viewed as a negative or positive discharge. Instead, it typically just means the individual isn’t compatible with military service.
It’s sometimes possible for a person to apply for an upgrade to their discharge. These cases have very specific conditions, so it may behoove the individual to work with someone who’s familiar with these matters.