What does the Other Than Honrable discharge mean for the rest of your life?

Question

I am thinking about going AWOL for a few reasons. The discharge is other than honrable. What does this mean for the rest of my life?

Answer 1

It means that you can't get certain VA benefits. Additionally, if you go AWOL make sure you stay gone longer than 31 days, that way you get DFR and the Army should just let you go. If they catch you before that, you could get in serious trouble.

That all being said...DON'T DO IT! Talk to someone first. Do the honorable thing and finish your enlistment. It's not worth it in the long run. Think of your honor and your integrity. What would you eventually tell your children?

"I was a coward so I ran?" "Look at me kids! Use me as your example of how you should be in life. When something gets hard - RUN!"

Don't do it to yourself. If you want to talk, go see a chaplain or talk to me for crying in a bucket.

Answer 2

Don't go AWOL. Sure, the military will stop looking for you after 30 days, and you will be dropped from their systems as active duty. But, like it was said earlier, you will get arrested for so much as a speeding ticket, it's called a federal warrant. As far as the other than honorable discharge is concerned, don't sweat it too bad. After separation, you can apply to have your discharge upgraded, and believe it or not, they usually get approved. I know thing seem bad right now, you've probably been doing lots of extra duty, lots of restriction, had loss of rank, and are just waiting around for someone to figure out when they're going to actually do something with you. But, trust me, just let it ride, try to keep your nose clean in the meantime, and it will all be over with soon. AWOL will only make it worse.

Answer 3

First off, you aren't a coward or any less of a man, if you decide that you don't want or can't do it. I've done it, because I was promised so much, I was promised an enlistment bonus of 10,000, I don't have it. I was promised that I would be able to get my education while i'm in the military, two weeks before I went UA I went to my unit, they laughed at me about going to school.

I was promised a job that would ensure that my religious beliefs wouldn't be jeopardized and that I wouldn't be given a job that would require me killing anyone. I graduated from boot camp and found out that I would be a MACHINEGUNNER. Basically since i've been in service i've been fed nothing but lies. I was fed up.

Until any of you are in his situation you and fully understand his story don't discourage him and make it seem like he's doing a bad thing. He signed up for it that at least says something about the type of person he is, and just because it wasn't what he thought it to be. Call G.I. Rights at 800-394-9544, they will answer any and every question you have.

You won't recieve VA benefits or anything from the GI Bill. Trust me employers don't even know about a OTH unless you tell them, unless its a government agency type of job. People quit their jobs all the time because it doesn't fit their needs, or it wasn't what they thought it was, but you get called a coward when you do it. Ignore it. You have the balls to do what so many are scared to do. If you think you should do it, do it, I have a job at a one of the most successful car dealerships in Chicago, and I start school in the spring of '07. And its not like a felony charge on your record.

Its your life, not anybody elses do what you think is best.

P.S. John Kerry and George Bush have an other than honorable discharge.

Answer 4

Please reconsider. How long is your enlistment for? Probably 3 years or so, right? Not such a long time in the big picture. If the issues you are having are with those in your unit, go talk to a chaplain. What you say to him is confidential, and they can help you figure things out. You will regret it if you jump! You will be ineligible for VA benefits, any government job- to include state and local govt! Also, you will have a hard time getting a VA or govt backed mortgage. And forget about an SBA loan to start a business. So short answer is yes- going AWOL affects you for ever, and in many ways. Seek help first!!!

Answer 5

DO NOT DO IT!!!! It will destroy job opportunities for you 50 years from now. It's about as good as having "convicted felon" on your record. You'll get no benefits. Whatever you've endured up till now will have been for nothing. You're abandoning the folks next to you that count on YOU to get their job done & keep each other & other folks downstream alive. Most people never get a chance to do anything that changes the world, you get that chance & the last thing you want to regret for the rest of your life is passing it up because you were scared or because you were selfish & wanted to do your own thing. GO TALK TO THE CHAPLAIN!!!! DO IT RIGHT NOW!!!!

Answer 6

you lose your GI Bill bennies. You lose any opportunity for a federal loan..college or hom or otherwise. if you get pulled over for ANYTHING, you will be arrested and sent to prison to await the convenience of the military who may or may not decide to come get you. You lose all VA bennies.

In other words...it ain't worth it to ruin your life.

Answer 7

At best it will ruin any decent job opportunities & many colleges will not accept you. Your family has to live with the disgrace but most important, you will always know you could not live up to you duty to the US. You voluntarily chose to join, it is cowardice to refuse to live up to this obligation now.

Answer 8

I think you should go AWOL. Then we won't have to worry about you crying anymore. I hope if you do go, please get caught and get some jail time. At my base, they are averaging about 30-90 days for AWOLs. Please do it, and get caught. Do us all a favor.

Answer 9

employers will wonder why you didn't get the honorable discharge

Answer 10

What is your name and where are you stationed? Just curious, I wont tell anyone, I promise...