Is it true that you can get discharge, honorably, from the Air Force for admitting that you're gay?

Question

Just curious because my cuz is in the airforce and told me she is tired of it and doesn't want to be there anymore. She is gay and told me that if she admits it they will let her go. IS this true? It just seems too easy. If that were the case, wouldn't everyone say they were gay so they wouldn't have to go to war? I know I would, lol. Does anybody know of someone getting discharged because of sexual orientation? I know it's "don't ask, don't tell" but what if you tell willing?

Now, none of you war finatics start leaving rude comments cause I said that if that were the case why doesnt everyone say they are gay so they dont have to go to war. I personally don't agree with the war and it was a funny comment, I didn't mean to offend anyone, if I did.

Thank you patodelamuerte, you answered my question to the tee.

I love how people wrote "cuz" like Im talking bout myself, LMAO! If ya read my previous questions, you know I have a gay cuz in the military btu anyway, thanx to the people that gave me relevant information.

BTW ~ Everyone who knows her personally, knows she is gay. It's pretty obvious so as far as "proving" she's gay...there's enough proof.

Answer 1

Discharges for Homosexual Admission happen alot. This has been on the books since at least the sixties. The characterization of the discharge depends on the person's service and length of service.

Honorable: Good service, good evals.
General Under Honorable: Fairly good service, poor evals, a bit of trouble.
Uncharacterized Service: Less than 120 days.

Under Other Than Honorable Conditions: Only awarded by an Admin Board
Dishonorable: Only by a Courts Martial conviction.

Most personnel on active duty choose to serve regardless of sexual persuasion and have the support of their comrades. The ones who choose this as a way out shouldn't be in the service anyway.

The "Don't Ask. Don't Tell" policy only affects recruiting and/or outing someone because of your own suspicions. I know this because I used to process reenlistments and discharges.

Answer 2

No.

You do not get a discharge for being gay....But you can be kicked out for engaging in homosexual activities. A fine point but important. If you are found to have engaged in homosexual activities, they must discharge you.

Then usually give a general discharge, "under honorable conditions" which means you were doing OK except for the homosexual act. You can appeal it after six months but most people do not, thinking the comment "under honorable conditions" is the same as an "honorable discharge."

You lose a bunch of benefits with the general discharge such as the GI BILL, ability to serve on veteran's commissions and other programs where an honorable discharge is required.

And unless you appeal to get it upgraded, you are forever flagged as gay...and some take that to mean a coward.

Answer 3

She can try, but it isn't really worth it. She has to have proof she is gay. Do you really think a bunch of tired of being in the military people could really just cry gay and get out. Nope. You have to have proof from numerous sources other than the person crying gay. Doesn't work in 99% of the scams. Nice try though. Tell your "cuz" to suck it up and finish her enlistment. It is the Air Force, she couldn't have life any better for being in the military.

Answer 4

That is true and it's true of all branches of the military as things now stand. Technically the discharge would be categorized as "General but under Honorable" conditions, but the RE code (reenlistment suitability code) would likely be a 4 signifying an incompatibility with military discipline. As to why more people don't opt out of military service in this manner, it's largely because we now enjoy an all volunteer force, which means that those people who now serve are serving because they have chosen to. (When there was a draft in place and an active war raging in souheast Asia, people were using all manner of excuses to get out of their contracts). Even now there could be a small number of people who would use excuses (contrieved or actual) to escape military service, but most of those who are there genuinely want to do what they're doing...honorably protecting our interests and way of life.

Answer 5

Y E S, She will receive a General Discharge under
Honorable Conditions with a RE4 Code which means that she will NOT be allowed to re-enlist in
the US Air Force or any other US Military branch.
They will investigate her and her Military Records to see if she is not making a fraudulent claim.

Answer 6

Military service is not compulsary anymore, and theres no draft right now. So those who are in the military, navy, air force, chose to do it themselves. They made the choice of choosing to protect us and fight for freedom, so why would they all want out because theres a war. Thats the whole reason they got involved.

But yes, if your gay, they don't want you around, so they would discharge you.

Answer 7

I know the Army follows the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - they won't ask your sexuality, and you aren't required to provide it. I'm not sure about the Air Force, but I don't see why their policy would be any different.

Why does she want to admit it? It doesn't affect her functioning as a soldier in the US Military.

Answer 8

There's an investigation to make sure that the claim is true and not a "get out of jail free card"

Answer 9

I don't think it is that easy...she may not get an honorable discharge either...

Answer 10

I think it would fall under 'other than honorable'.

I would have no respect for her service if she does that. And I'm very pro-military.