How do I justify a Other Than Honorable disharge from the Military?

Question

This was 18 years ago, I was AWAL from my command for about a month.

Answer 1

to a prospective civilian employer, unless it involved criminal conduct(popping positive, for instance) it will not matter. if your interviewer is ex military, however, you better be able to explain WHY you got an OTH and what you are doing to ensure that you never do something stupid again. .

Answer 2

First of all, don't bring it up. Don't put it on your resume and don't volunteer the information. Many interviewers will ask what you did in the military and why you left but not your discharge status.

If it does come up, don't lie. Fess up and show the interviewer that even if you made a mistake you are honest and you have learned from your errors. Don't go into details, they will just trip you up. If you don't make a big deal of it, then the interviewer probably won't.

Critical issue - do not bad mouth the military or try to justify what happens. There is no way that you can look good if you do that.

Lastly, understand that there are jobs and companies that will not find you suitable with an OTH. Do not let that bother you. I have been turned down for jobs BECAUSE I was military.

Good Luck.

Edit: 18 Years ago? What you have been doing for the last fifteen years is what is important. Worry not myy friend.

Answer 3

Never try to explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe it.

If there is a legitimate reason then just state the facts. Don't try to embellish it to make it better or worse.

Just like this answer. Keep it simple.

EDIT: I won't be in contact with the one I know that would have the answer to this until this afternoon. If you want to e-mail me, I will send you an answer as soon as I can. I do know of cases that an "Other Than Honorable disharge" has been reversed. It is rare but it has happened.

Answer 4

You don't try to justify anything

You briefly give the circumstances that led up to the discharge without giving a lot of details and then look them right in the eye and say "The military does not work out for everyone, but I know I can do a good job working here" Then you make it so.
We all have a few slip-ups in our past - the big thing is to own them and go on.

Answer 5

Justify? I think you used the wrong word. You want to correct it, right? Well, you can make an application to your service's Board For Correction of Records. But, they will only be dealing with the time period and circumstances surrounding your discharge. So, it's a slim chance at best.

Answer 6

Need input. Not enough information here to give an answer. As far as the question goes the way you asked it, You don't justify any other than Honorable discharge.

Answer 7

You can't justify it. It was given to you for a reason. You showed that the military and your fellow soldiers couldn't trust you. Therefore, you were removed from service.

Any prospective employer will have to take into consideration your age at the time, and your behavior since then.

Answer 8

You can have your OTH reviewed for reconsideration to a General Discharge. It won't look as bad as an OTH. Check with Human Resources Command (hrc.army.mil) they should have some information about it. or head to the nearest recruiting station they know all about discharges and appealing them. Good luck.

Answer 9

You say that all I ever did was abandoned my fellow soldiers, but it was no big deal. People like you get OTH's so people like me know exactly what kind of person we are dealing with. There is no justification. Hold your head high, admit your mistakes. If you try to weasel around it you affirm everything I already think of you.

Answer 10

Just tell the truth and hope whatever it is you did isn't completely unacceptable to your future employer.