An Airman 1st class was pulled over for failing to use a turn signal on base. When the law enforcement officer pulled the Airman over, the officer smelled alcohol on the Airman. When the Airman refused to submit to a breathalyzer test, the officer obtained a search warrant and had the Airman’s blood drawn for testing. A blood test revealed the Airman’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving.
For this DUI, the Airman was punished with a reduction to Airman, a suspended reduction to Airman basic and a reprimand. After serving his punishment, the Airman was discharged with an Under Honorable Conditions (General) discharge.
During a routine traffic stop, Polizei smelled alcohol on an Airman. The breathalyzer revealed that the Airman was driving over the legal limit. For this DUI, the Airman lost a stripe, was restricted to Ramstein for 30 days and received 30 days of extra duty and a reprimand.
After serving his punishment, the Airman was discharged with a general discharge. Because these Airmen chose to drink and drive, they will suffer consequences beyond the sting of their Article 15s. What do they stand to lose as a result of a general discharge?
While military members with an honorable discharge are eligible for all applicable military and veterans’ benefits, those with a general discharge will lose the civil service employment preference, credit for retirement benefits and naturalization benefits.
Members with a general discharge also risk losing the death gratuity, farm loans and farm housing loans, Social Security wage credits for World War II service, preference in purchasing defense housing, and education assistance. Eligibility for these “at risk” benefits will be determined by the agency.
This also includes the Montgomery GI Bill. Military members with a general discharge characterization are not eligible for the Montgomery GI bill unless they have had a prior enlistment from which they were honorably discharged. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will determine eligibility in these situations on a case by case basis.
The bottom line is that receiving a general discharge will jeopardize financial assistance for which you would otherwise be eligible.
(Courtesy of the 435th Air Base Wing Legal Office)
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An Airman 1st class was pulled over for failing to use a turn signal on base. When the law enforcement officer pulled the Airman over, the officer smelled alcohol on the Airman. When the Airman refused to submit to a breathalyzer test, the officer obtained a search warrant and had the Airman’s blood drawn for testing. A blood test revealed the Airman’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving.
For this DUI, the Airman was punished with a reduction to Airman, a suspended reduction to Airman basic and a reprimand. After serving his punishment, the Airman was discharged with an Under Honorable Conditions (General) discharge.
During a routine traffic stop, Polizei smelled alcohol on an Airman. The breathalyzer revealed that the Airman was driving over the legal limit. For this DUI, the Airman lost a stripe, was restricted to Ramstein for 30 days and received 30 days of extra duty and a reprimand.
After serving his punishment, the Airman was discharged with a general discharge. Because these Airmen chose to drink and drive, they will suffer consequences beyond the sting of their Article 15s. What do they stand to lose as a result of a general discharge?
While military members with an honorable discharge are eligible for all applicable military and veterans’ benefits, those with a general discharge will lose the civil service employment preference, credit for retirement benefits and naturalization benefits.
Members with a general discharge also risk losing the death gratuity, farm loans and farm housing loans, Social Security wage credits for World War II service, preference in purchasing defense housing, and education assistance. Eligibility for these “at risk” benefits will be determined by the agency.
This also includes the Montgomery GI Bill. Military members with a general discharge characterization are not eligible for the Montgomery GI bill unless they have had a prior enlistment from which they were honorably discharged. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will determine eligibility in these situations on a case by case basis.
The bottom line is that receiving a general discharge will jeopardize financial assistance for which you would otherwise be eligible.
(Courtesy of the 435th Air Base Wing Legal Office)