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The Daily Insight

What is a Chapter 5 discharge in the army

Author

Sophia Dalton

Updated on April 18, 2026

If you are discharged from the Army under Chapter 5-17, it means you had a physical or mental condition that prevented you from fulfilling your military duties. Soldiers discharged on the grounds of Chapter 5-17 usually receive an honorable discharge.

Is a chapter 5 8 an honorable discharge?

Characterization of Service: Soldiers separated under Chapter 5-8 and 5-17 may receive an honorable or general discharge; however, no Soldier discharged under Chapter 5-8 or 5-17 will be awarded a general discharge unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in his service record that warrant such a …

What does chapter mean in the Army?

CHAPTERS. Enlisted administrative separations are usually referred to as “chapters” because each separation is done under a certain chapter in AR 635-200 (Enlisted Administrative Separations). The following chapters are involuntary separations.

What type of discharge is a Chapter 5 11?

For those within their first 180 days who show signs they may not succeed, the commanders have an option to administratively discharge recruits. This type of discharge is an Army Chapter 11 Discharge, and it is also called an Entry-Level Separation.

What is a Chapter 4 military discharge?

Airmen who are undergoing a Court-Martial may hear about something called a Chapter 4 Request. This is a request from an Airman to be administratively discharged instead of having to face a Court-Martial. If the request is approved, all charges are dismissed and the Airman is discharged administratively.

Can you rejoin the military with a general discharge?

There are several types of discharges that can keep you from re-enlisting in the service, including a bad conduct discharge, an “other than honorable discharge” and a dishonorable discharge. On the other hand, if you received a general or honorable discharge, you may qualify for re-enlistment.

What benefits do I get with honorable discharge?

An honorable discharge is by far the most common with over 85 percent of veterans receiving this type of discharge. Veterans with an honorable discharge are entitled to all VA benefits (e.g., disability compensation, educational, healthcare, vocational).

Is pregnancy an honorable discharge?

When a soldier becomes pregnant in the Army she is given the option to leave the military under honorable conditions or become non-deployable for the duration of her pregnancy.

Is a Chapter 5-17 a medical discharge?

If you are discharged from the Army under Chapter 5-17, it means you had a physical or mental condition that prevented you from fulfilling your military duties. Soldiers discharged on the grounds of Chapter 5-17 usually receive an honorable discharge.

What is a Chapter 14 discharge in the Army?

GENERAL: This is a discharge under honorable conditions, Soldier whose record and performance is satisfactory. This is usually given to someone who had non- judicial punishments (Article 15s), but not for serious infractions. When this type of discharge is given, the commander must state the specific basis for it.

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What chapter is an honorable discharge?

Consequences of Chapter 5-17 Soldiers discharged on the grounds of Chapter 5-17 receive an honorable discharge unless there are specific elements of their service record that warrant a general discharge. Soldiers with up to 180 days of active duty service may get an uncharacterized description of service.

What is a Chapter 11 discharge from the army?

Chapter 11 military discharges occur during the first 180 days of active duty for unacceptable performance on the grounds of inability, lack of reasonable effort, failure to adapt to the military and/or minor disciplinary infractions.

How long does it take to get chapter out of the Army?

If it’s a Chapter 11 or 5–17, It usually takes about a month for your packet to get completed by legal, your company commander, and your training NCO. You’re not being medboarded or having a discharge due to misconduct so it’s not anywhere near as long or complex.

What is a Chapter 9 discharge?

BASIS FOR THIS CHAPTER You can be discharged based upon alcohol or other drug abuse such as illegal, wrongful or improper use of any controlled substance, alcohol or other drug when: 1. You are enrolled in Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP); and, 2.

What is a Chapter 10 discharge in the army?

Soldiers who are undergoing a Court-Martial may hear about something called a “Chapter 10.” A Chapter 10 is a request from a Soldier to be administratively discharged instead of having to face a Court-Martial. If a chapter 10 request is approved, all charges are dismissed and the Soldier is discharged administratively.

What is Chapter 15 in the Army?

The authority for commanders to give an Article 15 is found in Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. … It permits commanders to resolve allegations of minor misconduct against a soldier without resorting to higher forms of discipline, such as a court-martial.

Can honorable discharge be taken away?

The VA can’t downgrade any discharge. They can only say that a discharge is Honorable for VA purposes. Upon separation veterans are no longer subject to UCMJ and even when someone applies for an upgrade to their discharge the review board can’t change it to something worse even if evidence supports that.

Can all veterans use the VA?

Veterans generally must be enrolled to receive VA health care. Enrollment assures Veterans that comprehensive health care services are available when they are needed. VA’s enrollment system designates Veterans by priority groups.

Are you considered a veteran with an other than honorable discharge?

Normally only honorable and general under honorable conditions will qualify the veteran for benefits. An uncharacterized discharge may also qualify the veteran, but it is up to the VA and is handled on a case-by-case basis. … Most times the person is not considered a veteran.

How bad is general discharge?

A general discharge under honorable conditions means that your service was satisfactory, but did not deserve the highest level of discharge for performance and conduct. Many veterans with this type of discharge may have engaged in minor misconduct.

Can you get a federal job with a general discharge?

When applying for a Federal civil service job with a General Discharge, Under Honorable Conditions, a qualified individual with a passing score can receive a hiring preference. The application is a points-based system, so individuals with this discharge type who qualify can have up to 10 points added to their scores.

What does re 4 discharge mean?

Bad conduct discharges imposed by special courts-martial are reviewed only as a matter of clemency. If you’ve received an RE-4 code, that means you are ineligible for enlistment in the military except for certain moral and administration disqualifications.

What is a Chapter 13 in the Army?

A chapter 13 discharge (General Discharge) is for unsatisfactory performance, such as not passing the PT test, not qualifying with your weapon, undesirable conduct, failure to adapt to military life, etc. It is known as a General Discharge and can be under honorable or dishonorable conditions.

Can you get out of the military for anxiety?

In the military’s scheme of things, serious disorders such as major depression, anxiety or schizophrenia may be grounds for medical discharge or retirement, usually depending on their severity and amenability to treatment.

What is a Chapter 8 in the Army?

Chapter 8 establishes policy and procedures for voluntary separation of enlisted women because of pregnancy. If an individual is beyond entry-level status, her service will be characterized as honorable or general, under honorable conditions.

What military branch is best for females?

The Most Popular Military Branch for Women to Enlist As of writing this, the Air Force has the highest number of active service females in the US armed forces. But that’s not to say that other branches of the Army are not female-friendly.

What is the difference between honorable and dishonorable discharge?

Service members who meet or exceed the required standards of duty performance and personal conduct, and who complete their tours of duty, normally receive honorable discharges. A dishonorable discharge (DD) is handed down for an offense the military considers the most reprehensible conduct.

What regulation covers pregnancy in the army?

According to Army Regulation (AR) 600-9, The Army Weight Control Program (AWCP), female Soldiers who become pregnant are exempt from the AR 600-9 standards throughout the pregnancy plus 6 months following the end of the pregnancy. Pregnancy creates the need for additional nutrients.

What is a Chapter 7 in the Army?

Basis for Chapter Elimination: Chapter 7 provides authority for the separation of Soldiers due to minority (underage), erroneous enlistment, induction or extension of enlistment, defective enlistment agreements, and fraudulent entry.

Is Chapter 18 an honorable discharge?

Soldiers separated under Chapter 18 must receive an honorable discharge. (Soldiers with less than 180 days active duty may receive an entry level status discharge, which is uncharacterized.)

What is a Chapter 13 military discharge?

GENERAL: This is a discharge under honorable conditions, soldier whose record and performance is satisfactory. This is usually given to someone who had non-judicial punishments (Article 15s), but not for serious infractions. When this type of discharge is given, the commander must state the specific basis for it.