Expert: Jason Grabill - 9/26/2009

Question
I am confused about A Failure to Adapt discharge. My son is coming home monday and is being discharged for this. He told his mother he is going to get an honorable discharge, and we have been arguing because I have heard that he can get a General but not an Honorable. The short story is here is that my wife and I are close to divorce over this. I am super Patriotic!!! I never wanted my son to join the armed services because all though I love him, I never thought he had what it takes to be a Marine. I'd rather have seen him join another service, because of his lack of motivation. I took my wife's advise and gave him a chance. He barely made it through Boot Camp and every letter he sent was that he hated the Marines and what it stood for. This enraged me. the Three months of boot camp put my wife into a deep depression. Still I gave my son the benefit of the doubt he still would man-up! We spent thousands of dollars going to San Diego for 10 days to celebrate his Graduation. The whole time bad mouthing the Marines. His girlfriend also told him she cheated on him while we were all there. The whole trip ruined. The whole family fighting the whole time over the girlfriend. He called crying every weekend saying he could not go on and that the Marines had ruined his life and if not for the Marines he would still have his Girlfriend. I had to make a special trip to SD because I thought he was suicidal. Within the week he was in the hospital. Now he is coming home, saying he is getting out with a Honorable discharge which my wife is rubbing in my face because I told her that he could not and did not deserve an honorable discharge. So what up with that, is he lying?

Answer
Chris:

 Doubtful that his discharge will be 'honorable' unless it's within six months of enlistment.  The military isn't just going to discharge him because he's having personal problems and is crying about it.  There is no such thing as a 'fail to adapt' discharge, it's simply a catagory the Marine Corps (and the other services) use to put people out that can't handle military life.  Likely the Marine Corps is better off if you son is out and they don't have to worry about him hurting himself or causing problems while deployed.

 My best guesstimate is that it would be a general discharge 'under honorable conditions', providing he has no discliplinary actions or issues due to his behavior.  This is NOT the same as an actual 'Honorable Discharge' which entitles the prior serviceman benefits.  He will NOT be entitled VA benefits for the most part.

 His DD-214 will tell you more when you see it.  On the bottom will be some blocks that will have some codes inside.  Those codes will indicate exactly the type of discharge and the character of service.  Once you see those you can drop me a line and I can tell you exactly what he has.  

 If discharged for medical reasons, the discharge will be honorable.  If discharged because of 'fail to adapt', then it's a "General, under honorable conditions", if he wasn't subject to military punishment.  Yes, it can be confusing, believe me.

Jason