Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 4/7/2010

Question
my son called to tell me he may have a general discharge from the army and will be coming home next week, with this general discharge will he be able to enroll has a merchant marine or is there a time period he must wait, I have no idea as to what a general discharge is.

Answer
Dear Toni --

A general discharge is not a bad discharge, but it is not a good discharge.  The only "good" discharge is an honorable discharge.  With a general discharge your son will lose some of the VA benefits he hoped to receive.

However, to enter the Merchant Marines his re-entry code (RE code) is most important.  If he has a re-entry code of 1, he can enter the Merchant Marines.  Anything greater than a 1 and he will require a petition.  Whether this petition is approved will depend on why he was discharged and what qualifying code they use for the re-entry code rationale.

Please write back, if you have additional questions.  Good luck to your son.