How a Dishonorable Discharge Can Ruin Your Life

How a Dishonorable Discharge Can Ruin Your Life
Will a Dishonorable Discharge Ruin My Life?
Court Martial Defense Attorney, Michael Waddington, discusses whether a dishonorable discharge in a military court martial will ruin your life.

A dishonorable discharge is, plainly, something nobody serving wants to get. It comes with a lot of adverse consequences that will follow you long into your civilian life, and it’ll also cost you any service-related benefits you may have acquired, including a military funeral, VA loans for a house, and medical care from the VA. If that wasn’t enough, you also lose out on the right to keep and bear arms.

Dishonorable Discharge is the same as a felony conviction that is rare and reserved for the most reprehensible conduct while in uniform. However, unlike the civilian world, the person convicted took an oath. That means an expectation of trust, honor, and an obligation to uphold military principles and practices was broken. That carries a significant stigma of unworthiness that the DD recipient will have to live with the rest of his life. Long term consequences of a Dishonorable Discharge include:
- Loss of all veteran and government benefits, including disability and unemployment.
- Loss of voting rights.
- Loss of the ability to legally own or possess firearms.
- Inability to qualify for bank loans or college financial aid.
- Difficulty in obtaining meaningful employment.
- A criminal record that will remain in all law enforcement data banks.

You need to immediately contact an experienced attorney.
Call 1-800-921-8607 to speak with a court martial defense assault defense attorney today.

Attorneys:
Michael Waddington
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

Attorney Reviews:
Michael Waddington
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

Practice areas:

Military Law Frequently Asked Questions:

Michael Waddington
Criminal Defense Attorney

#dishonorabledischarge #militarydischarge #badconductdischarge

General Court-Martial
A general court-martial is the highest court level. It consists of a military judge, trial counsel (prosecutor), defense counsel, and a minimum of five officers sitting as a panel of court-martial members. An enlisted accused may request a court composed of at least one-third of enlisted personnel. An accused may also request a trial by a judge alone. In a general court-martial, the maximum punishment is set for each offense under the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM). It may include death (for certain offenses), confinement, a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge for enlisted personnel, a dismissal for officers, or several other forms of punishment. A general court-martial is the only forum that may adjudge a sentence to death.

[courtmartiallawyers]

Don't Forget to Subscribe to the Channel and Press the BELL Icon:

[anthonywirth]

When I enlisted in the Navy my dad told if I didn't come home with an honorable discharge don't come home.

[Ybs_gee]

My kinfolk was just dishonorable discharge, im hurt. Makes me motivated to work hard to have something for him when he done with confinement.

[CanadaMatt]

This must be a very American thing.
Here in Canada, there is no mechanism for anybody to ever know the manner in which you left the military, or if you even served at all, unless you tell them.
A DD does not show up on a criminal record check, it does not show up on your credit report, there is no database a potential employer or landlord can search, and there are no outside consequences beyond a loss of any military or veteran benefits and being barred from further military service. It doesn't affect your ability to travel, obtain various licenses or permits, or apply for a loan.
You could even still list your military service on a resume, because there is no way for a potential employer to inquire about your service history.
About the only time someone would be able to research your service record would be if you were trying to obtain a security clearance to work for a police force or other sensitive government department.
I'm not saying this is either a good or a bad thing, I'm just pointing out that there is a major difference between the way military service records are dealt with between the two countries.
I spent 5 years in the Navy, and left honorably, but I definitely know people who left under very different circumstances, and Beyond losing that employment with the military, it really had no further impact on their lives afterwards.

[ordinaryopinion-]

I’m here because I just learned about that IDIOT who got discharged for showing up to basic again after he already graduated, attempted to sell recruits vapes, then fled. Came back months later to do the same thing, got confronted by a staff sergeant in his car upon arriving in post, then proceeded to hit the staff Sarg with his car and flee. He told so many lies in his story too but he was ultimately dishonorably discharged so I wanted to see what’s gonna happen to that kid😂

[pacificrules]

I totally agree with this video. In a rare situation, I have a friend who was discharged Dishonorably, and he definitely learned his lesson. Today, he own's his business with his wife and he, most of all, is working hard to keep the business running while the wife controls the finances and administration of their business.

[kayp]

Lose all VA benefits with a dishonorable discharge

[waltermoore]

It will derail your entire aspirations for any state jobs

[zoy]

You should do the effects on every discharge

[voltz]

They need to change some laws that a discharge should never bar you from rights that are had by other civilians.

[dobklyznskovik]

What happens if I stop showing up to drill in the Army Reserves? Will they seriously give me a DD just for that???

[captainobvious]

What would be worse, having a Dishonorable Discharge on your record or being a Level 3 sex offender?

[Punisher]

If you get a dishonorable discharge, does that mean you cant get unemployment benifits or social security income or even medi-care?

[inhouseman]

Hope you answer this, I'm not joking. If you live in Alaska in the woods with bears and wolfs and need to hunt for food can you get an exception to the no owning firearms rule.

[joelhundley]

Does a dis look like an honorable to put in a frame ?
I never seen one.
Im just sayin

[joshyoungforindiana]

I support gun rights, even for those who have been dishonorably discharged.

[bmwmicsl]

I dont know about you but i camr loojibg for the sobg used in a henry stickmin game and i found this