Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§12685 Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Reserve Components › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL GENERALLY › Chapter CHAPTER 1221— - SEPARATION › § 12685
Summary
A reserve member who is separated for cause (except under section 12684) must get an honorable discharge unless a court‑martial or an approved board orders an other‑than‑honorable discharge, or the member agrees to that discharge and gives up a court‑martial or board hearing.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §12685
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A member of a reserve component who is separated for cause, except under section 12684 of this title, is entitled to a discharge under honorable conditions unless—
(1)the member is discharged under conditions other than honorable under an approved sentence of a court-martial or under the approved findings of a board of officers convened by an authority designated by the Secretary concerned; or
(2)the member consents to a discharge under conditions other than honorable with a waiver of proceedings of a court-martial or a board.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 1163(c) of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, § 1662(i)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 12685
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73