Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§12685 Reserves Separated for Cause: Character of Discharge
Title 10 › Subtitle E — Reserve Components › PART II — PERSONNEL GENERALLY › CHAPTER 1221 — SEPARATION › § 12685
Summary
Reservists separated for cause must get an honorable discharge unless excluded by another rule. A non‑honorable discharge is allowed only if a court‑martial or an approved officers' board orders it, or if the member agrees and gives up the proceedings.
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102