DD-214

[safety1]

It must have been an Hornable discharge, nothing less.

[safety1]

He stated it was a GENERAL DISCHARGE under honrable conditions, this is diffrent from a honrable discharge. He will not get the discount!

[Skiprr]

He stated it was a GENERAL DISCHARGE under honrable conditions, this is diffrent from a honrable discharge. He will not get the discount!

Are you certain? I don't know much about the subject, so I'm just asking because GC §411 never uses the actual term, "Honorable Discharge."

The eligibility requirement described in GC §411(g)(2) reads, "was discharged under honorable conditions." A General Under Honorable Conditions does not disqualify someone from obtaining a CHL (it also doesn't prevent firearm purchase). Since GC §411.1951 says "has been honorably discharged," not "has an Honorable Discharge," my personal interpretation would be that the ability to obtain a discount is no different than the eligibility requirement.

Make no mistake, I'm just asking for a verified answer--from someone who's actually dealt with DPS about it--because I've never run into this myself.

[saltydog452]

It it was me, I'd call the DPS/CHL folks and ask them.

If all these problems happened during Desert Storm/Shield/Bosnia/Saravejo, etc., you were subject to being sent into harm's way.

If Jimmy Carter can 'forgive' the kids who cut and ran to Canada, I'd imagine you have earned the same.

salty

[i8godzilla]

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/info ... dd0293.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The above link is the Department of Defense form for requesting an upgraded discharge. Below is an example from the form for requesting an upgrade.

Example 1. My discharge was inequitable because it was based
on one isolated incident in 28 months of service with no other adverse
action.

From my own personal prospective, I would hope that if you really do not deserve an Honorable Discharge you would not request an upgrade. I come from a family of soldiers* that have been on continuous duty since 1951. The decedents of my Grandfather have over 250 years of combined service and still counting. I am the son of an Army veteran, an Army veteran, married to any Army veteran, and the father of an Army soldier. I say this only to emphasize my respect for my brothers and sisters in arms. I would not in any way wish to cheapen their service. If you feel that you should have an Honorable Discharge then by all means submit the paperwork and ask God for his blessing. However, do me a favor and do a little soul searching before you make you mind up whether or not to do so.



*We have a couple of Flyboys, a Jarhead or two, and a couple of Coasties but we still let them come to the family BBQs.

[jmra]

To the OP,

You sound like a guy who has owned up to his mistakes and made positive changes in your life. I'm happy for you and glad that you have been able to put things back together.

That being said, the discount is for those who served their country honorably. Regardless of what your DD214 says, you got booted and by your own admissions rightfully so. In honor of those you served with and all others who have served and honorably fulfilled their commentments/responsibilities, please just pay the $140.00. It is the honorable thing to do.

[aaronw23]

As long as the the wording surrounds the assumption that "character of service" was honorable then you are eligible to receive the discount from the state. Regardless of what people think or say a General discharge under honorable conditions is comparable to a regular honorable discharge. If you pay close attention the General part is stating what type of discharge it was, and the honorable part is stating the character of service. Some organizations may demand a full honorable discharge, but when it comes to every veteran benefits program at both the state and federal level, ie...Texas land board, GI Bill, then a person with a general under honorable is entitled to full benefits. However, DPS may delay the process for you by requesting more information about the drug problem. Long story short. Yes you can still get the discount but it may delay processing. Hope that helps.

[jmorris]

I have to agree with those that say you will probably get the discount. It does not say that one has to have an honorable discharge, just that one is "honorably discharged". And yours is "under honorable conditions".

But the best answer, as stated, is call DPS and ask.

[comp73]

Some organizations may demand a full honorable discharge, but when it comes to every veteran benefits program at both the state and federal level, ie...Texas land board, GI Bill, then a person with a general under honorable is entitled to full benefits.

This is not correct. You will lose your GI Bill.

http://www.veteransbenefitsgibill.com/2 ... 1-gi-bill/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[aaronw23]

Comp73, your post and your evidence makes me laugh.I am not willing to spend anymore time arguing with ignorance. Again, you are entitled to full benefits with a General under honorable discharge. Call your local VA educational office to verify that. The only thing the VA wants to see is that character of service was honorable. A general under HONORABLE conditions states that.

[longtooth]

Gents
Please keep it gentlemanly & be careful about getting close to name calling.
Thanks.
LT

[jmra]

Comp73, your post and your evidence makes me laugh.I am not willing to spend anymore time arguing with ignorance. Again, you are entitled to full benefits with a General under honorable discharge. Call your local VA educational office to verify that. The only thing the VA wants to see is that character of service was honorable. A general under HONORABLE conditions states that.

According to the VA's website both the post-9/11 gi bill and the Montgomery bill require a Honorable Discharge. Also note the Definitions. A Honorable Discharge is required - a discharge under honorable conditions does not qualify.

If you disagree with this website...well, all I can say is I am only the messenger.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_ ... index.html

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.


http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/ch30 ... eneral.htm

The Montgomery GI Bill
Who is Eligible?
You may be an eligible veteran if you have an Honorable Discharge, AND you have a High School Diploma or GED or in some cases 12 hours of college credit, AND you meet the requirements of one of the categories below:

Definitions

• Honorable Discharge – Honorable discharge is given when the service member completes their tour of duty and meets or exceeds the required standards of duty performance and personal conduct. It is only given when the discharge is not due to misconduct. For instance, service is characterized as honorable for failure in the fitness program. If you receive an honorable discharge, you will generally get veterans’ full rights and benefits and may have an easier time obtaining post-service employment.
• General Under Honorable Conditions– This discharge is reserved for service members who leave the service under honorable conditions, but their conduct and performance of duty was not commendable enough to receive an Honorable discharge. Why would someone get this discharge? It is usually due to some form of non-judicial conduct, such as mental instability, petty offenses, frequent or prolonged absences, alcohol abuse and drug abuse. If you receive general under honorable conditions, benefits are not available to you, as an honorable discharge is required for GI Bill eligibility. Again, for anything other than honorable discharge, benefits from the GI Bill are not available.

[Tamie]

Someone who was kicked out of the military for abusing drugs can get a Texas CHL cheaper than someone who obeyed the law, paid their taxes, and generally kept their nose clean their whole life as a civilian? If that's true, there's something very, very wrong with the Texas CHL system.

[jmra]

He stated it was a GENERAL DISCHARGE under honrable conditions, this is diffrent from a honrable discharge. He will not get the discount!

Are you certain? I don't know much about the subject, so I'm just asking because GC §411 never uses the actual term, "Honorable Discharge."

The eligibility requirement described in GC §411(g)(2) reads, "was discharged under honorable conditions." A General Under Honorable Conditions does not disqualify someone from obtaining a CHL (it also doesn't prevent firearm purchase). Since GC §411.1951 says "has been honorably discharged," not "has an Honorable Discharge," my personal interpretation would be that the ability to obtain a discount is no different than the eligibility requirement.

Make no mistake, I'm just asking for a verified answer--from someone who's actually dealt with DPS about it--because I've never run into this myself.

Not a lawyer but, I think that what you have to look for is consistency in terms. You are correct that a "General Under Honorable Conditions" does not disqualify someone from obtaining a CHL. We know this because as you stated, the eligibility requirement described in GC §411(g)(2) reads, "was discharged under honorable conditions." Now IMHO if the discount also applied to "discharged under honorable conditions", then GC §411.1951. (2) would use the exact same terms as were used in GC §411(g)(2) . It does not. What is does state is "has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served".

Given the fact that GC §411.1951. (2) uses very different terminology than GC §411(g)(2), I believe the intent (due to the difference in terminology) is to reserve the discount for those who actually received a "Honorable Discharge". Perhaps the failure to use the exact term "Honorable Discharge" creates a loophole for someone who received a "General Under Honorable Conditions" but I doubt it.

[jmra]

Someone who was kicked out of the military for abusing drugs can get a Texas CHL cheaper than someone who obeyed the law, paid their taxes, and generally kept their nose clean their whole life as a civilian? If that's true, there's something very, very wrong with the Texas CHL system.

As a Vet with a Honorable Discharge and a member of a family who has honorably served in the military every generation since the Civil War (even though we were on the losing side of that one), I would hope that the discount does not apply in this situation. If it turns out that it does, I will be writing my rep to request that the wording be changed in 2013.