Reserves OTH Discharge

Are you in the Reserves and about to get discharged with an OTH or due to poor drilling status? Feel free to post your questions and comments here!

Own up to your OTH Discharge

If you trully feel as if you have made a poor choice while serving in the Armed Forces and was awarded an OTH Discharge please share your story. Your story just may prevent another service member from repeating a grave mistake.

Other than honorable and Secret Clearances

-This post is to respond to the numerous emails I have recieved about keeping your secret clearances after recieving an OTH.

Usually anything other than a honorable discharge, disqualifies you to keep your security clearance. Other Than Honorable discharge just means that if you did something wrong and it was not bad enough for the military to charge you with a crime, they just choose to give you that so you can at least explain to a possible future employer what happened in your circumstances.

This is a tough pill to swallow but they usually take your secret clearance away. Unless of course you can get it overturned....

Types of OTH's

If you get an Other Than Honorable Discharge, consider this when trying to get things turned around... WHY did you get the OTH? Was it due to bad conduct, drug usage or possesion? Or could have it been a combination of things?.... If you CANT get your OTH over turned, keep in mind the reason you were discharged and adapt to it when going for a job interview... For instance, if you were kicked out for drug usage or possesion, why not join a big brother or sister organization to keep kids away from drugs?
Basically, what Im saying is, counter your OTH with something positive related to the same reason you were discharged! Trust me, it WILL help...

--Feel free to weigh in on this topic!

Didnt deserve an OTH.

For this topic please express your view on your OTH, and let others comment on if your OTH was justified or not. Remember, negative comments will not be tolerated.

Getting a job with an Other Than Honorable discharge

A service member's type of discharge is usually carried with him or her for life. Employers will often look unfavorably on those who have received so much as a general discharge, especially if it was under other than honorable conditions. Some states, however, prohibit discrimination based on military discharge. Such laws do not prohibit denial of a job due to a criminal conviction, which accompanies punitive separations. You should really check with your own state to determine eligibility.

Keep in mind that companies that hold government contracts often require their employees to be eligibile for various degrees of security clearance. You may or may not be qualified to receive a clearance level due to an other than honorable discharge. Furthermore, with the tough competition for all government positions, you may find it very difficult to secure any government position with a dishonorable discharge. You might find it is easier to look for employment within the private sector, where you are not required to include your military service discharge information on your resume. Keep in mind that a federal application requires that you disclose your military background and discharge conditions and of course, it is an offense to lie on a federal employment application.

Less than honorable discharges can also be stigmatizing in civilian life, particularly leading to discrimination in employment. Government and large corporate employers routinely ask job applicants for their military discharge status; some even ask to see military discharge papers. However, there are also many employers who do not care about military discharge status. Even where employers ask for military service, sometimes it is mainly for statistical purposes of the number of veterans hired.

OTH Discharge and Career opportunities

Okay, its already a given that you CANNOT get a job with any goverment agencies with a OTH. However, there ARE jobs out there that will hire you. But you must be able to show proof that you have done something constructive when filling out your resume.

I have a list of things you can do that can help counter your OTH, but I will need to know what type of career path you are choosing to take in order to help.... Feel free to place your questions in the comment sections of this post.

If anyone out there have any ideas that can help please feel free to add your input!