There are FIVE types of military discharges:
1. Honorable
2. General
3. Other-than-Honorable
4. Dishonorable
5. Bad Conduct (a.k.a. "The Big Chicken Dinner".
You actually have to try pretty hard to get an OTH. Service members that have been conviced of a non-violent felony or extreme NJP get them. The key is the re-enlistment code.
I have this vision of someone getting NJP'd while his commanding officer and the offender are base-jumping...
Honorable - all benefits
General - all benefits (board action only - cannot be adjudged by a court-martial)
Other Than Honorable (OTH) - most benefits, but still looks bad on any employment application (board action usually - cannot be adjudged by a court-martial) Usually reserved for Chapter 10 discharge requests (discharges in lieu of a court-martial)
Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) - very few benefits (and then only depending on exactly the offense you're being punished for) A bad conduct special court-martial has a maximum sentence of forfeiture of two-thirds pay per month for 12 months (pay only, not allowances such as the marriage allowance, etc), reduction to E-1, confinement for 12 months, and a bad conduct discharge.
Dishonorable Discharge (DD) - the most serious discharge, usually reserved for the most heinous offenses. No benefits. A general court-martial may adjudge any forfeiture up to and including forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to E-1, confinement up to the period listed in the Manual for Courts-Martial for that offense, and a dishonorable discharge.
I have been a court reporter for the Department of the Army for 27 years (17 years uniform, 10 years civil service) and I see this sort of stuff every day. If anyone has any specific questions, I will be more than happy to answer them.