Just what, exactly, would it take these days to get a Dishonorable Discharge? This bastard openly declared rebellion and opposition to the United States whiile in the Army. He provided aid and comfort to the enemy.
“Other than honorable...” Bah! Humbug! He should have been executed for treason.
“Just what, exactly, would it take these days to get a Dishonorable Discharge?”
A conviction by Courts Martial for very serious felonies like murder. That is the worst discharge possible.
He got the worst discharge possible, without a Courts Martial.
A commissioned officer cannot receive a “Dishonorable Discharge”.
The options are as follows:
1. He can be dismissed from the service as part of the sentence for a Court-martial conviction (a federal felony-level conviction). (This is the equivalent of a “Dishonorable Discharge” given to enlisted troops).
He was separated administratively, however, for conduct detrimental to the service (in all likelihood) being a part of the reasons why. He would have had the right to contest the separation in an administrative Board Hearing, or he could have not contested the separation action.
An administrative separation for cause can result in three characterizations of discharge:
1. Honorable Discharge;
2. General Discharge (under Honorable Conditions) - meaning you did some bad stuff but your service was on balance honorable; or
3. Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge
#3 is the worst characterization you can receive in an administrative separation for cause. He got it. Its not a conviction like a court-martial would give him, but it does mean that he can’t use his time in uniform as a positive reference. In fact, I believe it might make him ineligible for Federal employment (not 100% certain, its been almost 2 decades since I left JAG).