Can I get a CHL with a 'blemish' on my military record?

[imhungry20]

Hello everyone, new member and look forward to spending untold hours here. Ha-Ha.
The reason I ask this question is that in 2006 I was entry level sep. from the Marine Corps during Boot camp under a "General Under Honorable" conditions. Now I am not proud of it and regret it everyday of my life and wish I would have waited instead of jumping into it as a child. With my entry level separation due to failure to adapt keep me from getting a CHL or does DPS not even bother looking at military records unless it has to do with an NJP (crime)?

[louisf1]

I cant answer your question on the elegibility with a general under honarable conditions but I can offer one bit of information to think about. Have you thought about having your discharge looked at and upgraded to honorable? I served 30 years and am in the process of retiring now. The reason I mention this is because I had heard of the ability to have your discharge reconsidered after a two year period. Look into it.

Additionaly, if you request the veterans rate you will be required to send your DD214 in as proof.

[imhungry20]

Thank you for the advice, I will be sure to look into it. As for getting the reduced fee, I would never consider it. I only spent two months in, I do not consider myself a former member of our armed forces nor try to seek any benefit of my limited involvement. Also, could I go to a local V.A. center or something to discuss with someone about the steps to upgrading?

[louisf1]

Thank you for the advice, I will be sure to look into it. As for getting the reduced fee, I would never consider it. I only spent two months in, I do not consider myself a former member of our armed forces nor try to seek any benefit of my limited involvement. Also, could I go to a local V.A. center or something to discuss with someone about the steps to upgrading?

You can do a search for military board of corrections for details on making a request. You would need to justify why the discharge should be upgraded. I dont know what a legitimate reason would be. You mentioned that the discharge was general under honorable conditions. This is not the same as a dishonorable discharge. I dont know that this would hurt you. In addition, Non Judicial punishment such as an article15 should not hurt your chances. Of course, all my opinion since I am not a lawyer.

[imhungry20]

Okay will do. Thank you for your insight. As for the NJP, I never had anything of the sort, it was just a question. I guess the real question boils down to, is General under honorable considered "Honorable" in Texas CHL eyes? Also was just told that Entry Level Separation is not dishonorable and it is as if I was never in the Military. So I guess, I am good to go?

[louisf1]

Well that sounds to me like an administrative type of discharge and not a dishonarable discharge. A general discharge can be received for being over weight or unable to adapt and so on. A general discharge shouldn't have any effect on your rights to own or posess a weapon. What leads you to believe it would?

[Kythas]

The disqualification for CHL is, I believe, a dishonorable discharge. It doesn't sound like your discharge type would DQ you.

You may want to contact DPS and ask them, though.

[imhungry20]

My simple ignorance in matters pertaining to military discharges. Since it was failure to adapt, I was afraid my type of discharge would cast a shadow over me that would prohibit me from owning a firearm or getting a chl. I have also been afraid that it would show up on an employment background check, more so regarding why I left. I was told though that ELS recipients should not even mention that they were in the military so I guess it would not show on a BG check.

[jmra]

You are ok. I do not believe you will qualify for the discount though.

[imhungry20]

You are ok. I do not believe you will qualify for the discount though.

That is fine with me, I would not ask for it any how, don't deserve it.
Thank you all for y'alls insight!

[67SS]

your good.. a general under honorable conditions means you do not have the right to wear the uniform in public ever, other wise you are afforded all the same conditions as a full honorable...based on time in service...

as apposed to, BCD, general unfit, or undesirable...which would preclude you...

[pcgizzmo]

The only type of discharge that would stop you is a full dishonorable discharge which would be equivalent to a felony. General discharges will not stop you from getting a license. even a general under other than honorable conditions would still allow you to own a gun and chl

A General Discharge honorable, other than honorable etc... are administrative discharges. You did something wrong. The military didn't want to keep you or you told them you wanted out and this is the type of discharge you get.

Bad Conduct and Dishonorable discharges are punitive. You have to go before a court martial to get these and it's usually for something really bad like a felony type offense. No CHL or even owning a gun for this.

[Frankie]

If the information you’ve give is complete and accurate, I can say you will be fine. My wife received the same discharge from the US Army and, has her CHL. Like you, she entered service before being emotional mature enough to handle the separation from her family and normal life and was given the “failure to adapt to military life” discharge.

[couzin]

The only type of discharge that would stop you is a full dishonorable discharge which would be equivalent to a felony. General discharges will not stop you from getting a license. even a general under other than honorable conditions would still allow you to own a gun and chl

A General Discharge honorable, other than honorable etc... are administrative discharges. You did something wrong. The military didn't want to keep you or you told them you wanted out and this is the type of discharge you get.

This is correct.

Bad Conduct and Dishonorable discharges are punitive. You have to go before a court martial to get these and it's usually for something really bad like a felony type offense. No CHL or even owning a gun for this.

This is partly incorrect. The Bad Chicken Dinner (BCD) discharge does not always end up with a felony record - sometimes it is just a loss of rank, retirement, and VA services. Beating the snot out of your Lt could get you either the dishonorable or a BCD depending on what the CM review board decided. Also - the BCD can be appealed - file form DD-293 if less than 15 years and form DD-149 if over 15 years.

The OP's less than honorable or unsuitabilty just gets ya bounced but probably with loss of rank only and not loss of VA services. My own father got an unsuitability in 1955 after 16 years service (WWII north Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy Germany, and then Korea) when all that free flowing beer and booze created a full blown alcoholic. The Army busted him from E-6 to Pvt 1 and sent him packing with no retirement. I began appealing the restoration of his rank only in 1980 through 2011 (no back pay and I only asked for his grave marker to be changed back to Sgt) and the Army review board has told me to take the flying leap each time.

[JP171]

your good.. a general under honorable conditions means you do not have the right to wear the uniform in public ever, other wise you are afforded all the same conditions as a full honorable...based on time in service...

as apposed to, BCD, general unfit, or undesirable...which would preclude you...

this is incorrect, the only type of discharge that makes it unlawful to wear a uniform is either less than honorable or dishonorable, if you recieved a Gen UHC you may infact wear the uniform of the service in which you served, the limiting on that is that you must have finished basic training to be eligible to wear the uniform