Home  »  Military & Veteran Benefits   »   Getting Out of the Military Early

Getting Out of the Military Early

Joe Wallace

Separating from the United States Military before fulfilling a service contract is possible under specific circumstances. The process and likelihood of success depend heavily on the timing of the request, whether during initial training or after going active duty. Much also depends on the reasons for the separation.

Getting Out of the Military Early

Most recruits will fulfil their new enlistment or commission. But not all. Some will fail to complete basic training, others may not complete advanced training, and some may join active duty only to face issues adapting to a military environment. But not all “early outs” are punitive or involve a failure on the recruit’s part as we discover below.

Departing the Military During Basic Training

The initial phase of military service is an evaluation period for both the recruit and the military. The first 180 days of service are a probationary period, and separations are most common during this time.  

Entry-Level Separation (ELS)

Many separations that occur within basic training and the first 180 days of service are classified as an Entry-Level Separation (ELS). This is not a formal discharge but an administrative action that voids the enlistment contract. An ELS is typically initiated for failure to adapt to the military environment, which can include a lack of motivation or minor disciplinary issues. A key feature of an ELS is its uncharacterized service designation.

This means it is neither honorable nor dishonorable and generally does not carry a long-term stigma in civilian life, though it will likely prevent any future military enlistment. Those who separate under such conditions are not considered veterans and do not qualify for veteran benefits.

A new recruit who wants to leave basic training should inform their training instructor immediately. Know that you will encounter resistance, and getting out under such conditions is not easy, but under the current law, no branch of the military can legally compel a recruit to finish basic training.

Medical Conditions

The intense physical demands of basic training often reveal pre-existing medical conditions (known as “Existed Prior to Service” or EPTS) that were not detected upon enlistment. If a military doctor determines the condition prevents the recruit from safely completing training, a medical separation process may begin.

Erroneous or Fraudulent Enlistment

An enlistment can be voided if it is found to be either erroneous or there is evidence of fraudulent enlistment. An erroneous enlistment happens when the military makes a procedural mistake. A fraudulent enlistment occurs when a recruit intentionally conceals disqualifying information. A fraudulent enlistment discovered during basic training will lead to separation.

Departing During Technical Training or A School

After basic training, service members attend technical training, or “A School,” to learn more skills and enter a military career field. While they have proven they can adapt to the basic military environment, new challenges at this stage can still lead to separation.

The Entry-Level Separation (ELS) remains the primary tool for separation if the service member is still within their first 180 days of service. Reasons for an ELS at this stage often shift from general adaptation issues to more specific job-related problems.

Academic or Skill Failure

Technical schools have academic standards. A service member who cannot pass the required tests and qualifications for their assigned job may be separated. In some cases, the military may attempt to reclassify the member into a different job, but if no suitable alternative is available, separation is likely.

Loss of Job Eligibility

Many military occupations require a security clearance. In such cases, information discovered during a background investigation can lead to a denial of that clearance. Without the required clearance, a service member cannot perform their job and will likely be processed for administrative separation.

Separating from Active Duty

Once a service member completes all initial training and reports to their first permanent duty station, separating before their contract ends becomes significantly more difficult. These separations can be grouped into several categories: voluntary, involuntary, and force management programs. These are unrelated to situations where the service member simply decides not to reenlist.

Voluntary Separation

These are separations that a service member requests. Approval is not guaranteed.

Hardship Discharges are for service members who experience a severe personal or family hardship that developed after their entry into service and requires their presence at home. The application requires substantial proof.

Dependency Discharges involve a family member’s dependency on the service member for support, which has become more severe since entering the military.

Conscientious Objector (CO) Status is an option for service members who develop a deeply held moral or religious belief against war in any form. This intensive process requires proving the sincerity of the belief.

Involuntary Separation

Involuntary separations are initiated by the military command. These types of dishcharges are not necessarily punitive, as we’ll see below.

Medical separation is sometimes the result of a service member getting an injury or illness that renders them unfit for duty. This may, in some cases, lead to medical separation with severance pay or a medical retirement with ongoing benefits.

Administrative separations can be initiated for patterns of misconduct, failure to meet physical fitness standards, or other performance issues. The discharge can be characterized as Honorable, General (Under Honorable Conditions), or Other Than Honorable (OTH), which affects eligibility for veteran benefits.

Punitive Discharges are disciplinary actions imposed by a court-martial for serious criminal offenses. A Bad-Conduct Discharge or a Dishonorable Discharge results in the loss of all benefits and carries a stigma.

Force Management Programs

At times, the military needs to reduce its overall size or the number of personnel in specific career fields. To achieve this, the services use several programs that may lead to separation before a contract is complete.

Early Separation Programs, often called “early out” programs, are voluntary opportunities offered to service members in overmanned career fields. The military will announce that members in certain jobs and ranks can apply to separate several months before their scheduled end-of-service date.

These programs are temporary, and their availability depends entirely on the current needs of the service. Another tool is the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA), which allows members with at least 15 years of service to retire early during periods of downsizing.

High Year of Tenure (HYT) is a mandatory separation or retirement policy that establishes the maximum number of years a service member may serve at a specific rank. For example, an enlisted service member who reaches the rank of E-4 but is not promoted to E-5 within a set number of years (which varies by service) will be separated under HYT.

This policy is not considered a punishment; it is a force management tool designed to ensure promotion opportunities for junior personnel and prevent stagnation in the ranks.

A Reduction in Force is an involuntary program used during military downsizing, such as after a major war or in response to budget cuts. Unlike HYT, a RIF is a specific event, not an ongoing policy.

The services convene boards that review the records of service members in targeted career fields and ranks. The review is typically based on factors like performance, time in service, and disciplinary history.