Source: https://www.thecodylawfirm.com/Articles/Administrative-Separations.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 10:25:09+00:00

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Cognizant of the military's need for good order and discipline, Congress, exercising its power under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, has enacted procedures to allow military commanders to punish and discipline military service members. The most commonly known method of punishment is courts-martial, the military criminal courts.
However, based on the military's unique structure and needs, Congress has also provided for administrative disciplinary measures, either directly or by authorizing the service Secretaries to issue rules and regulations. These administrative disciplinary measures range from formal or informal counseling to administrative separations.
officers. Administrative separations can result in one of three types of discharges: honorable, general under honorable conditions, and other than honorable conditions. The type of discharge received will dictate the benefits, such as veterans benefits, service members will qualify for once released from active duty.
administrative separations of enlisted service members. These regulations have been incorporated by each branch of the military through the issuance of its own regulations.
A service member's command may choose to initiate administrative separation proceedings against a service member following a court-martial that did not result in punitive discharge or following nonjudicial punishment. The command may also choose to initiate administrative separation proceedings in lieu of taking any other disciplinary action. A service member may be processed for administrative separation for a number of reasons.
These reasons may include allegations of misconduct based on a pattern of minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, the commission of a serious offense, or a civilian conviction.
and, if he or she qualifies for one, the right to an Administrative Board, a hearing to contest the separation or the type of discharge sought. If a service member is not entitled to an administrative separation board, the member may still submit letters and evidence on his or her behalf to prove suitability for continued service.
"a preponderance of the evidence," rather than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard of criminal trials, and the recommendation of the Board need not be unanimous.
Once the Board makes its recommendation, the record of the proceedings is forwarded to the "separation authority" for an independent review. In case of a recommendation of an other than honorable discharge, the proceedings are also reviewed by an attorney. If the Board recommends retention but the "separation authority" believes separation is warranted, the separation authority will forward his recommendation along with the Board's recommendation to the Secretary of the service member's military branch for final review and decision. Additional challenges to the service's decision may be brought by the service member in the Court of Federal Claims and the respective board of correction of military records.
Commissioned officers may be administratively separated from the military for substandard performance, misconduct, moral or professional dereliction, or because the officer's retention is not consistent with the interests of national security. Congress has directed the Secretary of the military department concerned, within the limitations set by the Secretary of Defense, to prescribe regulations to permit review at any time of a commissioned officer's record to determine if the officer will need to show cause for retention in the service. As a result, the Secretary of Defense has issued regulations governing the separation procedures for regular and reserve commissioned officers.
records. When administrative separation is contemplated, the "show cause" authority reviews the officer's record to determine if the officer will be required to show cause for retention on active duty. Upon examining the officer's record, the "show cause" authority can either close the case or refer it to a "Board of Inquiry", a hearing where the officer is required to show cause for his retention.
Boards of Inquiry (BOI) are convened by the Secretary of the officer's military branch and are similar to a trial where evidence is presented for and against the officer.
The "judge" and "jury" at the BOI will be at least three active duty officers of a grade above lieutenant colonel or commander, senior in rank to and of the same military branch as the officer required to show cause for retention. The officers need not be attorneys or have legal training. As in a trial, the BOI is required to give a fair and impartial hearing to the officer and to consider all relevant evidence prior to determining whether separation is warranted and, if so, the type of discharge the officer should receive. A non-voting attorney may be appointed to assist the BOI and acts as the "prosecutor."
cause for separation. A unanimous finding is not required. Rules of evidence applicable at criminal trials are not applicable at BOIs; any relevant evidence may be introduced for or against the officer.
the BOI are determined to have been obtained by fraud or collusion.
If the BOI recommends that the officer be separated, the record is referred to the Secretary of the military department concerned so that he or she may direct separation or retention. The Secretary's decision is final. However, the decision to separate may be challenged by the officer in the Court of Federal Claims or the respective board of correction of military records.
 Estela I Velez Pollack, Administrative Separations for Misconduct: An Alternative or Companion to Military Courts-Martial, CRS Report for Congress (2004).
 Under Article I, sec. 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to raise and support Armies; provide and maintain a Navy; and provide for organizing and disciplining them.
 Chappell v. Wallace, 462 U.S. 296, 300 (1983) (recognizing the "need for special regulations in relation to military discipline. . . ."); Schlesinger v. Councilman, 420 U.S. 738, 757 (1975); Burns v. Wilson, 346 U.S. 137, 140 (1953) ("Military law . . . is a jurisprudence which exists separate and apart from the law which governs in our federal judicial establishment."); Orloff v. Willoughby, 345 U.S. 83, 94 (1953) ("The military constitutes a specialized community governed by a separate discipline from that of the civilian").
 See, e.g., 10 U.S.C. §§ 815 and 1161 et seq.
Code of Military Justice (U.C.M.J.), 10 U.S.C. § 815, are a means of addressing minor crimes.
 Some may argue that administrative separations are "punitive" since some courts have found that a discharge under other than honorable conditions, which may be awarded as a result of an administrative separation, stigmatizes the service member's reputation, impedes his ability to gain employment, and serves as prima facie evidence against the service member's character, patriotism and loyalty. Stapp v. Resor, 314 F.Supp. 475 (S.D.N.Y. 1970); Kauffman v. Secretary of the Air Force, 415 F.2d 991, 995 (D.C. Cir.1969); Van Bourg v. Nitze, 388 F.2d 557, 559 n.1 (D.C. Cir. 1967). For an explanation of the different types of discharges see note 6, infra.
 An honorable discharge is appropriate when the quality of the service has generally met standards of acceptable conduct and performance or is otherwise meritorious. A general under honorable conditions discharge is appropriate when the service has been honest and faithful but there are significant negative aspects of the service which outweigh the positive aspects. Discharges under other than honorable conditions may be issued when there has been significant departure from conduct expected of service members; it is authorized only if the service member had the opportunity to request an Administrative Board. Department of Defense Directive (DoD Dir.) 1332.14, E3.A2.1.3.2.
 10 U.S.C. § 1169; S. Rep. No. 301, 90th Cong., 1st Sess. 10, reprinted in 1967 U.S. Code Cong. & Adm. News 2635, 2645. Only courts-martial may adjudge a bad-conduct or dishonorable discharge, the two types of punitive discharges. Neal v. U.S., 177 Ct.Cl. 937 (1966).
 The Army uses Army Regulations (AR), the Air Force uses Air Force Instructions (AFI), and the Navy and Marine Corps use the Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN).
 The pattern of misconduct can consist of discreditable involvement with civil or military authorities, or conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. DoD Dir. 1332.14, E3.A.1.1.11.1.1.2.
 The serious offense must be one that warrants separation and for which a punitive discharge would be authorized under the U.C.M.J. Id.
 The civilian conviction must be one that warrants separation, for which a punitive discharge would be authorized under the U.C.M.J., and where the sentence by civilian authorities includes confinement for six months or more. Id.
 Only service members who have served for at least six years of combined active and reserve duty are entitled to an administrative board. DoD Dir. 1332.14, E3.A3.1.2., E3.A3.1.3.1.
 The type of discharge recommended characterizes the service.
 The "separation authority" will usually be the commanding officer of the service member's unit who must be in the grade of lieutenant colonel or commander or higher.
 DoD Dir. 1332.14, E3.A3.1.3.6.2. Review by an attorney is also mandatory when, regardless of the type of discharge recommended by the Board, the service member identifies specific legal issues for consideration by the separation authority.
 The Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction over claims founded upon Acts of Congress such as pay status. A service member's right to pay under 37 U.S.C. § 204 serves as the basis for jurisdiction. West v. United States, 35 Fed. Cl. 226, 230 (1996).
 Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1552, each service branch has established a board which may correct any military record when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. This board can only correct the characterization of the service or discharge awarded. See also, 10 U.SC. § 1553, right to have discharge reviewed.
 Department of Defense Instruction (DoD Inst.) 1332.40. As with the regulations governing enlisted separations, these regulations have also been incorporated by each branch of the military through the issuance of its own regulations.
 Officers may also be administratively separated for example if they lose their professional qualifications or for substandard performance. See 10 U.S.C. § 1181.
 The "show cause" authority is the commander initiating administrative separation proceedings. It can be the military branch's Secretary, commanders of reserve personnel centers, commanders of a brigade or unit, an air command or the commander in chief of a fleet, and all general or flag officers in command who have a military attorney or legal advisor available. DoD Inst. 1332.40, E1.1.2.1.
 10 U.S.C. § 1182; DoD Inst. 1332.40, E3.3.
 10 U.S.C. §§ 1182, 1187; DoD Inst. 1332.40, E4.2.
 10 U.S.C. § 1182; DoD Inst. 1332.40, E3.3.3.
 10 U.S.C. § 1185; DoD Inst., 1332.40 E5.4.
 10 U.S.C. § 1184; DoD Inst. 1332.40, E3.5.

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