Question for people who know about military discharge stuff

[uppityperson]

I do not know much about how the military works, but was wondering if anyone could help me with a few questions.

Media says Steven Green was discharged from the military for a personality disorder. How bad does someone have to be, what do they have to do to be discharged like this? Was his discharge directly related to Abeer & her family's rape/murder/mutilation or what other incidents lead to it? Did his superiors set him loose on the civilian world, knowing of the rape/murder/mutilation, or at least that he was dangerous? Would they have had to arrange for follow-up mental health care since he was being discharged on mental health issues?

Thank you.

Edited to add, I'm getting offline for a while so I won't reply back quickly, will check back later tonight. Thanks again.

[1620rock]

1. They probably gave him a "less than honorable" discharge....

...or a "general discharge". These discharges can be challenged later.

[me b zola]

3. Green was given an honorable discharge

Which is one of the many aspects of this case that is disturbing.

[Breeze54]

4. Honorable Discharge due to "anti-social personality disorder,"

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-main-9-l1&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060707%2F0201145933.htm&sc=1110
snip-->
"Green, who served 11 months with the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Ky.,
received an honorable discharge and left the army in mid-May. He was discharged because
of an "anti-social personality disorder," according to military officials and court documents." <--snip

[Breeze54]

2. The military may discharge servicemembers for:

http://girights.objector.org/gettingout/odpmcfacts.html

Fact Sheet: Other Designated Physical and Mental Conditions

* Helping Out Regulations Guide: ODPMC Regulations

The military may discharge servicemembers for "other designated physical and mental conditions" who have conditions that do not qualify for a disability discharge, but "that potentially interfere with assignment to or performance of duty...."1 Personality disorders are the most common grounds for discharge under other designated physical and mental conditions (ODPMC). In addition to personality disorders, grounds for discharge can include: seasickness, bedwetting, airsickness, sleep walking, certain allergies, severe nightmares, severe stuttering, obesity, and excessive height.2

Consider seeking an ODPMC discharge if you experience emotional distress, difficulty in coping with military life, or an inability to behave and think as you would like to behave and think. While personality disorders are fairly complex, and real diagnoses can only come from a psychiatrist or psychologist, lay people can identify common symptoms and help to determine whether psychiatric evaluation is warranted. Common symptoms of some personality disorders include feeling depressed, helpless, or out of control, difficulty sleeping or inability to cope with work or people, or occasional thoughts of suicide.

A personality disorder is grounds for discharge only when "a diagnosis by a psychiatrist or psychologist...concludes that the disorder is so severe that the member's ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired."

This is a command-initiated discharge, which means there is no application procedure and you have no "right" to this discharge. Getting an early discharge is not easy and the procedures can be complicated. Discharge regulations are intended to give commanders control over their troops to maintain good order and discipline. You must persuade your command that a discharge is warranted and in the best interests of the military.

much more at link...

Try these!

Edit:

1. DoD Directive 1332.14 Part 1 §C.4.h.(1).

2. See AR 635-200 Chapter 5; MILPERSMAN §3620225.; MARCORSEPMAN §6203.; AFI 36-3208 §5.11.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. There are several classes of discharge, ranging

from an Honorable Discharge given at completion of service to a Dishonorable Discharge given in conjunction with some sort of punishment for serious violations of military law. I'm not really up to date on the fine points, but in my day (Vietnam era) you could also get a medical discharge if you had a health condition that would preclude your finishing your tour of service. There was an "Unsuitable" discharge for those who, through no fault of their own, simply couldn't meet the demands of service--e.g. because of a developmental disability that had not been identified when they were inducted. There waws also an Unfit discharge, which was "awarded" to those who didn't quite do anything bad enough for a Dishonorable, but whom the military just got sick of dealing with. Dishonorable & Unfit were "bad" discharges (meaning, iirc, you couldn't collect veterans benefits), the others were "good" discharges. I think if you were discharged as "Unsuitable" after having served at least 90 days you were eleigible for benefits.

Anyway, an Antisocial Personality Disorder would have eraned you either an Unfit or Unsuitable depending on just what you had done to come to their attention.