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Veterans And Other-Than-Honorable Discharges More than 100,000 troops left the service with other-than-honorable discharges in the last 10 years. The consequences of a bad discharge can last a lifetime, disqualifying veterans from benefits and health care.
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Veterans And Other-Than-Honorable Discharges

A bad discharge can disqualify veterans from benefits and health care.

Filling The Gaps For Veterans With Bad Discharges

Community and charity groups are scrambling to provide care where the VA is failing veterans who left the military with less-than-honorable discharges. Many of these groups have extensive experience with the problem; they say tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans faced the same problem.

Filling The Gaps For Veterans With Bad Discharges

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After Discharge Upgrade, Marine Finally Finds A Reason To Live

Michael Hartnett joined the Marines because he wanted to be a tough guy. But deployments to the first Gulf War and Somalia left him haunted by nightmares. He turned to booze; after a bad-conduct discharge he fell into drugs for more than a decade. Three years ago, he convinced a military board to upgrade his discharge. That change in status gave him the chance he needed. Now he's studying to be a social worker so he can help other vets.

After Discharge Upgrade, Marine Finally Finds A Reason To Live

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For Veterans, 'Bad Paper' Is A Catch-22 For Treatment

Reed Holway served in Iraq, where he developed PTSD. His symptoms worsened back in the U.S. He got in trouble and ultimately received a bad-conduct discharge. Now Holway is stuck: He can't get medical care from the VA for the disorder that he says caused him to get kicked out of the Army in the first place.

For Veterans, 'Bad Paper' Is A Catch-22 For Treatment

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Other-Than-Honorable Discharge Burdens Like A Scarlet Letter

Reed Holway spent 13 months in Iraq. He says PTSD brought on a drinking problem when he returned to the States — and that eventually led to a bad-conduct discharge. Vets with "bad paper" have trouble getting any VA health benefits — even for PTSD. Quil Lawrence/NPR hide caption

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Other-Than-Honorable Discharge Burdens Like A Scarlet Letter

Since 2001, more than 100,000 troops have left the military with an other-than-honorable discharge. The "bad paper" puts benefits and medical care out of reach, even for those who served in combat. Which raises a simple question: What does America owe those who serve?

Other-Than-Honorable Discharge Burdens Like A Scarlet Letter

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Help Is Hard To Get For Veterans After A Bad Discharge

More than 100,000 troops left the service with other-than-honorable discharges in the last 10 years. The consequences of a bad discharge can last a lifetime, disqualifying veterans from benefits and health care. Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's Quil Lawrence about his series on these former members of the military.

Help Is Hard To Get For Veterans After A Bad Discharge

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