Military Discharge in the UK – What Is It and How Can It Occur?

The British Armed Forces is a diverse institution, with a wide range of roles and services for aspiring personnel of any background. The Forces are particularly aspirational for younger people, who seek new skills and experiences in a hands-on vocation. But at the other end of a military career lies discharge – an event commonly misunderstood by applicants and even by some experienced military personnel.

What is Military Discharge?

Military discharge is an overarching term, that describes the permanent leave of a member of military personnel. There are various mechanisms by which someone can be discharged from the military, whether as a natural conclusion to the course of their career or a direct result of and response to actions taken.

A person can only legally leave the military if they are formally discharged. If a member of personnel attempts to leave their role without a formal discharge notice of any kind, they could be convicted of desertion under the Armed Forces Act 2006 – a criminal conviction that carries a custodial sentence of two years.

Discharge is not a permanent ruling for many, though. If someone is discharged from military service, they may eventually be able to rejoin. The British Army, for example, review re-joiner applications on a case-by-case basis, allowing those medically discharged to have their current situation reviewed.

The Different Types of Military Discharge

Normal Service Leaver

A normal service leaver is a member of the armed forces who leaves as a natural course of their career. They may occur at the end of an official engagement, or as a result of reaching retirement age. Alternatively, a role may be considered redundant, and a member of personnel given notice of leave.

Early Service Leaver

An early service leaver is a member of military personnel who is discharged before the end of an engagement, typically within four years of enlistment. The reasons for early discharge can vary widely, but tend to relate to the criteria required of the member in question; early discharges are often compulsory, and sometimes punitive.

Medical Discharge

A medical discharge occurs when a member of military personnel suffers an injury or condition that impacts their efficacy for service. A proprietary medical board will examine the case of each member in question, and make a judgement on whether or not to terminate their service on medical grounds.

Other

There are other forms of discharge, specific to other services and which could impact members in different ways. For example, the Royal Navy has a form of discharge called ‘invaliding’, in which a member of personnel is permanently retired from service due to being unfit.

Dealing With a Military Discharge

While military discharges are a certainty for every member of personnel in some shape or form, they may not always be predictable. In some cases, discharge can have a supremely negative impact on a member of a personnel’s life – especially if that discharge is a result of negligent behaviour in the service.

If you were medically discharged, with the cause of your injury or condition directly related to actions taken by the military, you may benefit from speaking to military solicitors about your situation. In cases where discharge is punitive, personal counselling can help you re-adjust and re-evaluate your situation.