U.S. Military Separation Codes
Separation Codes Page 2
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The Military Separation codes are contained in your military records and may be annotated on various military separation documents. The Separation Codes are sometimes subjectively assigned by military personnel and are difficult to challenge on your DD214 by the veteran. The codes have been changed several times throughout the years and may even differ from branch of service. Therefore, the codes can easily be misinterpreted by future employers or recruiters should the veteran decide he/she wants to return to service. The code below may have changed from the most current codes available that are now confidential use by the military. The use of these codes could be deemed inaccurate so interpret at your own risk.
These codes are contained in your military records and may be annotated on various military separation documents. These codes are subject to change, and the Department of Defense will no longer allow the military services to release the meanings of these codes to the general public. The below definitions were obtained before this prohibition went into effect.
GPB - Drug use
H21 - H23 - Death - , Non - Battle, Other (USMC)
H25 - H59 - eath, Non - Battle, Other (USMC)
H31 - Death, Non - Battle, Other (USMC)
H4G - Death, Non - Battle, Other (USMC)
H51 - Death, Non - Battle, Other (USMC)
H61 - 1169 - Death, Battle Casualty - Marine
HBF - Early Release - To attend school
HCR - No listing at this time.
HDF - Pregnancy
HDK - Security reason
HFT - Unqualifird for Active Duty - Other
HFV - Unqualifird for Active Duty - Other
HGH - [No definition for this code at this time]
HHJ - Unsuitability (Reason Unknown)
HJB - Court Martial
HKA - Discreditable Incidents - Civilian or Military
HKB - Civil Court conviction
HKD - AWOL, Desertion
HKE - AWOL, Desertion
HKE - Financial Irresponsibility
HKG - Fraudulent Entry
HKH - Lack of Dependent Support
HKJ - Shirking
HKK - Drug use
HKL - Sexual Perversion
HKQ - No information on file
HLB - Discreditable Incidents - Civilian or Military
HLC - Homosexuality
HLF - Drug use
HLG - Financial Irresponsibility
HLH - Lack of Dependent Support
HLJ - Shirking
HLK - Unsanitary Habits
HLL - Sexual Perversion
HMB - Character or Behavior Disorder
HMC - Enuresis
HMD - Inaptitude
HMF - -Sexual Perversion
HMG - Alcoholism
HMJ - Motivational problems
HMM - Drug use
HMN - Financial Irresponsibility
HMN - Unsuitability (Reason Unknown)
HMP - Unsanitary Habits
HNB - Character or Behavior Disorder
HNC - Misconduct (Reason Unknown)
HPD - No information at this time
HRC - Homosexuality
HRG - No information at this time
HWL - Homosexuality
J11 - USAF Other
JBB - Involuntary discharge, age, USAF
JBB - Other
JBC - Other
JBD - Retirement - 20 - 30 Years Service
JBH - Other
JBK - Expiration of Term of Service
JBK - Involuntsey discharge at end active obligated service, USN - Enlisted
JBM - Early Release - Insufficient time left in service after returning from overseas or other duty
JBM - Within 3 months of end active obligated service, USN - Enlisted
JCC - Early Release - Reduction in authorized strength
JCC - General demobilization. Reduction in authorized strength, USN - Enlisted
JCM - Concientious Objector
JCP - Other, Alien not lawfully admitted
JDA - Fraudulent entry
JDF - Pregnancy
JDG - Parenthood
JDJ - Early Release - In the national interest
JDK - Security reason
JDL - Withdrawal of ecclesiatical endorsement
JDM - Early Release - Other
JDN - Lack of jurisdiction (other than void enlistment)
There are more codes on the next pages that complete the most recent changes before the codes were no longer public information. As you can see, the codes vary in reasons from medical injury to illegal acts taken by the veteran. The better option is to look at the bottom of the DD214 for Separation Additional Information. There you will find the type of discharge like honorable, dishonorable, other than honorable, general etc. You will also find the reason written in English versus a random code that can lead to confusion when interpreting a person's separation from the military.