U.S. Military Separation Codes

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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.

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