Separation In Lieu of Court-Martial ("For the Good of the Service")

If you have been charged with an offense for which you could be given a court-martial (like AWOL or UA), you may request an administrative discharge instead of ("in lieu") of court-martial. This discharge will most likely be Other Than Honorable, which means you will probably lose your veterans benefits and may have problems getting a civilian job. But these, or worse situations, could also result from a court-martial. Although you will get a military lawyer, try to talk with a civilian attorney and find out how good your chances are at winning the court-martial.

A request for "separation in lieu of court-martial" does not always result in discharge, and you may have to admit your guilt when you make the request. If your request is turned down, your command could possibly use that admission of guilt against you, so it's risky. But so are the ordeal of court-martial, possible imprisonment, and a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.

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