Does Dishonorable Discharge Affect Civilian Life?

A Dishonorable Discharge is reserved for truly reprehensible crimes such as murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, and desertion. Those who receive a Dishonorable Discharge will lose all of their military benefits and are forbidden from owning firearms as civilians.

Does Dishonorable Discharge show up on background check?

Probably not, as the background check involves convictions. The OTH is an administrative characterization of your military service not evidence of a criminal conviction.

What are the consequences of being dishonorably discharged?

Dishonorable Discharge

If someone is dishonorably discharged from the military they are not allowed to own firearms according to US federal law. Military members who receive a Dishonorable Discharge forfeit all military and veterans benefits and may have a difficult time finding work in the civilian sector.