The transition from military to civilian life can be challenging for veterans who receive an Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge. This separation status creates barriers to employment and access to post-service support. Despite these difficulties, many viable career paths and resources remain available to those seeking to leverage their military experience in the civilian workforce. This information provides actionable strategies for navigating the job market and pursuing long-term solutions for employment and discharge status.
Understanding the Employment Impact of an Other Than Honorable Discharge
An Other Than Honorable discharge is an administrative separation from the military, distinct from a punitive discharge like a Bad Conduct or Dishonorable discharge. The OTH status creates major employment and benefit hurdles for the veteran. The main obstacle is ineligibility for most federal government positions, as veterans’ preference is generally restricted to those with an Honorable or General discharge.
The OTH designation also limits access to many Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Veterans with this status are typically disqualified from receiving the Post-9/11 GI Bill and VA Home Loan guarantees. The loss of education benefits impacts a veteran’s ability to finance new civilian job training, necessitating a focused job search strategy that targets employers and industries less reliant on a specific discharge status.
Strategies for Addressing Discharge Status During the Job Search
A successful job search requires a planned strategy for addressing the OTH discharge, particularly in applications and interviews. Many private sector applications only ask if the applicant is a veteran, not the specific character of their discharge. If the discharge status is not directly asked, the veteran should generally not volunteer the information, as many private employers do not have a policy against hiring those with an OTH status.
When the question of discharge is unavoidable, such as during a background check or a direct interview question, the veteran should be prepared to address it concisely and professionally. Frame military service positively, emphasizing the skills, training, and discipline gained. Take responsibility for the circumstances surrounding the discharge without dwelling on the specific details, pivoting the conversation back to their current readiness and value as an employee. This approach minimizes the discharge as a past administrative event while maximizing military experience.
Job Sectors That Prioritize Skills Over Discharge Status
Many industries value the qualities of former service members and are less concerned with the administrative details of separation, particularly when the roles do not require security clearances or federal contracts. These sectors often prioritize technical competence, work ethic, and demonstrated skill proficiency in the hiring process. Focusing on these areas provides a direct path to employment, bypassing the most common OTH-related hiring obstacles.
Skilled Trades and Manual Labor
The skilled trades, including plumbing, welding, electrical work, and HVAC repair, are excellent options where demonstrated technical competence is the primary hiring factor. Employers in construction and maintenance fields focus on a candidate’s certifications, licenses, and on-the-job experience rather than discharge type. Veterans often possess a strong foundation in these technical areas. Additional civilian licensing can quickly make them highly competitive candidates, as demand for qualified individuals in these trades remains consistently high.
Entrepreneurship and Independent Contracting
Self-employment and independent contracting offer a path where the veteran is the employer, eliminating the need to navigate company hiring policies. This allows the veteran to capitalize on their skills by starting a small service business, such as landscaping, home repair, or specialized consulting. The gig economy also provides numerous opportunities for independent contracting in fields like ride-sharing or delivery services. In these roles, the focus is strictly on performance and reliability, allowing veterans to immediately apply their discipline and work ethic.
Logistics and Transportation
The logistics and transportation sector values veteran experience in planning, coordination, and supply chain management. Commercial driving, often requiring a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), is an accessible field where background checks focus primarily on driving record and criminal history, not military discharge status. Roles in warehousing, inventory management, and freight operations also benefit from the military’s emphasis on efficient organization and operational readiness. This industry offers stable positions that directly align with many former service members’ skill sets.
Manufacturing and Production
The manufacturing and production industries offer a wide variety of roles, from operating machinery to quality control and supervisory positions. These environments demand the discipline, attention to detail, and adherence to safety protocols that are hallmarks of military training. Employers in factory and production settings focus on maintaining a reliable workforce and meeting production quotas. This makes a candidate’s practical experience more valuable than their separation paperwork, and many large manufacturing companies actively recruit veterans.
Certain Technology and IT Roles
In the technology sector, certain roles, particularly those not requiring government security clearances, value technical proficiency and certifications. Entry-level positions like help desk support, network administration, and specific coding roles prioritize a candidate’s demonstrated technical skills and relevant professional certifications. Non-government IT positions allow veterans to apply technical training gained in the military to a growing civilian field. A strong portfolio of certifications, such as CompTIA, can frequently outweigh concerns about discharge status.
Effectively Translating Military Experience to Civilian Skills
Maximizing employment opportunities requires translating military experience from technical jargon into language that civilian hiring managers understand and value. This process involves identifying and articulating both the “soft” and “hard” skills developed during service. The resume and interview narrative must clearly connect past military duties to the requirements of the target civilian job.
Service members gain extensive experience in leadership, discipline, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are highly sought-after soft skills in the civilian marketplace. Veterans should use specific, measurable examples of how they led projects, managed teams, or solved complex operational issues. Technical skills must be similarly translated into civilian terminology, converting military occupational specialties (MOS) into recognized civilian certifications or functional roles. The goal is to ensure the resume emphasizes relevant capabilities, demonstrating the veteran’s potential contribution to the civilian employer.
Pursuing Options for Discharge Status Review and Upgrade
While seeking immediate employment is important, pursuing an upgrade to the OTH discharge status offers a long-term solution to remove employment and benefit barriers permanently. The two main avenues for review are the Discharge Review Board (DRB) and the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR). Each branch of the military has its own boards, and the specific application process involves different forms and criteria.
The DRB is typically the first step for veterans discharged within the last 15 years and reviews the character and reason for separation. If the discharge occurred more than 15 years ago, or if the DRB denies the request, the veteran applies to the BCMR. A strong application requires comprehensive documentation, often including character affidavits, medical records, and evidence of post-service conduct and rehabilitation. Although the review process can take many months, seeking legal or advocacy assistance is highly recommended to increase the probability of a successful outcome.
Key Resources and Support Organizations for Veterans
A variety of specialized organizations provide support to veterans navigating the job market, regardless of discharge status. Non-profit organizations like Hire Heroes USA and Warriors Ethos offer free services focused on career planning, resume building, and job placement assistance to veterans and their families. These groups provide tailored guidance for those with less-than-honorable discharges.
Government-affiliated resources are available through the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) program. Veterans can seek assistance from local veteran employment representatives or American Job Centers, which often connect job seekers with training programs and local employers. Utilizing these resources ensures the veteran has access to a network of professionals committed to helping them successfully transition into the civilian workforce.