Separation Authority Citations

DoDI 1332.14

Enlisted Administrative Separations, the DoD-level instruction governing enlisted administrative separation reasons, characterization, and procedures.

Source: DoDI 1332.14 (August 1, 2024) · official text

AR 635-200

Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations, the Army regulation governing enlisted separations. The chapter or paragraph after the regulation number identifies the specific reason.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025) · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 3

Character of Service and Description of Separation. Appears on DD-214s executing a court-martial sentence.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 3 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 4

Separation for Expiration of Service Obligation: the normal end of the enlistment or required active service.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 4 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 5

Separation for Convenience of the Government, a family of reasons including secretarial authority and designated physical or mental conditions.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 5 · official text

AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-3

Secretarial authority separation, per DD-214s citing this paragraph together with the Secretarial Authority narrative reason.

Older-edition numbering. The current edition (30 June 2025) covers secretarial plenary authority in Chapter 15.

Source: Army DRB record AR20190006548 (2019) · official text

AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-8

Involuntary separation due to parenthood, when family care responsibilities interfere with military obligations.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), paragraph 5-7 (involuntary separation due to parenthood); DD-214s issued under earlier editions cite 5-8 · official text

AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-11

Separation of personnel who did not meet procurement medical fitness standards, per DD-214s citing this paragraph with the JFW separation code.

Older-edition numbering; block 28 governs.

Source: Army BCMR record 20120003447 (2012) · official text

AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-13

Separation because of personality disorder, per DD-214s citing this paragraph with the JFX separation code.

Older-edition numbering. The current edition (30 June 2025) numbers Chapter 5 differently; block 28 governs.

Source: Army DRB record AR20190004023 (2019) · official text

AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-17

Separation for other designated physical or mental conditions that are not a disability, per DD-214s citing this paragraph with the JFV separation code.

Older-edition numbering. The current edition (30 June 2025) covers these conditions at paragraph 5-14.

Source: Army DRB record AR20130016060 (2013) · official text

AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-31

Expeditious Discharge Program separation for failure to maintain acceptable standards for retention, seen on 1970s and 1980s DD-214s.

Program-era numbering no longer in the current edition.

Source: Army BCMR record 20120005207 (2012) · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 6

Separation Because of Dependency or Hardship.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 6 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 7

Defective Enlistments, Reenlistments, and Extensions, including erroneous entry (Section III) and fraudulent entry (Section IV).

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 7 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 8

Separation for Pregnancy.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 8 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 9

Separation for a Substance Use Disorder. On older DD-214s this chapter appears with drug or alcohol rehabilitation failure narrative reasons.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 9 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 10

Discharge in Lieu of Trial by Court-Martial, granted on the Soldier's request.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 10 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 11

Entry-Level Performance and Conduct: separation during entry-level status, normally uncharacterized.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 11 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 12

Retirement for Length of Service.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 12 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 13

Separation for Unsatisfactory Performance.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 13 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 14

Separation for Misconduct. Paragraph 14-12a covers minor disciplinary infractions, 14-12b a pattern of misconduct, and 14-12c commission of a serious offense including drug abuse at 14-12c(2).

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 14; paragraph meanings per Army DRB records · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 15

Secretarial Plenary Authority in the current edition. DD-214s issued before the 2011 repeal of don't ask, don't tell may cite an older Chapter 15 covering a different reason; block 28 governs.

Chapter numbering has changed across editions.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 15 · official text

AR 635-200, Chapter 18

Failure to Meet Body Composition Standards, historically labeled weight control failure.

Source: AR 635-200 (30 June 2025), chapter 18 · official text

AR 635-40

Physical Evaluation for Retention, Retirement, or Separation: the Army disability evaluation regulation. Chapter 4 paragraphs distinguish permanent retirement, temporary retirement, and severance pay outcomes.

Source: Title quoted in Army BCMR record 20100015363 (2011) · official text

AR 600-8-24

Officer Transfers and Discharges: the authority cited on officer DD-214s for resignations, eliminations, and officer non-retention.

Source: Title quoted in Army BCMR record AR20230005567 (2023) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-102

Separation by Reason of Changes in Service Obligation, including inter-service transfer.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-102 (CH-93, 29 December 2025) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-104

Separation by Reason of Expiration of Active Obligated Service (EAOS).

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-104 (CH-83, 3 May 2023) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-106

Separation in Lieu of Trial by Court-Martial.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-106 (CH-77, 11 November 2021) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-108

Separation by Reason of Convenience of the Government, Early Release to Further Education.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-108 (CH-71, 6 June 2020) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-110

Separation by Reason of Convenience of the Government, Dependency or Hardship.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-110 (CH-72, 29 December 2020) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-112

Separation by Reason of Convenience of the Government, Pregnancy.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-112 (CH-77, 11 November 2021) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-124

Separation by Reason of Convenience of the Government, Parenthood (failure to maintain a current family care plan).

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-124 (CH-72, 29 December 2020) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-134

Separation by Reason of Defective Enlistments and Inductions, Fraudulent Entry Into Naval Service.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-134 (CH-77, 11 November 2021) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-136

Separation from the Delayed Entry Program.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-136 (CH-77, 11 November 2021) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-138

Separation by Reason of Misconduct, Minor Disciplinary Infractions.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-138 (CH-77, 11 November 2021) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-142

Separation by Reason of Misconduct, Commission of a Serious Offense.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-142 (CH-87, 12 June 2024) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-144

Separation by Reason of Misconduct, Civilian Conviction.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-144 (CH-69, 9 October 2019) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-146

Separation by Reason of Misconduct, Drug Abuse.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-146 (CH-69, 9 October 2019) · official text

MILPERSMAN 1910-160

Separation by Reason of Supremacist or Extremist Conduct.

Source: MILPERSMAN 1910-160 (CH-77, 11 November 2021) · official text

AFI 36-3208

Administrative Separation of Airmen, the authority on older Air Force enlisted DD-214s. A cited record documents paragraph 2.2 as Completion of Required Active Service and paragraph 2.17 as Separation Authorized by Headquarters USAF.

Superseded by DAFI 36-3211.

Source: AF BCMR record BC201400769 (2014) · official text

DAFI 36-3211

Military Separations, the current Department of the Air Force instruction covering both Air Force and Space Force separations.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026) · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.11

Conditions that Interfere with Military Service.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.11 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.22

Entry-level separation eligibility and criteria.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.22 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.26

Unsatisfactory performance discharge criteria.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.26 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.38

Misconduct: Minor Disciplinary Infractions.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.38 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.39

Misconduct: A Pattern of Misconduct.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.39 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.40

Misconduct: Commission of a Serious Offense.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.40 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.41

Misconduct: Civilian Conviction.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.41 · official text

DAFI 36-3211, Paragraph 7.43

Misconduct: Drug Abuse.

Source: DAFI 36-3211 with DAFGM 2026-02 (18 February 2026), paragraph 7.43 · official text

MCO 1900.16 (MARCORSEPMAN)

Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, the authority cited on Marine Corps DD-214s. The paragraph after the order number identifies the specific reason.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6202

Change in Service Obligation.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6202 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6203

Convenience of the Government.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6203 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6204

Defective Enlistment and Induction.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6204 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6206

Unsatisfactory Performance.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6206 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6209

Alcohol-Abuse Rehabilitation Failure.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6209 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6210

Misconduct, with subparagraphs for minor disciplinary infractions (6210.2), a pattern of misconduct (6210.3), and related bases.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6210 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6212

Security: separation when retention is clearly inconsistent with the interests of national security.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6212 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6213

Unsatisfactory Participation in the Ready Reserve.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6213 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6215

Weight Control and Body Composition Program Failure.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, paragraph 6215 · official text

MARCORSEPMAN Paragraph 6407

Hardship discharge.

Source: MCO 1900.16 w/CH-3, appendix I (RE-3H entry references paragraph 6407) · official text

Article 12.B.12, Coast Guard Personnel Manual

Convenience of the government separation, per a Coast Guard board record correcting a discharge to this authority.

Older Coast Guard Personnel Manual numbering; current policy is in the Military Separations Manual, COMDTINST M1000.4.

Source: CG BCMR docket 2004-138 · official text

Article 12.B.18, Coast Guard Personnel Manual

Misconduct separation, per a Coast Guard board record.

Older Coast Guard Personnel Manual numbering; current policy is in the Military Separations Manual, COMDTINST M1000.4.

Source: CG BCMR docket 2004-138 · official text