10 USC § 12685 - Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s12685"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 12685 - Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "12685"
section_name: "Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge"
chapter_number: 1221
chapter_name: "SEPARATION"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PERSONNEL GENERALLY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(i)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2998.)"
---


# § 12685. Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge

A member of a reserve component who is separated for cause, except under section 12684 of this title, is entitled to a discharge under honorable conditions unless—

**(1)** the member is discharged under conditions other than honorable under an approved sentence of a court-martial or under the approved findings of a board of officers convened by an authority designated by the Secretary concerned; or

**(2)** the member consents to a discharge under conditions other than honorable with a waiver of proceedings of a court-martial or a board.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(i)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2998.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , prior to repeal by .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .