10 USC § 1169 - Regular enlisted members: limitations on discharge

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s1169"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 1169 - Regular enlisted members: limitations on discharge"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "1169"
section_name: "Regular enlisted members: limitations on discharge"
chapter_number: 59
chapter_name: "SEPARATION"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PERSONNEL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 3(a)(1)(A), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 757.)"
---


# § 1169. Regular enlisted members: limitations on discharge

No regular enlisted member of an armed force may be discharged before his term of service expires, except—

**(1)** as prescribed by the Secretary concerned;

**(2)** by sentence of a general or special court martial; or

**(3)** as otherwise provided by law.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 3(a)(1)(A), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 757.)