18 USC § 498 - Military or naval discharge certificates

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s498"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 498 - Military or naval discharge certificates"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "498"
section_name: "Military or naval discharge certificates"
chapter_number: 25
chapter_name: "COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# 1 Military or naval discharge certificates

See 1994 Amendment note below.

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Whoever forges, counterfeits, or falsely alters any certificate of discharge from the military or naval service of the United States, or uses, unlawfully possesses or exhibits any such certificate, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered, shall be fined under this title  or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940, ed., § 136 (, ).

Reference to any person causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by .

At the end of this section words “in the discretion of the court” were omitted as unnecessary, as the punishment provisions, being framed in the alternative by the use of the disjunctive “or,” vest in the court the power to impose a fine or prison sentence in its discretion.

Changes in phraseology were made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—, which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”, was executed by making the substitution for “fined not more than $1,000”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.