What About Them? Exploring the Experiences of Former Servicemembers with Less than Honorable Discharges

Abstract

Former servicemembers with discharges that are classified as anything less than honorable typically face barriers to veteran-specific care and benefits, preventing them from accessing the services they may need. The research is lacking in analysis of former servicemembers’ experiences in regard to their discharge status specifically; however, research that is available suggests that many former servicemembers discharged less than honorably were suffering from a mental illness at the time of discharge. This qualitative study explored the stories of former servicemembers with less than honorable discharges. A total of five participants were interviewed about their experiences in the military, the impact of their discharge status, whether or not mental illness was a factor in their discharge, and what they would identify as the greatest need for former servicemembers with less than honorable discharges. These data were thematically analyzed to identify common themes among the participants.