---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 12685"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "12685"
heading: "Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/12685"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part II — Personnel Generally"
  - "Chapter 1221 — Separation"
---

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


A member of a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) component who is separated for cause, except under [section 12684 of this title](/usc/10/12684.md), 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](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) convened by an authority designated by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9); 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 1163(c) of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, § 1662(i)(2).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.