---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 771a"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "771a"
heading: "Disposition on discharge"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/771a"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 45 — The Uniform"
---

# §771a. Disposition on discharge

- (a) Except as provided in subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c), when an [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) of an armed force is discharged, the exterior articles of uniform in his possession that were issued to him, other than those that he may wear from the place of discharge to his home under [section 772(d) of this title](/usc/10/772.md?p=d), shall be retained for [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) use.
- (b) When an [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) of an armed force is discharged for bad conduct, undesirability, unsuitability, inaptitude, or otherwise than honorably—
  - (1) the exterior articles of uniform in his possession shall be retained for [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) use;
  - (2) under such regulations as the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) prescribes, a suit of civilian clothing and an overcoat when necessary, both to cost not more than $30, may be issued to him; and
  - (3) if he would be otherwise without funds to meet his immediate needs, he may be paid an amount, fixed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5), of not more than $25.
- (c) When an [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) of the [Army National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-2) or the [Air National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-4) who has been called into Federal service is released from that service, the exterior articles of uniform in his possession shall be [accounted for](/usc/10/1513.md?p=3) as property issued to the [Army National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-2) or the [Air National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-4), as the case may be, of the [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) or territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia of whose [Army National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-2) or [Air National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-4) he is a member, as prescribed in [section 708 of title 32](/usc/32/708.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 8(1)(A), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 763; amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, § 1234(a)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–456 struck out “the Canal Zone,” after “Puerto Rico,”.