Military Administrative Separation Board Process

You’ve dedicated your life to the military and served with honor. Now, they are trying to discharge you, putting your career at risk. Facing a military administrative separation board process can be incredibly stressful, but you don’t have to go through it alone. You can work with a military administrative separation attorney to help you establish a strategic defense.

What Is an Administrative Separation Board?

An administrative separation board (ASB) is a formal proceeding used by the military to determine whether to involuntarily terminate a servicemember for misconduct, substandard performance, or another reason. ASBs apply to enlisted personnel who are facing Other Than Honorable discharge. These processes often take place at large military installations like Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton or Naval Base San Diego.

What Is the ABS Process?

The ABS process begins when you’re notified of a proposed separation and ends when a final decision is issued. Every case is a little different, but they all follow the same general outline. The steps taken will include:

• Notification. You’ll receive a written notice of the proposed separation and the basis for that separation.
• Rights and representation. You’ll be able to hire an administrative separation lawyer who can provide you with representation, present evidence, and protect your rights.
• Board hearing. During the ABS hearing, a panel of officers and senior enlisted members will review all the evidence, hear testimony, and make a recommendation regarding your potential separation.
• Final decision. The final determination on your separation and the characterization of your service will be made by the convening authority. You could receive an Honorable, General, or Other Than Honorable discharge.

It’s essential that you take this proceeding seriously. It could mean the end of your military career. An ABS is basically a termination process equivalent to being fired from a civilian job. However, it’s worse than being fired in the civilian world, because an adverse separation decision will leave a black mark on your record that will follow you for the rest of your life.

Potential Consequences of an ABS Process

The characterization of your service will be listed on your DD214, your official discharge document. In 2024, it was estimated that 207,000 servicemembers leave the military each year, and around 9% of them are separated from the military under conditions other than honorable discharge. A notation of substandard performance or misconduct can significantly hamper your ability to find suitable future employment in the civilian world.

You won’t just face increased difficulty finding employment. Other Than Honorable or General discharges can impact your ability to access your VA benefits. You may also be barred from joining the National Guard or National Reserve. Some civilian employers in defense-related industries or the government also consider military discharge characterizations strongly when hiring new workers.

Hire an Administrative Separation Lawyer

If you’re facing an ASB process, you need to hire a lawyer with skill and experience dealing with military administrative separation laws. The team here at Aaron Meyer Law is well-equipped to tackle your military administrative separation case. We have years of experience working with clients facing similar problems and will aggressively defend your rights and interests. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.