---
type: "LegalText"
title: "10 U.S.C. § 12685"
description: "Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
chapter_number: "1221"
chapter_name: "SEPARATION"
section: "12685"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 12685"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc10@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s12685"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-10/usc10.xml"
source_hash: "f61ae4aec27cc0e320e7e731522cd93514c4e9d3f98ce8a78bf95f25b55a0ce0"
raw_snapshot_hash: "06a2679d38355c44f4219c983fdad34009233205d6ba271593a4c1b17a739ec1"
text_hash: "96108afd7d3580423d607c431c3624b09450a49ecdb9149dfcd84d3cd96a9f66"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 10 U.S.C. § 12685 - Reserves separated for cause: character of discharge

## Text

A member of a reserve component who is separated for cause, except under section 12684 of this title, 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 convened by an authority designated by the Secretary concerned; 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.

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(i)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2998.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsProvisions 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 DateSection 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.