Worried about other than honorable discharge after 20 years.

Nurses General Nursing

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Thanks for everyones help and comments. JZ

Wow, so your hospital, where you have been working suddenly is aware of your status with the military? How did this go down? Were both you and your workplace notified by the BON out of the blue after all this time? I'm just curious how everybody found this information out after so long. Makes me wonder if you have somebody who took a little time to give you a little extra looksy with the intention of being up to no good.

The bad news- you are technically a deserter from the armed forces. The good news- the military has no interest in prosecuting you as evidenced by the other than honorable discharge rather than a bad conduct discharge and criminal charges. Not to offend you, but it's hard for me to imagine that you didn't get a copy of your enlistment contract when you enlisted and if you had given the information to the person you spoke to about resolving the issue many years ago you wouldn't be in this boat. It sounds like the military lost some paperwork years ago and probably recently discovered it again. Unfortunately when we make mistakes we have to pay the price for those mistakes, sometimes later than sooner.

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

my positive comment to you (because I have no military knowledge) is...

I am not the person I was 22 years ago. I couldn't imagine being judged now with all my growth and accomplishments personally and professionally about a mistake so long ago.

Call the BON, application misunderstandings are VERY common. Loss of license seems very unlikely, IMHO. Consider finding an attorney at a military base in your licensed state that knows of both legalities and pay the consultation fee, it's worth the $$ to know where you stand. I wouldn't pay a retainer fee until I got an official BON letter, you're just there to consult and ask.

I wish you the best, you are more than your past!

onaclearday,

The BON is not aware of this yet. I will submit my discharge , DD214, to the board when it arrives. I do not know why after 20 years, almost to the day, the military finds interest in me.

I never submitted my DD214 when I became a nurse (though I have an honorable discharge, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference), but regardless of that, you can appeal your discharge. Do you know what base your discharge is being processed on? Contact them and become part of the process- don't just have them do it to you. Can you get statements from anyone that knows you contacted the military and you were told there was nothing further for you to do? I know you don't want the label, but if it comes down to it, an OTH isn't the worst thing- it's an administrative discharge, not a punitive one and does not automatically come with a misdemeanor or felony conviction. I also agree with the pp who stated that they are not the same person they were 20 years ago. What you have done with your life in the meantime will say a lot about you, too.

Thank you Zookeeper3.

Thanks 0402. I needed that response.

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I work in a military town, if you can be a bit patient, many of our military nurses are here on this board, I'll point out your post to them for additional advice. It always seems worse than it is, because you don't know how bad it can be. The not knowing is the worst part. Deep breath and hang in there!

Thank you Zookeeper3.

Uh do you really need to submit your dd214??

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

That's my question too. I've been licensed in several states and I don't remember anyone asking about military service except when I worked at the VA.

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