Question from a Mil Comp Applicant:



8900.1 Volume 5, Chapter 3, Section 1, It states that in order for a military pilot to be qualified for a restricted ATP license, one of the requirements is that they must have been honorably discharged from the United States Military. Does this mean that they must specifically receive an "Honorable" discharge, or is a General Discharge acceptable as long as it is under honorable conditions?



Here is what our guidance says:



Military-Trained. A U.S. military pilot or former U.S. military pilot, with a minimum of 750 hours of total time as a pilot, and who has not been removed from flying status for lack of proficiency or because of a disciplinary action involving aircraft operations, may apply for an ATP certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating or an ATP certificate concurrently with an airplane type rating if the pilot presents:



1. An official Form DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, indicating that the person was honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or an official U.S. Armed Forces record that shows the pilot is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces; and

2. An official U.S. Armed Forces record that shows the person graduated from a U.S. Armed Forces undergraduate pilot training school and received a rating qualification as a military pilot.



I gave give you an answer based on my experience as a Squadron and Vice Wing Commander. I have discharged numerous Airmen under Honorable, General and Other than Honorable. Moreover, I have worked with AF General Council on numerous discharges.



Honorable and Other than Honorable are pretty easy to distinguish. A General Discharge can be for medical reasons or for someone's performance that is satisfactory but is marked by a "considerable departure in duty performance and conduct expected of military members." A General Discharge for medical reasons could still be consider under honorable circumstances. A General Discharge for performance can be for Article 15 offenses or criminal offenses that don't reach the Other than Honorable level. Based on what the circumstances of the General Discharge was, they can be limited from some military benefits, and have to acknowledge in writing that there could be "substantial prejudice in civilian life" due to the General Discharge.



So, yes a person that receives a General Discharge under honorable conditions would be acceptable as someone with an "honorable discharge."



Based on this, the pilot qualifies under 61.160.