all=1 My husband and I are both active duty and we are expecting our 1st child- Should I separate under a Chapter 5-8? | AskTOP.net – Leader Development for Army Professionals

My husband and I are both active duty and we are expecting our 1st child- Should I separate under a Chapter 5-8?

My husband and I are both active duty and expecting our first child. We are considering our options for a Family Care plan and came across Chapter 5-8. Is it plausible for me to be able to get out on a Chapter 5-8 with an Honorable Discharge with us both being Active Duty?

Company Command: The Bottom Line - Army Leadership Guide

It is possible to receive a separation under chapter 5-8.  Here is what AR 635-200 states about a separation under this chapter action.

5-8 Involuntary Separation Due to Parenthood
d. For characterization of service or description of separation, see paragraph 5–1

5–1. Characterization of service or description of separation
a. Unless the reason for separation requires a specific characterization, a Soldier being separated for the convenience of the Government will be awarded a character of service of honorable, under honorable conditions, or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status.
b. No Soldier will be awarded a character of service under honorable conditions under this chapter unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in his/her service record that warrant such a characterization, using the notification procedure. Such characterization is normally inappropriate for Soldiers separated under the provisions of paragraphs 5–4, 5–11, 5–12, 5–15, 5–16, or 5–17

I would recommend a Chapter 8.  It allows you to leave the service while you are pregnant. If your husband is still on active duty you should still be entitled to health care as his dependent. This is an honorable discharge. See AR 635-200 for more information.

 

Did you find this information useful? We appreciate your feedback!

TOP

Follow us and never miss a post!

avatar
Mark is a Retired Command Sergeant Major with 26 years of military leadership experience. He held 3 military occupational specialties (Field Artillery, Nuclear Weapons Tech, and Ammunition Ordnance). Mark is one of the leading military authors in the fields of leadership, counseling, and training.

You might be interested in…

Military Writing: A Guide for Writing Counseling, Evaluations, Memos, Letters and more

Disclaimer: Though all content posted on AskTOP.net is reviewed by our qualified subject matter experts, you should not make decisions based solely on the information contained in this post. Use information from multiple sources when making important professional decisions. This is not an official government website.

Leave a Comment

We will never publish or sell your email address, nor will we ever send you information you have not requested.