My son in the air force and he made a joke that someone took as racist. Can he be dishonorably discharged ?

Question

It was not meant that way. She had just found out that she was being held back because of her grades. Now he is in trouble. What do you think will happen?

Thank you

Answer 1

Not really a lot of information provided. If your son is active duty and gets in trouble for making ONE perceived racist joke I highly doubt it. He might face a disciplinary hearing be fined and have to attend racial sensitivity classes.

If this isn't the first time he's made racist comments and jokes AND has a reputation for it, yea he could be separated from the service but I doubt he'd get a dishonorable discharge.

Answer 2

probably just a letter of reprimand...shouldn't hurt his career

Answer 3

discharged, probably not.  Article 15 or Letter or reprimand is more likely.

he should have known better ,they have been instructed on what is and is not acceptable.  

Answer 4

It's not like a dishonorable discharge happens over night. And given the current state of affairs he would be more likely to receive some type of administrative discharge.

If it was racist and enough of a stink is made of it, it can be very serious. It is basically going to be in the hands of his chain of command. If it goes high enough it could be a serious problem.

Answer 5

Your son will not be discharged. There's really no cause for it.

Most likely he will just get LOR papers sent to his commander for his mistake.

Answer 6

No! He will most likely be reprimanded and have to attend a class on cultural diversity. He should keep his military bearing and demeanor and not let any such comments out no matter what he may truly feel. His punishment will depend on the command's stance on such things as this. A heart felt apology wouldn't hurt either.

Answer 7

what was the joke?

Answer 8

I can't honestly speak for the Air Force, I hear they're a bit more strict than the Navy.  I've spent most of my time with the Marine Corps and everyone makes racist comments but no one cares.  If you son does get brought up on charges I doubt they will discharge him period, most like Non Judicial Punishment.  He can appeal the NJP and request court-martial, and in all honestly if he takes his case before a judge and jury and can prove to them he didn't mean it in a racist way he will not receive any punishment at all for it.  In the Marine Corps they tried to charge me with going UA and wanted to NJP me, I fought it and requested court marital and they dropped it all together because they didn't want to waste the time nor money.  You son, has a few options.  He can apologize to the accuser and convince him/her to drop the charges or he can speak with his supervisor and explain his situation and if necessarily give a formal apology.  Either way, if they do decide to NJP him I suggest his first course of action which will not hurt him either way is to simply say this, "I would like to speak with a JAG officer for council."  This doesn't mean he is requested trial by court-martial, just merely advise and they cannot deny him this.  Typically if he does this, the command may drop the charges all together and the matter will be resolved.  If not, the JAG officer can give him informed advice on what to do.  

Skyler Reeves  

Answer 9

They will try to handle it at the lowest level possible, which COULD mean he just apologizes but if this person really has it in for him, it could escalate.  He probably won't be discharged for one comment unless it was really bad but he will get some sort of reprimand.   He needs to  try to handle this by talking to this person and genuinely apologizing and then talking to his commander and admitting he messed up really bad.  He'll probably be OK...don't worry!  

Answer 10

Sorry to say but yes he can be given a Dishonorable Discharge.  You son if he were to be charged he would be charged with Article 92 of the UCMJ (failure to follow a general order or regulation) the maximum punishment for this charge is a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to lowest enlisted pay grade and confinement for two years (this is judicial IE court martial punishment).

The order or regulation your airman violated was the Air force EO policy (equal opportunity policy).

Now will it get that far?  To answer this, you must ask yourself some questions.  Is this a habitual thing with your airman?  Is this a problem within the command?  If it is the command may want to make an example out of someone.  What was the comment was it a racist epitaph meant to degrade a single person or was the statement made generally?  Was it made to a superior or a subordinate?  These are all aggravating circumstances.

Normally when it comes to a first time offenders you would be looking at corrective training (teaching a class on EO, writing a paper things of that nature) an administrative reprimand (basically a butt chewing on paper) or nonjudicial punishment (loss of rank, pay, liberties and time).  Also you should understand that the lower in rank you are the lighter the punishment is because the military believes you are more able to rehabilitate after a slip up than someone who has been in for say a decade hope this helps good luck.