Administrative Separation Board Defense

Your Life. Your Career. Your future.

Facing Administrative Separation - Free Case Evaluation

Let Korody Law provide you a free case consultation.

What is administrative separation?

Administrative separation from the military is when your commander initiates separation for cause prior to the end of your enlistment.

Command reasons for administrative separation include drug abuse, serious misconduct, a pattern of (minor) misconduct, loss of a security clearance, or alcohol rehabilitation failure. 

Don't waive any rights.

If you are recommended for administrative separation, you have certain rights.  You should never waive those rights!

If you have more than 6 years of total service, you are entitled to an administrative separation board.  This is often your best opportunity to present your case for retention and argue for a more favorable discharge characterization of you will be separated.

Fight your separation.

If you are involuntarily separated, you may lose most of your veterans benefits and the characterization can hurt your future!

Facing Administrative Separation - Free Case Evaluation

Let Korody Law provide you a free case consultation.

What do our clients say about our Administrative Separation Board Defense?

“Mr. Korody is by far one of the most talented and experienced military defense attorneys in the country! I was facing an administrative separation for a positive drug screen. When I first found his website I was concerned because Mr. Korody is a former Navy JAG and I am Army, but Mr. Korody was 100% versed in all DOD and Army drug testing policies and procedures. I am so happy Mr. Korody agreed to take my case, nothing feels better than having someone fight on your behalf. Mr. Korody handled all the communication from my command and he immediately went to work building a strong defense. For you this is the most important thing going on in your life. You have been accused, you are being shunned, your career is on the line, and your family’s livelihood is being threatened. You are going to want your case handled with the upmost care and attention. With Mr. Korody I honestly felt like he was handling it as if it was his own career and family on the line. Every document, every conversation, every procedure, every single regulation will be scrutinized ten times by Mr. Korody. This man is a consummate professional and is a master of his craft.”

“With my case Mr. Korody built such an aggressive defense that the prosecutor recommended to my Commander the day before the board that I be retained and my administrative separation board be cancelled immediately.”

“I am a PO2 serving in the US NAVY. Two months ago I got accused/suspected of violating Article 112a of the UCMJ (wrongful use/abuse of a prescription drug). I went through the process of a Disciplinary Review Board (BRB), Executive Officer Inquiry (XOI) and was pending an Admin Separation Board. Even when I was trying to prove my innocence, the process treated me as a guilty individual, and the odds of a good outcome started to fade out. After discussing the case with a JAG, most of my questions were unanswered. At that moment I decided to find proper legal counseling and contacted Mr. Patrick Korody.

Since the very moment I first spoke with Mr. Korody, his knowledge about these type of cases was evident. I decided to hire Mr. Korody, and I can say it was the best decision ever.

The day of the admin separation board, I could not possibly ask for a more professional individual to represent me. He held my defense in the highest possible way.  When Mr. Korody gave his closing statement, a possible separation was not even being considered by the board members. Moreover, the outcome of this board was the best possible, with a deliberation that found me NOT GUILTY by a unanimous vote. Thanks to Mr. Korody, I am now free to continue my military career.”

Why hire a Civilian Military Lawyer for your administrative separation board?

The reality is that most military counsel (JAG) detailed to enlisted members facing administrative separation are the most junior lawyers (and officers) in the office.  They lack experience both as a lawyer and a military officer.  The attorneys at Korody Law have over 25 years military service and have handled hundreds of administrative separation boards across all of the military branches and the Coast Guard.

Your chain of command will tell you not to fight it.

They may tell you that if you fight it you will have to stick around for a few more months, delaying your transition to a civilian.

They may tell you that your case is a lost cause.

They may tell you that your discharge will be upgraded in 6 months, which is a myth.

Your command is not on your side.

Recent Administrative Separation Board Results

No misconduct or no basis means that the case was won outright. Member is returned to duty and continues his or her career.

  • No misconduct: adultery and fraternization (senior service member; this case received significant media attention)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for cocaine.
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for prescription drugs (oxycodone)
  • Retention: alcohol rehabilitation failure
  • Honorable discharge: positive urinalysis for cocaine
  • Processing withdrawn: failure to participate in the reserves
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for marijuana (THC) (drug abuse)
  • No misconduct: Hazing and False Official Statement
  • Honorable discharge: multiple physical fitness failures (PFA/PRT failure); failure to participate in FEP
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for marijuana (THC) (drug abuse)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for prescription drugs (drug abuse)
  • Separation processing withdrawn: PFA/PRT failure
  • Honorable discharge: positive urinalysis for cocaine
  • Retirement in current grade: positive urinalysis for cocaine.
  • No misconduct: failure to participate in the reserves.
  • Separation processing withdrawn: positive urinalysis for prescription drugs.
  • Retention: multiple physical fitness failures (PFA/PRT failure)
  • Honorable discharge: commission of a serious offense (Art. 120c)
  • No basis: multiple physical fitness failures (PFA/PRT failure)
  • Retention: multiple DUIs; commission of a serious offense; alcohol rehabilitation failure
  • Processing withdrawn: positive urinalysis (drug abuse)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for prescription drugs (Xanax)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis (drug abuse)
  • Processing withdrawn: positive urinalysis (drug abuse)
  • Honorable discharge: pattern of misconduct; commission of a serious offense
  • Retention: positive urinalysis (drug abuse)
  • General discharge: possession of drugs (drug abuse); civilian conviction
  • No misconduct: sexual harassment by a senior command leader
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for cocaine (drug abuse)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for THC (drug abuse)
  • Honorable discharge: sex offense
  • Honorable discharge: positive urinalysis for THC-8 (serious offense)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for THC-9 (drug abuse)
  • No misconduct: sexual contact (serious offense)
  • General discharge: felony conviction (civilian conviction)
  • No misconduct: positive urinalysis for THC-8 (serious offense)
  • Honorable discharge: positive urinalysis for THC-8 (serious offense)
** Past results do not guarantee any particular result in a future case.  All cases are dependent on three factors: 1) evidence; 2) board members; 3) the attorneys.

Don't make the mistake of relying on appointed counsel.

We have handled hundreds of military administrative separation cases.  The best way to fight an unfair administrative separation is while you are still in the military! 

If your receive paperwork stating that you are being administratively separated, call an experienced military law attorney before completing the paperwork and returning it to the command.  

The Administrative Separation Process.

If a commander wants to administrative separation (adsep or “Chapter”) a military member, the member will be given written notice stating why the commander intends to separate the member (called the basis for separation) and the least favorable type of discharge authorized.  The paperwork also outlnes the member’s rights with respect to the proposed separation, including whether the member has the right to elect an administrative separation board.  It is always advisable to consult with an experienced military law attorney before completing this paperwork to make sure that rights are understood and properly elected.

A service member may have the right to request an administrative separation board, which is a hearing to fight the separation or characterization. Whether a member has this right depends on how long a service member has served in the military and whether he or she is are being processed for an OTH discharge. Generally, an enlisted member with six or more years of service is entitled to a board, and some offenses always entitle the member to a board regardless of years of service.  If a service member is not entitled to an administrative separation board, he or she still the right to request review of the decision to process him for separation by a higher authority and to submit a written appeal to the proposed separation.

If the member is entitled to an administrative separation board and chooses to proceed with the board, the board (composed of three members) will generally have to answer three questions. They are:

  • Whether or not the member committed misconduct as alleged by the command;
  • If so, whether the member should be retained in the military or administratively separated; and,
  • If the member is to be separated, what characterization of discharge should be granted.

There are four ways an administrative separation may be characterized: Honorable, General (Under honorable conditions), Other than Honorable (OTH), and entry level separation (ELS). An OTH is the worst characterization of discharge authorized by most ADSEP boards and will deprive the member from receiving any VA benefits based on that period of service.

Each armed force has different regulations governing the rules for separation. The Navy is regulated by the MILPERSMAN section 1910 for enlisted personnel. The Army follows AR 635-200. The Marine Corps uses MCO 1900.16. The Air Force follows AFI 36-3208. The Coast Guard follows COMDTINST M1910.2.

Different rules and regulations apply to officer separations.

Common reasons for administrative separation include:

  • Commission of a serious offense
  • Civilian conviction
  • Loss of a security clearance
  • Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA or PFT) failure
  • Drug abuse / positive urinalysis / drug paraphernalia possession
  • Family Advocacy Program failure
  • Alcohol rehabilitation treatment failure
  • Pattern of misconduct
  • Best interests of the service
  • Sexual harassment

Facing Administrative Separation - Free Case Evaluation

Let Korody Law provide you a free case consultation.

Korody Law, P.A. 118 W. Adams Street, Suite 500, Jacksonville, FL 32202 - (904) 383-7261



























Jacksonville FL Military Lawyer Patrick Korody handles personal injury, criminal defense, and military law issues including court-martial, security clearance revocation, security clearance denied, security clearance suspended. Jacksonville Florida Mayport Kings Bay NAS Jacksonville NAS JAX Naval Station Mayport Patrick Air Force Base Charleston Naval Weapons Station NAS Key West NAS Pensacola NAS Whiting Field Criminal Defense Lawyer. Criminal Defense Attorney former JAG lawyer provides services to Navy Air Force Marine Corps Army military members. Court-Martial Court Martial Courtmartial adsep boi security clearance revoked security clearance suspended. Military member DUI in Jacksonville, FL. Military sexual assault defense lawyer: sexual contact, rape, indecent assault, child pornography possession. Under investigation by NCIS? Call us. NJP appeals. Administrative Separation Boards. Military trial attorney. Civilian counsel for military members. Offices located on Mayport Road.