What kind of discharge do recruits typically receive?

Recruits typically receive an uncharacterized discharge, particularly when they complete basic training but do not yet have a sufficient period of service for their discharge to be categorized in the usual honorable or general classifications. An uncharacterized discharge indicates that the service member's performance or duration of service did not meet the time required for a fully qualified discharge.

This type of discharge is common for recruits because they are still in training and haven’t yet demonstrated the full scope of their abilities or potential. Thus, while they are not viewed negatively, their service period has not reached the threshold for evaluation into the more defined types of discharges. As a result, recruits often end up with uncharacterized discharges upon completion of their initial training, prior to entering active duty assignments.