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DoD Directive 1332.14 (August 28, 2008)

3. CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT

a. Basis. A Service member may be separated for convenience of the Government for the following reasons:

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(3) Dependency or Hardship. Undue hardship does not necessarily exist solely because of altered present or expected income, family separation, or other inconveniences normally incident to Military Service. Upon request of the Service member and concurrence of the separation authority, separation may be directed when genuine dependency or undue hardship exists under the following circumstances:

(a) The hardship or dependency is not temporary;

(b) Conditions have arisen or have been aggravated to an excessive degree since entry into the Service, and the Service member has made every reasonable effort to remedy the situation;

(c) The administrative separation will eliminate or materially alleviate the condition; and

(d) There are no other means of alleviation reasonably available.

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b. Characterization or Description. Honorable, unless the separation is under one of the following circumstances:

(1) An entry-level separation is required under paragraph 3.c. of Enclosure 4.

(2) The characterization of service is general (under honorable conditions) as warranted under paragraph 3.b.(2) of Enclosure 4.