Is there any way to find out why a Marine was discharged from service?

God I hope not. I would like to think that information is kept private to the officer and his superiors.

The information would be on his discharge papers, which he should have received. Lacking that:

Yes. With your husband’s permission or as his next of kin if he is deceased, you can find out some things. Anyone can fill out a form and find out the following about anyone else’s service:

“With the veteran’s authorization.

The veteran (or next-of-kin if the veteran is deceased) must authorize release of information which is not available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). (In some cases the veteran may already possess military documents that contain the information you are seeking.) The authorization must 1) be in writing; 2) specify what additional information or copies that NPRC (MPR) may release to you; and 3) include the signature of the veteran or next-of-kin. (A sample authorization is included for your review.)”

“The following is suggested as an example of an acceptable authorization:

“I authorize the National Personnel Records Center, or other custodian of my military service record, to release to (your name or that of your company and/or organization) the following information and/or copies of documents from my military service record.”

Complete the authorization by specifying the information and/or document(s) requested. Be sure to sign and date the authorization. Authorizations are honored for one year from the date of signature.” Source

” Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act (FOIA)

The public has access to certain military service information without the veteran’s authorization (or that of the next-of-kin of deceased veterans). Examples of information which may be available from Official Military Personnel Files without an unwarranted invasion of privacy include:

* Name
* Service Number
* Dates of Service
* Branch of Service
* Rank and Date of Rank
* Salary *
* Assignments and Geographical Locations
* Source of Commission *
* Military Education
* Promotion Sequence Number *
* Awards and decorations (Eligibility only, not actual medals)
* Duty Status
* Photograph
* Transcript of Court-Martial Trial
* Place of entrance and separation”
Source

@MrItty Any bad conduct or dishonorable discharge should probably be on public record. To earn one of those you basically have need to have committed a criminal offense. Employers for sure should have access to that information.

@notdan The OP said ‘discharge’. Not “dishonorable discharge”. If you want to look up a criminal record, that’s one thing. But simply the reason the Marine left the service? No. That should be private.

Soldiers are public servants. The last thing I want is a military keeping secrets.

@notdan Really? That’s the first thing I want. The military cannot keep secrets from the United States’ enemies if it can’t keep secrets from the United States’ citizens.