10 U.S.C. § 1169 : Armed Forces — General Military Law — Separation — Personnel — Regular Enlisted Members: Limitations On Discharge Date: 10 Mar 2017 TEXT PDF No regular enlisted member of an armed force may be discharged before his term of service expires, except— (1) as prescribed by the Secretary concerned; (2) by sentence of a general or special court martial; or (3) as otherwise provided by law. (Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 3(a)(1)(A), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 757.)