A U.S. Army discharge based on military assessment of psychological unfitness or character traits deemed undesirable.
Slang. A soldier given such a discharge or behaving as if deserving such a discharge. [After Section VIII of World War II U.S. Army Regulation 615-360, which provided for the discharge of those deemed unfit for military service.]
In the 1950s, Section 8 discharges were commonly given to service members found guilty of "Sexual Perversion," and it was classified as an undesirable discharge, depriving the soldier so discharged of veteran's benefits but not resulting in the loss of any citizenship rights, such as the right to vote.
Discharge under "Section 8" is no longer a military reality, as medical discharges for psychological/psychiatric reasons are now covered by a number of regulations. In the Army, such discharges are handled under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200, Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations. Chapter 5, paragraph 13 governs the separation of personnel medically diagnosed with a personality disorder.1
In popular culture
In the movie Basic Starring John Travolta West's company was part of an organization called "Section 8". It is referenced to as being the crazy house in the movie but in the movie "Section 8" was code name for a drug organization.
In the Stanley Kubrick movie Full Metal Jacket, Pvt Joker tells Pvt Cowboy that he believes Pvt. Pyle is a "Section 8", after witnessing him speaking to his rifle. After being reunited with Joker, Cowboy also mentions a Marine who is suspected of being crazy, and started masturbating in the hospital waiting room. "Boom! Instant Section 8."
A running gag from the television show M*A*S*H has Corporal Maxwell Klinger constantly trying to convince his commanding officers that he is mentally unfit for duty (crazy) and requires a Section 8 discharge. Klinger would dress in women's clothing and perform dangerous and ridiculous stunts.
In the novel ["A Separate Peace"] Leper Lepellier deserts the army because they were going to give him a Section 8 discharge. Leper does not want one because he would be prohibited from getting a job.
