Separation Program Numbers (SPN Codes)
Updated: July 11, 2021
Written by Veteran.com Team
Military Separation Program Numbers (SPN Codes) define the reason a discharge or separation was granted. SPN Codes were replaced by alpha-numeric separation codes but can still be found on many older DD-214s. The DoD no longer allows the meaning of these codes to be released but since the definitions have already been released, they are still easily accessed, including on some military and government sites.
Where to find the Separation Program Number on a DD-214
The separation program number can be found in Box 26 of the long form DD-214.
Military Separation Codes – Numeric
Note: Use of these codes is at your own risk. The DoD no longer allows the release of SPN Codes and these were obtained prior to the military discontinuing the public release of Separation Codes/SPN Codes. It is also possible that new codes can be assigned or existing codes are subject to change.
Alphabetical SPN Codes, which replaced Numeric SPN Codes can be found here.
Military Separation Codes - Numeric
| SPN Code | Definition |
|---|---|
| 201 | Enlisted Personnel - Expiration of term of service (includes personnel on ADT as initial trainees) |
| 21L | Enlisted Personnel - Separation for good & sufficient reason when determined by secretarial authority |
| 21T | Enlisted Personnel - Release of REP 63 trainees due to emergency conditions (Does not apply to active duty) |
| 21U | Separation for failure to demonstrate adequate potential for promotion |
| 202 | Expiration of term of enlistment |
| 203 | Expiration of term of active obligated service |
| 205 | Release from active & transferred to reserve |
| 209 | Release from Active Duty within 3 months of expiration of USN service |
| 210 | Separation for failure to demonstrate adequate potential for promotion |
| 212 | Honorable wartime service subsequent to desertion |
| 213 | Discharge for retirement as an officer |
| 214 | To accept commission as an officer in the Army, or to accept recall to active duty as an Army Reserve officer |
| 215 | To accept appointment as warrant officer in the Army or to accept recall to active duty as Army Reserve warrant officer |
| 217 | To accept commission or appointment in the Armed Forces of the United States (other than Army) |
| 219 | Erroneous induction |
| 220 | Marriage, female only |
| 221 | Pregnancy |
| 222 | Parenthood |
| 225 | Minority/under age |
| 226 | Dependency |
| 227 | Hardship |
| 229 | Sole surviving son and surviving family members |
| 230 | Retirement after 20 years but less than 30 years active federal service |
| 231 | Retirement after 30 years active federal service |
| 238 | Service retirement in lieu of other administrative action |
| 239 | Surviving family members |
| 240 | Unconditional resignation of enlisted personnel serving on unspecified enlistment |
| 241 | Resignation of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment in lieu of resignation for misconduct or inefficiency |
| 242 | Resignation of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment for the good of the service |
| 243 | Resignation of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment in lieu of board of action when based on unfitness |
| 244 | Resignation of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment in lieu of board action when based on unsuitability |
| 245 | Resignation of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment in lieu of separation for disloyalty or subversion |
| 246 | Discharge for the good of the service |
| 247 | Unsuitability, multiple reasons |
| 248 | Unsuitability |
| 249 | Resignation (Class II homosexual) of personnel on unspecified enlistment |
| 250 | Punitive discharge. Class I homosexual - general court martial |
| 251 | Punitive discharge. Class I homosexual - general court martial |
| 252 | Punitive discharge. Class I homosexual - general or special court martial |
| 253 | Homosexual - board action |
| 255 | Retirement in lieu of discharge under AR 635-89 (homosexuality). Rescinded; OR |
| 255 | Punitive discharge. Class II homosexual - general court martial |
| 256 | Homosexual, acceptance of discharge in lieu of board action |
| 257 | Unfitness, homosexual acts |
| 258 | Unfitness, ineptitude; OR |
| 258 | Unfitness, multiple reasons |
| 260 | Unsuitability, inaptitude |
| 261 | Inaptitude - illiterate; OR |
| 261 | Psychiatric or psychoneurotic disorder |
| 262 | Behavioral disorder, Bedwetter |
| 263 | Bedwetter |
| 264 | Unsuitability, character and behavioral disorders |
| 265 | Unsuitability, character disorder |
| 270 | Placed on temporary disability retired list; OR |
| 270 | Release from EAD and revert to retired list at ETS |
| 271 | Permanently retired by reason of physical disability |
| 273 | Physical disability with entitlement to receive severance pay |
| 274 | Physical disability resulting from international misconduct or willful neglect or incurred during period of unauthorized absence. Not entitled to severance pay |
| 276 | Released from EAD & revert to retired list prior to ETS |
| 277 | Physical disability, EPTS (existing prior to service), established by medical board. Discharged by reason of physical disability upon application by individual. Not entitled to severance pay |
| 278 | Physical disability, EPTS, established by physical evaluation board proceedings. Not entitled to severance pay |
| 279 | Release from EAD & revert to retired list at ETS |
| 28B | Unfitness, frequent involvement in incidents of a discreditable nature with civil or military authorities |
| 28E | Financial irresponsibility |
| 28F | Established pattern for showing dishonorable failure to pay just debts |
| 28G | Unfitness, an established pattern for showing dishonorable failure to contribute adequate support to dependents or failure to comply with order, decrees, or judgment of a civil court concerning support of dependents |
| 280 | Misconduct/fraudulent entry into the Army (enlistee not revealing criminal record) |
| 281 | Desertion, trial barred by 10 U.S.C. 843 (ART. 43, U.C.M.J.). Rescinded; OR |
| 281 | Unsanitary habits |
| 282 | Misconduct/prolonged unauthorized absence for more than one year desertion |
| 283 | Misconduct/AWOL trial waived or deemed inadvisable |
| 284 | Misconduct/convicted or adjudged a juvenile offender by a civil court during current term of active military service |
| 285 | Initially adjudged a juvenile offender by a civil court during current term of active military service. Rescinded. |
| 290 | Desertion (court martial) |
| 293 | Other than desertion (court martial); OR |
| 293 | General court martial |
| 294 | Special court martial |
| 311 | Alien without legal residence in the United States |
| 312 | Separation of members of Reserve components on active duty who, due to age, would be precluded from attaining eligibility pay as provided by 10 USC 1331.1337 |
| 313 | To immediately enlist or reenlist |
| 314 | Importance to national health, safety or interest |
| 316 | Release, lack of jurisdiction |
| 318 | Conscientious objection |
| 319 | Erroneous enlistment |
| 320 | To accept employment law enforcement agency |
| 333 | Discharge of Cuban volunteers upon completion of specified training. Rescinded. |
| 344 | Release of Cuban volunteers upon completion of specified training. Rescinded. |
| 367 | Aggressive reaction |
| 370 | Released from EAD by reason of physical disability & revert to inactive status for the purpose of retirement under Title 10. USC Sections 1331 - 1337, in lieu of discharge with entitlement to receive severance pay |
| 375 | Discharge because of not meeting medical fitness standards at time of enlistment |
| 376 | Release from military Control (void Inductions) because of not meeting medical fitness standards at time of induction |
| 377 | Non - fulfillment of enlistment commitment |
| 38A | Desertion/trial deemed inadvisable (WW2) Rescinded |
| 38B | Desertion/trial deemed inadvisable (peacetime desertion) Rescinded |
| 38C | Desertion/trial deemed inadvisable (Korean War). Rescinded |
| 380 | Desertion/trial barred by 10 USC Section 834 (Art 34 UCMJ). Rescinded |
| 351 | Desertion/trial deemed inadvisable (Spanish - American War/ WWII). Rescinded |
| 383 | Criminalism |
| 41A | Apathy, lack of interest |
| 41C | To accept a teaching position |
| 41D | Discharge of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment who completed 20 years active federal service, do not submit application for retirement: commander determines discharge will be in best interest of the government |
| 41E | Obesity |
| 411 | Early separation of overseas returnee |
| 412 | Enlisted members of medical holding detachments or units who, upon completion of hospitalization, do not intend to immediately enlist or reenlistment in the regular Army |
| 413 | To enter or return to college, university, or equivalent institution |
| 414 | To accept or return to employment of a seasonal nature |
| 415 | Early release of inductees who have served on active duty prior their present tour of duty |
| 416 | Physical disqualification for duty in MOS" |
| 418 | Discharge of enlisted personnel in unspecified enlistment who complete 30 years active federal service and do not submit application for retirement |
| 419 | Discharge of enlisted personnel on unspecified enlistment over 55 years of rage who have completed 20 years active federal service & do not submit application for retirement |
| 420 | Discharge or release of individuals with less than 3 months remaining to serve who fail to continue as students (academic failure) at service academies |
| 421 | Early release at Christmas will be issued as appropriate by Army & has been Included in separation edit table. Rescinded |
| 422 | Early release at original ETS of enlisted personnel who have executed a voluntary extension. Rescinded |
| 423 | Early release after original ETS of personnel serving on voluntary extension. Rescinded |
| 424 | Separation at ETS after completing a period of voluntary extension. Rescinded |
| 425 | Discharge (Inductees) to enlist at Warrant Officer Flight Training |
| 426 | Discharge (inductees) to enlist to attend critical MOS school |
| 427 | Discharge (inductees) to enlist for Officer Candidate School |
| 428 | Discharge for failure to complete Officer Candidate. School |
| 429 | Discharged because of not meeting medical fitness standards for Flight training |
| 430 | Early separation of personnel denied reenlistment under Qualitative Management Program |
| 431 | Reduction in authorized strength |
| 432 | Early release to serve 1 year in an ARNG or USAR unit |
| 433 | Involuntary release of personnel on compassionate assignment |
| 434 | Early release of AUS & first team RA Personnel - phase down release programs (Early - out from Vietnam) |
| 436 | Reduction In strength a USASA option/First Team |
| 437 | AUS, RA First Team, exempted from 90 day suspension of Early Release Program for reasons for intolerable personal problems |
| 440 | Separation for concealment of serious arrest record |
| 46A | Unsuitability, apathy, defective attitudes & inability to extend effort constructively |
| 46B | Sexual deviate |
| 46C | Apathy/obesity |
| 460 | Emotional instability reaction |
| 461 | Inadequate personality |
| 463 | Paranoid personality |
| 464 | Schizoid personality |
| 469 | Unsuitability |
| 480 | Personality disorder |
| 482 | Desertion/trial barred by 10, USC, Sec. 843 (Art 43 UCMJ) Rescinded" |
| 488 | Unsuitability (general discharge separation) |
| 489 | Military Personnel Security Program (disloyal or subversive) |
| 500 | Resignation - hardship |
| 501 | Resignation - national health, safety, or interest |
| 502 | Resignation - completion of required service |
| 503 | Resignation - enlistment in the regular Army - regular officer |
| 504 | Resignation - withdrawal of ecclesiastical endorsement |
| 505 | Resignation - serving under a suspended sentence or dismissal |
| 508 | Resignation - to attend school |
| 510 | Resignation - Interest of national security (in lieu of elimination) |
| 51B | Resignation - In lieu of elimination because of unfitness or unacceptable conduct |
| 522 | Resignation in lieu of elimination because of conduct triable by court martial or in lieu thereof |
| 524 | Resignation - unqualified other miscellaneous reasons |
| 528 | Resignation - marriage |
| 529 | Resignation - pregnancy |
| 530 | Resignation - parenthood (minor children) |
| 536 | Voluntary discharge substandard performance of duty |
| 539 | Voluntary discharge - termination of RA or AUS warrant to retire commissioned status |
| 545 | Voluntary discharge - failure of selection for permanent promotion (commissioned officers) |
| 546 | Involuntary discharge a failure of selection for permanent promotion (warrant officer) |
| 550 | Involuntary discharge - reasons as specified by HDQA |
| 551 | Involuntary discharge - administrative discharge GCM |
| 554 | Dismissal - General court martial |
| 555 | Involuntary discharge - failure to complete basic, Company officer at associate company officer course - USAR officers |
| 556 | Failure to complete basic, company officer or associate company officer course - ARNGUS officers |
| 558 | Voluntary discharge - conscientious objection |
| 586 | Involuntary discharge - for reasons involving board action or in lieu thereof (homosexuality), |
| 588 | Involuntary discharge - reasons involving board action, or in lieu thereof - unfitness or unacceptable conduct |
| 589 | Voluntary discharge - reasons involving board action or in lieu thereof, due to substandard performance of duty |
| 590 | Involuntary discharge - interest of national security |
| 595 | Involuntary discharge pregnancy |
| 596 | Involuntary discharge - parenthood (minor children) |
| 597 | Voluntary discharge - administrative |
| 599 | Voluntary REFRAD - lack of jurisdiction |
| 600 | Voluntary REFRAD - to enlist an regular Army |
| 601 | Voluntary REFRAD - to enlist in regular Army for purpose of retirement |
| 602 | Voluntary REFRAD - national health, safety, or interest |
| 603 | Involuntary REFRAD - due to disapproval of request for extension of service |
| 604 | Voluntary REFRAD - hardship |
| 606 | Voluntary REFRAD - dual status officer to revert to regular Warrant Officer |
| 609 | Voluntary REFRAD - to attend school or accept a teaching position |
| 610 | Voluntary REFRAD - marriage |
| 611 | Voluntary REFRAD - expiration of the duty commitment voluntarily serving on active duty |
| 612 | Voluntary REFRAD - expiration active duty commitment involuntary serving on active duty |
| 616 | Voluntary REFRAD - selection for entrance to a service academy |
| 618 | Voluntary REFRAD - In lieu of serving in lower grade than reserve grade |
| 619 | Voluntary REFRAD - by request includes MC & DC officers |
| 620 | Voluntary REFRAD - interdepartmental transfer of other than medical officers |
| 621 | Voluntary REFRAD - in lieu of unqualified resignation |
| 623 | Voluntary REFRAD - interdepartmental transfer of medical officers |
| 624 | Voluntary REFRAD - release from ADT to enter on 24 months active duty |
| 625 | Voluntary REFRAD - annual screening, voluntary release prior to 90th day subsequent to receipt of notification |
| 627 | Involuntary REFRAD - maximum age |
| 631 | Involuntary REFRAD - failure of selector for permanent reserve promotion (discharged) |
| 632 | Involuntary REFRAD - failure of selection for permanent reserve promotion (commission retained) |
| 633 | Involuntary REFRAD - failures of selection for promotion, temporary |
| 640 | Involuntary REFRAD - commissioned officer under sentence of dismissal & warrant officer discharge awaiting appellate review |
| 644 | Voluntary & Involuntary REFRAD - convenience of government or as specified by Secretary of the Army |
| 645 | Involuntary REFRAD - annual screening, release on 90th day subsequent to receipt of notification |
| 646 | Involuntary REFRAD - maximum service, warrant officers |
| 647 | Involuntary REFRAD - maximum service, commissioned officers |
| 648 | Involuntary REFRAD - completion of prescribed years of service |
| 649 | Involuntary REFRAD - withdrawal of ecclesiastical endorsement |
| 650 | Involuntary REFRAD - physically disqualified upon order to active duty |
| 651 | Involuntary REFRAD - release of reserve unit & return to reserve status |
| 652 | Involuntary REFRAD a release of unit of NG or NG(US) & return to state control |
| 655 | Involuntary REFRAD - revert to retired list, not by reason of physical disability |
| 657 | Involuntary REFRAD - physical disability. Revert to inactive status for purpose of retirement under Chapter 67. 10 USC in lieu of discharge with entitlement to receive disability severance pay |
| 660 | Physical disability discharge - entitlement to severance pay |
| 661 | Physical disability discharge - disability resulting from intentional misconduct or willful neglect or incurred during a period of unauthorized absence. Not entitled to receive disability severance pay |
| 662 | Physical disability discharge - EPTS, established by physical evaluation board. Not entitled to disability severance pay |
| 668 | Dropped from rolls - AWOL conviction & confinement by civil authorities |
| 669 | Dropped from rolls - AWOL desertion |
| 672 | Involuntary REFRAD - medical service personnel who receive unfavorable background investigation and/or National Agency Check |
| 681 | Voluntary REFRAD - to accept employment with a legally established law enforcement agency |
| 685 | Resignation - failure to meet medical fitness standards at time of appointment |
| 686 | Involuntary discharge - failure to resign under Chapter 16 - AR 535 - 120. when determined to be in the best interest of the government and the individual |
| 689 | Voluntary REFRAD - reduction in strength, voluntary release prior to 90th day subsequent to receipt of notification |
| 690 | Involuntary REFRAD - reduction in strength. release on 90th day subsequent to receipt of notification |
| 70A | mandatory retirement - 35 years service/five years In grade. Regular army major general |
| 70B | Mandatory retirement - age 62, regular army major general |
| 70C | Mandatory retirement 60, regular Army mayor general whose retirement has been deferred |
| 70D | Mandatory retirement - age 64, regular Army major general whose retirement has been deferred & each permanent professor and the registrar of the US Military Academy |
| 70E | Mandatory retirement - 30 years service/five years in grade, regular army brigadier general |
| 70F | Mandatory retirement 30 years of service/five years In grade, regular colonels |
| 70G | Mandatory retirement - 28 years service. Regular Lt. Colonels |
| 70J | Mandatory retirement - age 60, regular commissioned officer below major general |
| 70K | Mandatory retirement - more than 30 years active service, professors US military Academy |
| 70L | Mandatory retirement - 30 years of more active service, regular warrant officers |
| 70M | Mandatory retirement - age 62 regular warrant officers |
| 701 | Enlisted separation - early release of personnel assigned to installations or units scheduled for inactivation, permanent change of station, or demobilization |
| 741 | Mandatory retirement - failure of selection for promotion, established retirement date, commissioned officer |
| 742 | Mandatory retirement - failure of selection for promotion, estabÂ’d retirement date. warrant officer |
| 743 | Enlisted separation - early release of personnel from release of unit of the ARNG or the ARNGUS from active federal service & return to state control" |
| 744 | Mandatory retirement - failure of selection for promotion, early retirement date, commissioned officer |
| 745 | Mandatory retirement - failure of selection for promotion. early retirement date, warrant officers |
| 747 | Mandatory retirement - failure of selection for promotion, retained for retirement, commissioned officers. |
| 748 | Mandatory retirement - failure of selection for promotion, retained for retirement, warrant officer |
| 749 | Enlisted separation - early release of Puerto Rican personnel who will to qualify for training |
| 753 | Enlisted separation - early release of reserve personnel upon release of reserve units |
| 764 | Enlisted separation - release of REP 63 trainees upon completion of MOS training |
| 77E | Mandatory retirement - surplus In grade after 30 years service. Removal from acting list (regular Army) |
| 77J | Voluntary retirement - placement on retired list at age 60 |
| 77M | Mandatory retirement - permanent retirement by reason by physical disability |
| 77N | Mandatory retirement - paced on temporary mandatory solemnity retired list |
| 77P | Voluntary retirement in lieu of or as a result of elimination board proceedings. Regular Army & reserve commissioned officers and Warrant officers |
| 77C | andatory retirement - temporary disability retirement in lieu of or as a result of elimination proceedings |
| 77R | Mandatory retirement - permanent disability retirement in lieu of or as a result or elimination proceedings |
| 77S | Voluntary retirement a regular Army & reserve commissioned officers |
| 77T | Voluntary retirement - regular Army and reserve warrant officer |
| 77U | Voluntary retirement - regular Army commissioned officers with 30 or more years of service |
| 77V | Voluntary retirement - enlisted personnel, voluntarily retired as commissioned officer |
| 77W | Voluntary retirement - enlisted personnel, voluntarily retired as a warrant officer |
| 77X | Voluntary retirement a warrant officer voluntarily retired as a commissioned officer |
| 77Y | Mandatory retirement - retirement a director of music, USMA, as the President may direct |
| 77Z | Mandatory retirement - regular Army commissioned officers with World War 1 service |
| 771 | Mandatory retirement - commissioned officers, unfitness or substandard performance of duty |
| 7772 | Mandatory retirement - warrant officers, unfitness or sub - standard performance of duty |
| 78A | Mandatory retirement - formerly retired other than for disability who while on active duty incurred a disability of at least 30% |
| 78B | Mandatory retirement a formerly retired for disability who where on active duty suffered aggravation of disability for which he was formerly retired |
| 79A | Voluntary REFRAD - as USAR warrant officer (aviator) to accept USAR commission (aviator) with concurrent active duty |
| 79B | Resignation - as RA a WO (aviator) to accept USAR commission (aviator) with concurrent active duty |
| 941 | Dropped from rolls (as deserter) |
| 942 | Dropped from rolls (as military prisoner) |
| 943 | Dropped From rolls (as missing or captured) |
| 944 | Battle casualty |
| 945 | Death (non - battle - resulting from disease) |
| 940 | Death (non - battle - resulting From other than disease) |
| 947 | (Current term of service voided as fraudulent enlisted, while AWOL from prior service |
| 94B | To enter US military Academy |
| 949 | To enter any area of the service academies (other than USMA) |
| 971 | Erroneously reported as returned from dropped from rolls as a deserter (previously reports under transaction GA) |
| 972 | Erroneously reported as restored to duty from dropped from rolls of military prisoner previously reported under transaction code GB) |
| 973 | Erroneously reported as returned from dropped from rolls or missing or captured (previously reported under transaction code GC) |
| 976 | Minority. Void enlistment or induction - enlisted personnel |
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