Here's how it works:
Enlisted Performance Reports (EPRs) are used largely for judging a troop's overall military performance and promotion potential. You want to keep copies of your EPRs if you get high ratings because prospective civilian employers will want to see just how good you are and how you contributed to the Air Force mission.
When a troop separates, EPRs may or may not be taken into account. A separating troop's service can be characterized in five different ways:
(1) HONORABLE: If you do your time and separate you'll get an honorable discharge 99% of the time, regardless of whether you were a top-notch troop or just an average performer.
(2) GENERAL UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS: You usually have to be administratively separated for just cause prior to the expiration of your enlistment for this to happen. Most troops who get a general discharge get administratively separated for unsatisfactory performance or misconduct. In these cases, the troop has to be counseled about the deficiencies and/or misconduct and given a chance to improve before he/she can be separated. Simply put, that means you're screwing up or not performing up to par, your superiors have talked to you about it (and have probably done paperwork on you for it) and you didn't correct the problems, so they're kicking you out.
(3) UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS: You REALLY have to screw up badly to get a UOTHC. Most people who get a UOTHC get administratively separated for marijuana use or serious misconduct that may or may not warrant court-martial. You can also get a UOTHC if you're facing court-martial charges and you can convince a two-star or higher that you should be administratively separated in lieu of court-martial.
(4) BAD-CONDUCT DISCHARGE: The only way you can get a BCD is if you are convicted by special or general court-martial and the BCD is part of the sentence. Most troops who get convicted of using drugs like cocaine or ecstasy or meth get a BCD.
(5) DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE: This is the worst characterization of service. You have to be convicted by general court-martial of one or more of the most serious offenses in order to be sentenced to a DD. You usually have to commit rape, molest a child, or kill someone to get a DD.
