US Navy complex shooter got honourable discharge

US officials say the former Navy reservist who gunned down 12 people at a Washington military complex had a string of misconduct problems during his nearly three years in the military, but he received an honourable discharge.

The officials say Aaron Alexis, 34, had incidents of insubordination and disorderly conduct and was sometimes absent from work without authorisation.

The offenses occurred mainly when he was serving in Texas from 2008 to 2011 and were enough to prompt Navy officials to grant him an early discharge through a special programme for enlisted personnel.

Officials said the bad conduct was enough to make it clear Alexis would not be a good sailor, but not enough to warrant a general or less-than-honourable discharge.