When to Apply for an Upgrade of your Discharge
Under the law, you must make your application for discharge upgrade within 15 years of discharge. If your discharge is older than 15 years, you must apply for a change to your military records.
How To Apply
Application is a simple process. You should use a DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States. In addition to downloading the form, The DD Form 293 is available at most DoD installations and regional offices of the Veterans Administration, or by writing to:
Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA), ATTN: Client Information and Quality Assurance, Arlington, VA 22202-4508
Telephonic assistance is available at 1-703-607-1600
You should complete the form very carefully by typing or printing the requested information. Attach copies of statements or records that are relevant to your case. Make sure you sign item 9 of the form. Mail the completed form to the appropriate address on the back side of the form.
How To Support Your Request
The Board will upgrade your discharge only if you can prove that your discharge is inequitable or improper. You do this by providing evidence, such as signed statements from you and other witnesses or copies of records that support your case. It is not enough to provide the names of witnesses. The Board will not contact your witnesses to obtain statements. You should contact your witnesses to get their signed statements with your request.
Your own statement is important. Put your statement in clear terms in section 8 of the DD Form 293. Make sure you carefully read the instructions on the back of the form concerning issues. Explain what happened and why it is an inequity or improper.
Normally, the best evidence is statements from persons who have direct knowledge or involvement. For example, statements from persons in your rating chain, your supervisor, first sergeant or commander. Or a statement from the chaplain, or anyone else with direct knowledge of your military service. The board is not going to be interested in your behavior or conduct *after* you left the military. Contain your statements to periods which were directly related to your military service. This is only a general rule, however. You must decide what evidence will best support your case. The DRB looks for issues of equity and propriety. The burden of proof is on you to establish the discharge was inequitable or improper.
It may take you some time to gather statements and records to support your request. You may wish to delay submission of your application until information gathering is complete. You might wish to request a copy of your military records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), to include with your application. You should, however, submit your request within the 15-year time limit.
Getting Help
With few exceptions, the DRB can consider all discharges for upgrade. The Board cannot, however, change a punitive discharge imposed by a courts-martial.
Most applicants represent themselves. If your request is complex, you may want someone to represent you:
- Many veteran service organizations have staff members who will represent you in applying to the Board, and assist you in completing the necessary paperwork..
- You may also hire a lawyer to represent you at your own expense.
- You should name your representative on DD Form 249, item 6.
- If you name a representative, the Board will normally deal with your representative rather than directly with you.
Advice and guidance are available from many sources. Military Personnel specialists can advise you on personnel issues. Veteran service organizations will advise you even though you decide to represent yourself. You may discuss your case with a Board staff member, or you may write to the Board, and a staff member will respond to your questions. Several attorneys specialize in military discharge review processes.
