samedi 15 février 2014

Procedure For Getting A Military Discharge Upgrade

By Krystal Branch


Boards of the Armed Forces do not have authority to conduct any recall to duty on behalf of the military for anyone who before has been on active service. For dismissals done through special Court-Martial process, they get reviewed only when clemency warrants this to be done. Otherwise, one is required under the law to make an application for discharge upgrade when the period after having been released has not exceeded 15 years. In case you have spent more than this time-period, you can then seek for changes to be done on your service record.

If you were granted honorable service release, it is an advantage as you get to experience the benefits due to veterans. In situations where it was below par, you will be unable to get certain types of benefits. Still, you may request for your release certificate to be upgraded.

You then will require obtaining and completing DD Form 294 that deals with United States Armed Forces Dismissal or Discharge Review. Once you are done, mail it along with supporting documents to the relevant board.

You may download it along with the accompanying instructions from the information center of your service branch. If keen on getting personal hearing, it is important that you check the box appropriate on that form. After doing so, the particular board will notify you of the place and time of hearing.

Hearings are held within national capitals but can sometimes be done at regional centers. The discretion as to where they are scheduled again lies with each board. Be prepared to take care of your general expenses for the time of stay during the hearing if traveling from outside to the venue.

It may be that you are unable suddenly to attend your hearing. Ensure to seek for postponement of hearing in such case to avoid inconveniencing the parties involved. In absence of a request to that effect, the board normally would consider the upgrade application even in your absence. However, this implies not being offered another chance to make your case unless able to demonstrated clearly the challenging circumstances that led to your inability to attend.

The board in general is constituted of 5 active duty military officers. You have to present your case before them and should be ready to offer testimony while under oath in support of the application you make. You also retain the right not to speak at the hearing if concerned about incriminating yourself.

After this board has heard your application, it will consider it carefully. You will have to wait for in-between 6 and 8 weeks before getting the appropriate decision. It could grant your wishes for adjustment and mail the appropriate certificate showing this authority, DD Form 214 plus the document indicating such decision.

In situations where the application gets denied, the board only mails the decision document with concerns why it reached such decision. Normally, you can expect to be advised further by the board on possible appeal procedures available at higher level. You may wish to delay submitting the discharge upgrade application pending completion of document-gathering. All documents should have been prepared in advance.




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