DOD Announces New Outreach Efforts to Veterans Regarding Discharges and Military
Records
The Department of Defense recently announced a renewed effort to ensure
veterans are aware of the opportunity to have their discharges and military
records reviewed. Through enhanced public outreach, engagement with Veterans
Service Organizations (VSO), Military Service Organizations (MSO), and other
outside groups, as well as direct outreach to individual veterans, the
department encourages all veterans who believe they have experienced an error or
injustice to request relief from their service’s Board for Correction of
Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR) or Discharge Review Board (DRB).
Additionally, all veterans, VSOs, MSOs, and other
interested organizations are invited to offer feedback on their experiences with
the BCM/NR or DRB processes, including how the policies and processes can be
improved.
In the past few years, the department has issued
guidance for consideration of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as
the repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and its predecessor policies. Additionally,
supplemental guidance for separations involving victims of sexual assault is
currently being considered.
The department is reviewing and consolidating all of
the related policies to reinforce the department’s commitment to ensuring fair
and equitable review of separations for all veterans. Whether the discharge or
other correction is the result of PTSD, sexual orientation, sexual assault, or
some other consideration, the department is committed to rectifying errors or
injustices and treating all veterans with dignity and respect.
With the announcement, the department is reaffirming
its intention to review and potentially upgrade the
discharge status of all individuals that are eligible and that apply.
Veterans who desire a correction to
their service record or who believe their discharge was unjust, erroneous, or
warrants an upgrade, are encouraged to apply for review.
To request an upgrade or correction:
For discharge upgrades, if the discharge
was less than 15 years ago, the veteran should complete DD Form 293 (http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd0293.pdf) and send it to their service’s DRB (the address is on the form).
For discharges over 15 years ago, the veteran should complete the DD Form 149 (http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd0149.pdf) and send it to their service’s BCM/NR (the address is on the
form).
For corrections of records other than
discharges, veterans should complete the DD Form 149 and submit their request to
their service’s BCM/NR (the address is on the form).
Key information to include in requests:
There are three keys to successful applications for
upgrade or correction. First, it is very important to explain why the veteran’s
discharge or other record was unjust or erroneous—for example, how it is
connected to, or resulted from unjust policies, a physical or mental health
condition related to military service, or some other explainable or justifiable
circumstance. Second, it is important to provide support, where applicable, for
key facts. If a veteran has a relevant medical diagnosis, for example, it would
be very helpful to include medical records that reflect that diagnosis. Third,
it is helpful, but not always required, to submit copies of the veteran’s
applicable service records. The more information provided, the better the boards
can understand the circumstances of the discharge.
BCM/NRs are also authorized to grant relief on the
basis of clemency. Veterans who believe their post-service conduct and
contributions to society support an upgrade or correction should describe their
post-service activity and provide any appropriate letters or other documentation
of support.
Personnel records for veterans who
served after 1997 should be accessible online and are usually retrievable within
hours of a request through the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval
System (DPRIS). To obtain one’s personnel records from DPRIS, go to
https://www.dpris.dod.mil/, then select “Individual Veteran Access” on the left side of the
website and follow the instructions. Veterans will need to register for a logon
and verify their current mailing address before requesting records. The whole
process usually takes less than 10 minutes. Those who served prior to 1997 or
for whom electronic records are not available from DPRIS, can request their
records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) using the eVetRecs
website at:
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
To submit feedback on policies or
processes:
Send an e-mail to
osd.pentagon.ousd-p-r.mbx.legal-policy@mail.mil, or mail your feedback to Office of Legal Policy at:
Office of Legal Policy
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
(Personnel & Readiness)
4000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-4000
For other information or assistance:
Air Force BCMR
Website:
http://www.afpc.af.mil/board-for-correction-of-military-records
Phone: 240-612-5379
E-mail:
usaf.pentagon.saf-mr.mbx.saf-mrbc@mail.mil
Air Force DRB
Website:
http://www.afpc.af.mil/board-for-correction-of-military-records
Phone: 240-612-0995
E-mail:
usaf.pentagon.saf-mr.mbx.saf-mrb@mail.mil
Army BCMR
Website:
http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/
E-mail:
army.arbainquiry@mail.mil
Army DRB
Website:
http://arba.army.pentagon.mil
E-mail:
army.arbainquiry@mail.mil
Navy BCNR
Website:
http://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/bcnr/Pages/home.aspx
Phone: 703-607-6111
E-mail:
BCNR_Application@navy.mil
Navy DRB
Website:
http://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/CORB/Pages/NDRB/default.aspx
Phone: 202-685-6600
E-mail:
NDRB@navy.mil