Courts Martial question

[Shellback]

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

While serving on active duty in the USN I got popped on a drug test and was given a bad conduct discharge via special courts martial, did time in the brig and busted down to E-1.

After I completed my brig time the Navy sent my packing on appellate leave.


Now I am finding out through the VA that my discharge was somehow changed to honorable I have no clue how this happened because I never asked for or filed for any clemency.

If anyone has a clue as to what might have happened please let me hear your input.

Thanks.

[SHORTY LONG]

Originally Posted by Shellback

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

While serving on active duty in the USN I got popped on a drug test and was given a bad conduct discharge via special courts martial, did time in the brig and busted down to E-1.

After I completed my brig time the Navy sent my packing on appellate leave.


Now I am finding out through the VA that my discharge was somehow changed to honorable I have no clue how this happened because I never asked for or filed for any clemency.

If anyone has a clue as to what might have happened please let me hear your input.

Thanks.

First, a special court martial is a Federal Misdemeanor. Second, do you have PROOF,
that is a new DD214 in your hands to verify you in fact have a Honorable Discharge?
Do you have a letter from the VA stating that you have a Honorable Discharge, and
all the information to the letter is correct?

Are you still on Appellate leave? Is your case going before the Court of Appeals
for the Armed Forces?

[Shellback]

A copy of the DD-214 is in the mail on it's way to me as we speak. I called to VA twice after I was first informed about the honorable discharge and got the same response. And no, I am no longer on appellate leave.

[SHORTY LONG]

Once you receive it, suggest you do two things: (1) go to your nearest Veterans
Service Organization, and file for some type of benefit; (2) after they help you
and it is free of charge, then go to your County Recorders Office and file it.
Please repost when you have these completed.

[Shellback]

So Shorty long, I see you too have a BCD too. I thought I detected a bit of sarcasm in your last response to me. You have been out of the service twice as long as I have and you are still trying to get your name cleared? What steps have you taken and how long have you been at it? Oh BTW, I got my DD-214's for both of my enlistments in the Navy, and both are Honorable I also got a signed and certified letter from the VA that all of the information on my DD-214's are accurate. Pretty cool eh?

[SHORTY LONG]

Originally Posted by Shellback

So Shorty long, I see you too have a BCD too. I thought I detected a bit of sarcasm in your last response to me. You have been out of the service twice as long as I have and you are still trying to get your name cleared? What steps have you taken and how long have you been at it? Oh BTW, I got my DD-214's for both of my enlistments in the Navy, and both are Honorable I also got a signed and certified letter from the VA that all of the information on my DD-214's are accurate. Pretty cool eh?

Yes that is correct about me having a BCD. I do not have enough time to share with you about my 35 year ordeal, other than to say that I am close in getting it finally squared away; including the vacating of the conviction and the setting aside of the sentence.

No sarcasm, just speaking honestly to you. For the most part, I have been there, and done that!

Glad to hear your good news, but remember this, your court martial conviction is still a Federal Misdemeanor. So, every-time you have to fill out an employment form etc., and it asked have you ever been convicted, you will have to answer yes, for if you answer no, then you will be lying, and falsifying information.