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How do I upgrade my discharge?

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divgradcurl

Senior Member
If you worked for my HR department, I would fire you. Kidding, but in my professional life I feel it is necessary to see a DD214 to know what kind of person I am hiring. I understand that the DD214 is most likely not asked for in a majority of jobs. My point is that any employer worth their salt will want to know your employment history and a gap in that history is not attractive. My dad's company absolutely wants to see the DD214 of any ex-military applicants to get a feel of what kind of person they really are, at my suggestion. There is no reason that you would have to disclose you were ever in the military but is definitely a bullet on my resume that I am proud to submit when I can. Glad you could take the time to post just to disagree with me. My original advice is still the same and remains correct that the discharge will not be upgraded. The rest was just filler.


"Man's capacity for evil makes democracy necessary and man's capacity for good makes democracy possible."
Yoy may not need your DD214 or have to disclose the type of discharge you had for most jobs, but pretty much any job that requires a license will probably ask. I had to disclose everything about my military service to obtain my law license.
 

SHORTY LONG

Senior Member
Dude, you have a BCD then you are a convicted "Federal Felon," and since
you were recently released from the brig, then your case is being reviewed
and possibly appealed. You left out needed information to shed any further
light. Depending on the charges you were convicted under, or cut a deal
to plead guilty to lesser charges will have bearing as to your Federal
Conviction being a "Misdemeanor or Aggravated" to whatever degree!

It is just a matter of time if you do not have this removed by the Military
Court, or possibly the Federal Court before you will start feeling the
baleful consequences that flow directly from it.
 

Dude

Junior Member
I beg to differ Shorty Long, I just wont be feeling any consequences . I have come to the conclusion that the chances of me upgrading my military Discharge are very slim to none. But thankfuly the United States Forest Service hires "Convicted Felons"(if that's what I am), being that they are not rapists, murderers or pedophiles.
 

SHORTY LONG

Senior Member
The 24/7 consequences from having a BCD may not at this time impact your life, but,
in time, it most absolutely and certainly will. After-all, they have been sanctioned by
Congress for [a] many of year!

The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young
minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterward. -Anatole France, novelist, essayist,
Nobel laureate (1844-1924)
 

ElvisG

Member
Any type of back ground check for one.

It's always up to whomever does the hiring to decide if a Bad Conduct Discharge will effect you. But you can't believe that someone will see the BCD and say "This looks like an awesome person to hire."
 
Any person with military records, or his or her heirs or legal representative, may apply to the appropriate service's Board for the Correction of Military Records. The Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard have separate boards. The Navy operates the board for both Navy personnel and members of the United States Marine Corps.

Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552, is the law governing correction of military records. This statute authorizes the Secretary of the service concerned to correct any military record when "necessary to correct an error or injustice." The purpose of this statute was to relieve the Congress from consideration of private bills to correct errors or injustices in military records. The statute provides for the service secretaries to act through a board of appointed civilians in considering applications for correction of military records. AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records, implements the statute within the Air Force. Army Regulation 15-185 implements the statute within the Army. The Code of Federal Regulations; Title 33, Part 52;2. implements the statute within the Coast Guard. The Navy and Marine Corps implements the statute through The Navy, Code of Federal Regulations; Title 32, Part 723.

You should exhaust other administrative remedies before appealing to your service's board. For example, you should first submit a performance report appeal to the appropriate appeal agency before appealing to your service's military records correction board.. An appeal requesting upgrade of discharge should normally be submitted to the service's Discharge Review Board under Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 1332.28, Discharge Review Board (DRB) Procedures and Standards. The board will return your application if you have not first sought relief through the appropriate administrative process. You should submit your request within 3 years after you discover, or reasonably could have discovered, the error or injustice. The boards review the merits of untimely applications. If found to be meritorious, the timeliness is waived in the interest of justice. You should not assume, however, that a waiver will be granted.

The Board will correct your military records only if you can prove that you are the victim of error or injustice. 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. Begin in item 9 of the DD Form 149 and continue in item 17, if necessary. You may also put your statement on plain paper and attach it to the form. Limit your statement to not more than 25 pages. Explain what happened and why it is an error or injustice in simple, direct terms.

Normally, the best evidence is statements from persons who have direct knowledge or involvement. For example, statements from persons in your rating chain if you are contesting a performance report. Or a statement from the person who counseled you if you are alleging miscounseling.

Character references from community leaders and others who know you are helpful if you are requesting clemency based on post-service activities and accomplishments. This is only a general rule, however. You must decide what evidence will best support your case.

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 should, however, submit your request within the 3-year time limit.

Getting Help

With few exceptions, all personnel records generated by the military may be corrected by the Board. The Board cannot, however, change the verdict of a courts-martial imposed after May 4, 1950. In these cases, the Board’s authority is limited to changing the sentence received on the basis of clemency. The Board will mail you a copy of the applicable service regulation at your request.

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. You may obtain a list of these organizations by writing to the Board (see addresses on reverse side of DD Form 149)
* You may also hire a lawyer to represent you at your own expense
* You should name your representative on DD Form 149, item 7. The Executive Director of the Board must approve any representative other than a veteran service organization staff member or a lawyer
* 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 an Board staff member, or you may write to the Board, and a staff member will respond to your questions

You may request a personal appearance before the Board by checking the appropriate box on DD Form 149, item 6. The Board will decide whether a personal appearance is necessary to decide your case. Travel expenses are your responsibility. The Board grants very few personal appearances, so you should try to fully present your case in writing. If your request for a personal appearance is granted, the Board will provide you with the necessary details.

After your application is received, one or more offices within your military service (JAG, hospital, personnel, etc.) will prepare an advisory opinion on your case. The advisory opinion will be sent to the Board with your case file. If the advisory opinion recommends denial of your request, the Board will send it to you for comment:

Remember that the advisory opinion is only a recommendation. The Board will make the decision on your case

The Board will ask for your comments on the advisory opinion within 30 days. You may request an additional 30 days if you need it. Reasonable requests are normally granted

It may be unnecessary for you to comment on the advisory opinion. If you have nothing further to say, don’t bother to respond. Failure to comment on an advisory opinion does not mean you agree. Nor will it prevent a full and fair consideration of your application.

Each Service Secretary appoints high-level civilian employees who work for the military service concerned to serve on the Board. Service is normally an additional duty for those appointed. Usually about 47 people serve on the Board.

Members are randomly assigned to three-member panels for consideration of cases. Cases are randomly assigned to panels.

Board staff members research issues and provide technical advice to the panel members. They do not take sides or recommend a decision to the panel.

Panel members receive a copy of the case for study before they meet. They normally discuss your case in closed session before voting. Their decision is based on the evidence in the case file.

The majority rules, but a dissenting member may submit a minority opinion for consideration by the Service Secretary or his/her designee.

Following the vote on your case, the panel chairperson signs a record of proceedings. The record of proceedings will explain the reasons for the decision on your case.

The Service Secretary concerned has the final authority to accept or reject a recommendation of the Board. In most cases, it is accepted.

When the Board completes your case, the decision is mailed to you. If relief is granted, your records will be corrected and finance personnel will review your case to see if you are due any monetary benefits.

The Board is the highest level of administrative appeal and provides the final military decision. If the Board denies your case, your next step is to request reconsideration or file a suit in the court system.

You may request reconsideration of the decision on your case. The Board will reconsider your case only if you provide newly discovered relevant evidence that was not reasonably available when you filed your original application. The evidence may pertain to the timeliness of your application or to its merits.

You should submit your request for reconsideration within a reasonable time after you discover the new evidence.

Re-argument of the same evidence will not get your case reconsidered.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants"
 
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