vendredi 21 février 2014

The Process For Military Discharge Upgrade

By Krystal Branch


Military boards are not permitted to revoke any discharge, or even call a person back to active duty. Dismissals imposed through special Court-Martial are only reviewed when there is reason for clemency. Under law, you need to ensure making your application for discharge upgrade within 15 years of leaving the service. If you have spent more than this time-frame, it is necessary to apply for change to your service records.

If you attained honorable release from service, you get to enjoy all the benefits awarded to other veterans. However, if below this, you will not be able to obtain other kinds of benefits. You still could apply for upgrading of your release certificate.

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 can have it by logging online to the information center and downloading it. If you want to be accorded personal hearing, check the right box indicating this point. It thereafter lies squarely on what this board decides in terms of timing and scheduling for your hearing.

In general, hearings are held within the national capital. At times however, the board may travel to regional centers for hearings. Do not expect to be reimbursed on expenses incurred during the duration of stay for the process.

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.

In general, a board is comprised of 5 officers on active duty. You have to present your case in front of them and may testify under oath in order to support your application. As well, you do have the right not to talk if feeling that answering any question might result in an act of self-incrimination.

Once the board hears your application, it deliberates on it afterwards. You just need to wait for the decision it reaches which should take between 6 and 8 weeks. It may grant your request for grade adjustment in which case you will get it via mail together with the new release certificate showing this authority, DD Form 214 and the accompanying decisions document to this effect.

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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