Call to Action: Submit to Upgrade Discharge Status

 

20 October 2023-UPDATE

    In speaking with several attorneys and the VA education center, the best next step for Involuntary 

Veterans to take is to go through the Discharge Review Board. We have to apply in the masses in order

to be recognized by and put pressure on Congress to act.  Also, if denied, especially blanket denials,

we will have a cause for legal action and actually get a precedent set for veterans. 

    Either way, it's necessary to take this step and go through the long arduous process. WE STRONGLY 

ENCOURAGE and actually need you to take this action. Here are the instructions:

    Fill out Form DD293--I met with a Veteran’s Services Officer from a local county today to get more information on helping our former SMs upgrade their discharges as most of them got ‘General (under honorable conditions)’ which prevents them from receiving their Post-9/11 GI Bills.

Notes on Discharge Characterization Upgrades:

2 forms are used for this process:

-DD 149 (more for clerical mistakes on DD 214)

-DD 293 USE THIS (for increases in characterizations) DEC 2019 version is the most recent.

VSO’s general words on filling out these blocks:

22) Speak about excellent service, what they did, why they need/are requesting an upgrade; education benefits, employment opportunities, etc. 

For other circumstances, he mentioned wording it of the like of ‘I did x great things but just made this one mistake’. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT STATE ANY FAULT REGARDING THIS COVID ISSUE; recommend just staying within the bounds of the above paragraph.

23) Document Evidence; Letters of Recommendation/Endorsement of Discharge upgrade from Congress Reps, County Commissioner’s, Pastors, etc. other documents showing that they’ve been a good contributing/productive member of society post-service.

Other questions I asked of him/notes:

-Duration of this process: Unknown, as it’s controlled by the review boards of the individual service branch.

-Likelihood of approval (in general): likely if it’s a young junior SM who made an honest mistake. Senior Individual who’s older with an integrity violation such as stealing from the government; unlikely.

On this note, he stated he wasn’t sure if the boards have any guidance from senior echelons of the DOD on the COVID discharges. His personal opinion was potentially they may have guidance to deny based on current political environment and potentially a blanket statement to correct these discharges could be issues in the future (but probably under a different administration).

The addresses where the completed packets for these would need to be mailed is on the bottom of the 2nd page.

Additionally, he stated that if the discharge upgrade is denied, that can be appealed.