Generally, the military requires you to request changes within three years of discovering the error. After that, the onus is on you to convince your branch of service why they should consider your request.
General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions
However, overall, your military performance was considered satisfactory. Veterans who receive general discharges under honorable conditions are entitled to all VA benefits, with the exception of GI Bill education benefits.Each service has a Discharge Review Board (DRB) which can upgrade general, other than honorable and special court-martial bad conduct discharges (BCDs), and can also discharges to or from uncharacterized entry level separations (ELSs). - Vets can apply to the DRBs at any time up to 15 years from the date of discharge.
1. It prevents future service. Individuals who receive a General Discharge, Under Honorable Conditions are not allowed to re-enlist once the dismissal has been completed. The discharge type prevents individuals from entering a different service of the armed forces as well.
Box 26 contains the separation code associated with your discharge. These are three-letter codes that tell the reason for your discharge, some of which will prohibit you from rejoining the military, such as GKS, AWOL, GLF (drug use), and GMB (character or behavior disorder).
A general discharge under honorable conditions means that your service was satisfactory, but did not deserve the highest level of discharge for performance and conduct. Many veterans with this type of discharge may have engaged in minor misconduct.
Can I Get a Discharge Upgrade? You can apply to the Discharge Review Board (DRB) of your branch of the service for a discharge upgrade or a change in the discharge reason (that is, character of service).
The VA can't downgrade any discharge. They can only say that a discharge is Honorable for VA purposes. Upon separation veterans are no longer subject to UCMJ and even when someone applies for an upgrade to their discharge the review board can't change it to something worse even if evidence supports that.
In order to get your military service records corrected, or your discharge upgraded, you must contact your respective service Board for Correction of Military Records or fill out and mail a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552.
Incomplete Awards, Decorations, and Discharges (DD Form 215) The DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is used to correct errors or make additions to a DD Form 214, in order to assure that the Veteran has accurate discharge documentation.
Amend or Change DD 214 or Other Military Records. You can obtain instructions for changing/correcting your military service record or changing your discharge status by leaving the VA website and going to
DD Form 293 - Application for Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces. Department of Defense Form 293 is used to request an upgrade of a military discharge from the appropriate discharge review board. You can access a fillable PDF version of the form here.
First, Login to VA.gov
- Login to VA.gov.
- Click on your name at the top right.
- Select profile.
- Click on edit for anything you wish to change.
- Make your edits, and click update.
The best way to receive a copy of your DD 214 is get an eBenefits account. Go to and register. Once you have a premium account, click on the "Manage Benefits" tab, and go to the Military Personnel File (DPRIS) link to request a copy of the DD 214.
Jump To A Military Verification Service
- #1 – DFAS.
- #2 – Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Request.
- #3 – National Personnel Records Center.
- #4 – DD 214 or Military ID Card.
- #5 – Commendation Medal Search.
- #6 – Online Military Background Check.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a military service number? For many years, the military services had a service number, and it was usually a combination of a letter and six digits, aka, B 36–24–38.
You can find veterans' military service records from World War I to the present from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). These files can include the Report of Separation (DD Form 214) and show a veteran's service history, which may include: Enlistment or appointment and separation dates.
Provide as much identifying information as possible about the person you wish to locate, such as full name, rank, last duty assignment/last known military address, service number, and Social Security number. The locator service is free to immediate family members and Federal and State government officials.
DoD to drop social security numbers from ID cards. The DoD identification number is a unique 10-digit number that is assigned to every person with a direct relationship with the department. The new number also will be the service member's Geneva Convention identification number.
You can mail a letter to the headquarters of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps in case of a problem or an appeal. Additionally, veterans and active service members can go to the administration section of their company or squad to get copies of their records and apply to receive medals.
To apply for a Veterans ID card veterans must first sign up at Vets.gov and “Apply for a Printed Veteran ID Card” OR veterans can signup through AccessVA. Make sure you have a copy of a state or federal issued ID and a photo saved (size limit 3MB) on the device you will be using.
A member-4 copy is the original DD214 you received which includes your type of discharge (honorable, etc.) and re-enlistment code. This is what an employer usually asks for. A "service-2" DD214 is a copy, which as long as it has your full discharge info, it should be fine.
The following formats were used to denote U.S. military service numbers: 12-345-678: United States Army and U.S. Air Force enlisted service numbers. 123-45-67: United States Navy enlisted service numbers. 1234-340: United States Coast Guard enlisted service numbers.
This disclosure can be considered an injustice, and is the basis for your request to update your name on the DD214. Each military department has their own Board for Corrections of Military Records, and each Board has the discretion to evaluate requested corrections on a case-by-case basis.
Are there other ways to get my military records?
- Mail or fax a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form SF 180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
- Write a letter to the NPRC.
- Visit the NPRC in person.
- Contact your state or county Veterans agency.
- Hire an independent researcher.
The Administrative Remarks form, when completed, becomes a service record Page 13 and is retained permanently in the U. S. Navy Enlisted Service Record (NAVCRUIT 1070/3).
If you believe you are the victim of an error or injustice which affects your military record, you may apply for a Correction of Military Records by completing and submitting a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record. Submit your completed DD Form 149 to the appropriate address on page 2 of the form.
