DD-214 Discharge Upgrade Guide — Character of Service Review

What's Your Current Character of Discharge?

❌ Dishonorable

Court-martial conviction for serious offenses

⚠️ Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD)

Issued by court-martial for serious misconduct

🔴 Other Than Honorable (OTH)

Administrative discharge for misconduct

🟡 General (Under Honorable Conditions)

Minor misconduct or performance issues

✅ Honorable

Met or exceeded standards of conduct and performance

💡 Why Upgrade Your Discharge?

An upgrade can unlock VA benefits you're currently ineligible for:

VA Healthcare: Dishonorable = ineligible; OTH/BCD = case-by-case; General/Honorable = eligible
Disability Compensation: Must have honorable or general discharge
GI Bill: Requires honorable discharge (some exceptions for general)
VA Home Loans: Honorable or general discharge required
Federal Jobs: Veterans' preference requires honorable or general

⚠️ Important Timelines

Within 15 years of discharge: Apply to your service's Discharge Review Board (DRB)
After 15 years: Must apply to Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR/BCNR)
No deadline for BCMR: You can apply at any time, but earlier is better

Key Resources

📋 Forms

🏛️ Board Websites

🆘 Free Help

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