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Military Department Review Boards

overview

The Department of Defense encourages all former Service members who believe they have suffered an error or injustice to request relief from their Military Department’s Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR) or Discharge Review Board (DRB). In the past several years, the Department issued clarifying guidance for the correction of military records that may involve post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), sexual assault, and sexual harassment, that enhances the ability to correct past errors or injustices.

How to Request a Discharge Upgrade or Other Records Correction

Former Service members who believe they have suffered an error or injustice warranting a correction to their service record or who believe their discharge was unjust, erroneous, or warrants an upgrade, are encouraged to apply to the review boards.

 

Discharge Review Board (DRB)

If the discharge was less than 15 years ago, the applicant should complete the DD Form 293 and send it to their Military department Discharge Review Board (DRB)(the address is on the form or find mailing address and email in links at top of page) with information supporting the request.

DD Form 293 (PDF)

 

Boards for Correction of Military or Naval Records (BCM/NR)

Applicants should complete the DD Form 149 and submit their request to their Military Department’s BCM/NR (the address is on the form or find mailing address and email in links at top of page) with information supporting the request.

DD Form 149 (PDF)

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Key Information for Applications to the Boards

Any former Service member who believes his or her record contains an error or an injustice is encouraged to apply to their Military Department Review Board.

It is very important to explain why your discharge or other record was unjust or erroneous.  For example, how it is connected to or resulted from, unjust policies, a physical or mental health condition related to military service, or some other explainable or justifiable circumstance.
It is important to provide support, where applicable, for key facts. If you have a relevant medical diagnosis, for example, it would be very helpful to include medical records that reflect that diagnosis.
It is helpful, but not always required, to submit copies of your applicable service records. The more information you provide, the better the Boards can understand the circumstances of your discharge.

Webinars

How to Successfully Apply to the Military Department Review Boards Instructional Webinars

Discharge Review Boards (DRB)

 Webinar: Applying to the Military Departments’ Discharge Review Boards

Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NRs)

 Webinar: Applying to the Military Department Correction of Military/Naval Records

Podcasts

 Military Review Boards: Records Review for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Discharges

Guides

 DD Form 149 Supplemental Guide

 DD Form 293 Supplemental Guide

Requesting Copies of Your Military Records

Personnel records for former Service members who served after 1997 should be accessible online and are usually retrievable within hours of a request through the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System (DPRIS).