Form DD-293 Application for the Review of Discharge From the Armed F

APPLICATION FOR THE REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
FROM THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES

OMB No. 0704-0004
OMB approval expires
Aug 31, 2006

(Please read instructions on Pages 3 and 4 BEFORE completing this application.)

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering
and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Department of Defense, Executive Services Directorate (0704-0004). Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR

FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION. RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO THE APPROPRIATE ADDRESS ON BACK OF THIS PAGE.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. 1553; E.O. 9397.
PRINCIPAL PURPOSE(S): To apply for a change in the characterization or reason for military discharge issued to an individual.
ROUTINE USE(S): None.
DISCLOSURE: Voluntary; however, failure to provide identifying information may impede processing of this application. The request for Social
Security Number is strictly to assure proper identification of the individual and appropriate records.
1. APPLICANT DATA (The person whose discharge is to be reviewed). PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE INFORMATION.
a. BRANCH OF SERVICE (X one)

ARMY

MARINE CORPS

b. NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial)

NAVY

AIR FORCE

c. GRADE/RANK AT DISCHARGE

e. CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS OF APPLICANT OR PERSON NAMED IN ITEM 11 (Forward
notification of any change in address.)

COAST GUARD

d. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

f. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)
g. E-MAIL
h. FAX NUMBER (Include Area Code)

2. DATE OF DISCHARGE OR SEPARATION 4. DISCHARGE CHARACTERIZATION RECEIVED (X one) 5. BOARD ACTION REQUESTED (X one)
(YYYYMMDD) (If date is more than 15 years
ago, submit a DD Form 149)

HONORABLE

CHANGE TO HONORABLE

GENERAL/UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS

CHANGE TO GENERAL/UNDER
HONORABLE CONDITIONS
CHANGE TO UNCHARACTERIZED
(Not applicable for Air Force)
CHANGE NARRATIVE REASON FOR
SEPARATION:

UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS

3. UNIT AND LOCATION AT DISCHARGE
OR SEPARATION

BAD CONDUCT (Special court-martial only)
UNCHARACTERIZED
OTHER (Explain)

6. ISSUES: WHY AN UPGRADE OR CHANGE IS REQUESTED AND JUSTIFICATION FOR THE REQUEST (Continue in Item 13. See instructions on
Page 3.)

NEEDS DD 67

7. (X if applicable) AN APPLICATION WAS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED ON (YYYYMMDD)
AND THIS FORM IS SUBMITTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL ISSUES, JUSTIFICATION, OR EVIDENCE.
8. IN SUPPORT OF THIS APPLICATION, THE FOLLOWING ATTACHED DOCUMENTS ARE SUBMITTED AS EVIDENCE: (Continue in Item 14.
If military documents or medical records are relevant to your case, please send copies.)

9. TYPE OF REVIEW REQUESTED (X one)
CONDUCT A RECORD REVIEW OF MY DISCHARGE BASED ON MY MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE AND ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
SUBMITTED BY ME. I AND/OR (counsel/representative) WILL NOT APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD.
I AND/OR (counsel/representative) WISH TO APPEAR AT A HEARING AT NO EXPENSE TO THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE BOARD IN THE
WASHINGTON, D.C. METROPOLITAN AREA.
I AND/OR (counsel/representative) WISH TO APPEAR AT A HEARING AT NO EXPENSE TO THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE A TRAVELING PANEL CLOSEST TO
(NOTE: The Navy Discharge Review Board does not have a traveling panel.)
(enter city and state)
b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)
10.a. COUNSEL/REPRESENTATIVE (If any) NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial) AND ADDRESS
(See Item 10 of the instructions about counsel/representative.)
c. E-MAIL
d. FAX NUMBER (Include Area Code)

11. APPLICANT MUST SIGN IN ITEM 13.a. BELOW. If the record in question is that of a deceased or incompetent person, LEGAL PROOF
OF DEATH OR INCOMPETENCY MUST ACCOMPANY THE APPLICATION. If the application is signed by other than the applicant,
and relationship by marking a box below.
indicate the name (print)
SPOUSE

WIDOW

WIDOWER

NEXT OF KIN

LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE

OTHER (Specify)

12. CERTIFICATION. I make the foregoing statements, as part of my claim, with full knowledge of the
penalties involved for willfully making a false statement or claim. (U.S. Code, Title 18, Sections 287
and 1001, provide that an individual shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years,
or both.)
a. SIGNATURE - REQUIRED (Applicant or person in Item 11 above)

DD FORM 293, 20060614 DRAFT

CASE NUMBER
(Do not write in this space.)

b. DATE SIGNED - REQUIRED
(YYYYMMDD)

PREVIOUS EDITION ISOBSOLETE.

Page 1 of 4 Pages
FormFlow/Adobe Professional 7.0

13. CONTINUATION OF ITEM 6, ISSUES (If applicable)

14. CONTINUATION OF ITEM 8, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (If applicable)

15. REMARKS (If applicable)

NEEDS DD 67

MAIL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO APPROPRIATE ADDRESS BELOW.
ARMY
Army Review Boards Agency
Support Division, St. Louis
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200
(See http://arba.army.pentagon.mil)

AIR FORCE
Air Force Review Boards Agency
SAF/MRBR
550-C Street West, Suite 40
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4742

DD FORM 293, 20060614 DRAFT

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
Naval Council of Personnel Boards
720 Kennon Street, S.E.
Room 309 (NDRB)
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5023

COAST GUARD
U.S. Coast Guard
Commandant (CG-122)
2100 Second Street, S.W. Room 5500
Washington, DC 20593
Page 2 of 4 Pages

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF DD FORM 293

REQUESTING COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL MILITARY
PERSONNEL FILE
Information on how to obtain military or health
records is available at the National Personnel Records
Center website at www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html or
at your local Veterans Administration office.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit any
request for their military records prior to applying for a
discharge review rather than after submitting a DD Form
293 in order to avoid substantial delays in processing of the
application and scheduling of review. Applicants and their
counsel may also examine their military personnel records
at the site of their scheduled review prior to the review.
The Board shall notify applicants of the date of availability
of the records for examination in their standard scheduling
information.
Submission of a request for an applicant's military
records (including a request pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act or Privacy Act) after the DD Form 293 has
been submitted will automatically result in the suspension
of processing of the application for discharge review until
the requested records are sent to an appropriate location
for copying, are copied, and are returned to the possession
of the headquarters of the Discharge Review Board.
Processing of the application shall then be resumed at
whatever stage of the discharge review process is
practicable.

ITEM 5. If you request a change of narrative reason for
separation, you must list the specific reason for discharge that
you believe to be appropriate, otherwise the Board will presume
that you do not want a change in reason for discharge. If you
do not request a change of discharge characterization in this
item, the Board will presume you want to change discharge to
Honorable.
If you were separated on or after 1 October 1982 while in an
entry level status with an under other than honorable conditions
discharge and less than 180 days of active service, you can
request a change of discharge characterization to "Uncharacterized" and discharge reason to "Entry Level Separation".
ITEM 6. "Issues" are the reasons why you think your discharge
should be changed. You are not required to submit any issues
with your application. However, if you want the Board to
respond in writing to the issues of concern, you must list your
specific issues in accordance with those instructions and
regulations governing the Board. Issues must be stated clearly
and specifically. Your issues should address the reasons why
you believe that the discharge received was improper or
inequitable. It is important to focus on matters that occurred
while you served in the Armed Forces.
The following examples demonstrate one way in which
issues may be stated (the example issues do not indicate, in
any way, the only type of issues that should be submitted to the
Board):
Example 1. My discharge was inequitable because it was
based on one isolated incident in 28 months of service with no
other adverse action.
Example 2. The discharge is improper because the
applicant's pre-service civilian conviction, properly listed on his
enlistment documents, was used in the discharge proceedings.

NEEDS DD 67

DD FORM 293 - PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE
INFORMATION. (Items on the form are self-explanatory
unless otherwise noted below.)

ITEM 1b. Use the name which you served under while in
the Armed Forces. If your name has since changed, then
also include your current name after adding the
abbreviation "AKA". If the former member is deceased or
incompetent, see Item 11.
ITEM 1e. Indicate the address to be used for all future
correspondence regarding this application. If you change
this address while this application is pending, you must
notify the Discharge Review Board immediately. Failure to
attend a hearing as a result of an unreported change in
address may result in a waiver of your right to a hearing.
ITEM 2. If you received more than one discharge, the
information in this item should refer to the discharge that
you want changed. Discharge Review Boards cannot
consider any type of discharge resulting from a
sentence given by a general court-martial.
ITEM 3. If the discharge you want reviewed was issued
over 15 years ago, instead of applying on a DD Form 293,
you must petition the appropriate Board for Correction of
Military Record using DD Form 149, Application for
Correction of Military Record Under the Provisions of Title
10, U.S. Code, Section 1552.

DD FORM 293, 20060614 DRAFT

In Item 6 list each of your issues that you want the Board to
address. There is no limit to the number of issues that you may
submit. If you need additional space, continue in Item 14 or on
a plain sheet of paper and attach it to this application.
NOTE: If an issue is not listed in Item 6, it may result in the
Board not addressing the issue even if the issue is discussed in
a legal brief or other written submissions or at the hearing.
Changes or additions to the list may be made on the DD Form
293 anytime before the Discharge Review Board closes the
review process for deliberation. Please be sure that your issues
are consistent with the Board Action Requested (Item 5). If
there is a conflict between what you say in your issues and what
you requested in Item 5, the Board will respond to your issue in
the context of the action requested in Item 5. For example, if
you request a General Discharge in Item 5 but your issue in
Item 6 indicated you want an Honorable Discharge, the Board
will respond to the issue in terms of your request for a General
Discharge. Therefore, if you are submitting issues for the
purpose of obtaining an Honorable Discharge, be sure to mark
the box for an Honorable Discharge in Item 5.

Page 3 of 4 Pages

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF DD FORM 293 (Continued)

Incorporation by Reference. Issues that are listed on a
legal brief or other written submissions may be incorporated by reference in Item 6. The reference must be
specific enough for the Board to clearly identify the matter
being submitted as an issue. At a minimum, it shall identify
the page, paragraph, and sentence incorporated.
Example: Issue 1. Brief, page 2, paragraph 1, sentences
one and two.

Applicants participating in a personal appearance or hearing
examination may make sworn or unsworn state- ments,
introduce witnesses, documents, or other information on their
behalf. Applicants may make oral or written arguments
personally and/or through representative/ counsel. Applicants
and witnesses who present sworn or unsworn statements may
be questioned by the Board.

Applicants should be as specific as possible with all
references so the Board can clearly distinguish the scope
of the issue. Because it is to your benefit to bring such
issues to the Board's attention as early as possible in the
review, if you submit a brief, you are strongly urged to set
forth all such issues as a separate item at the beginning of
the brief.

FAILURE TO APPEAR AT A HEARING OR RESPOND TO A
SCHEDULING NOTICE. If you do not appear at a scheduled
hearing or respond as required to a scheduling notice, and
you did not make a prior, timely request for a continuance,
postponement, or withdrawal of the application, you will forfeit
the right to a personal appearance and the Board shall
complete its review of the discharge based upon the evidence
of record.

ITEM 8. Evidence not in your official records should be
submitted to the Board before the review date. It is to your
advantage to submit such documentation with this
application. This also applies to legal briefs or counsel
submissions. However, you have the right to submit
evidence until the time the Discharge Review Board closes
the review process for deliberation. Documents that are of
the most benefit are those which substantiate or relate
directly to your issues in Item 6. Other documents that
may be helpful are character references, educational
achievements, exemplary post-service conduct, and
medical reports. You should add your name and Social
Security Number to each document submitted. The Board
will consider all documents submitted in your behalf, but
will respond in writing only to those issues set forth in Item
6.

ITEM 10.a - d. Omit if you do not have a representative/
counsel. If you later obtain the services of either, inform the
Board immediately.
The military services do not provide counsel representation or
evidence for you, nor do they pay the cost of such
representation under any circumstance. The following
organizations regularly furnish representation at no charge to
you. Representatives may or may not be lawyers.

NEEDS DD 67
1.
2.
3.
4.

American Legion
Disabled American Veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars
State or Regional Veterans Offices

ITEM 9. TYPE OF REVIEW REQUESTED
A Discharge Review is conducted in two basic ways:
(1) Records Review or (2) Hearing.
1. Records Review. You may have the Board conduct a
discharge review based solely on military records and any
additional documentation that you provide. This review is
conducted without personal appearance by you and/or your
counsel appearing.
2. Hearing. You may appear personally (alone or assisted
by a representative/counsel) before the Board in the
Washington, D.C. Metro Area or before a Traveling Panel
of the Board in selected locations throughout the U.S., if
appropriate. The Department of Defense is not responsible
for, nor will it pay for, any costs incurred by the applicant or
representative/counsel for appearance or providing
testimony or documentation. Detailed notification and/or
scheduling information for all personal appearances will be
provided after the application has been processed. In
addition, without appearing yourself, you may have your
case presented by a representative/counsel of your choice.

DD FORM 293, 20060614 DRAFT

In addition, there are other organizations willing to assist
you in completing this application and to provide
representation at no cost. It is to your advantage to
coordinate with your counsel prior to submitting this
application. This will insure that your counsel is able to
appear at the location you listed in Item 9. Please note that
some of the organizations listed above only represent
applicants who appear before the Board in the Washington,
D.C. Metro Area. Contact your local veterans affairs office,
Veterans Administration Office or veterans service
organization for further information.
ITEM 11. If the former member is deceased or incompetent,
the application may be submitted by the next of kin, a
surviving spouse or a legal representative. Legal proof of
death or incompetency and satisfactory evidence of the
relationship to the former member must accompany this
application.
ITEM 12.a. and b. A signature and date entered by the
applicant or person identified in Item 11 are required.

Page 4 of 4 Pages