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Veterans who believe the characterization of their discharge from military service was unjust, erroneous, or warrants an upgrade are encouraged to apply for a discharge upgrade or correction.

All branches of the military consider you to have a strong case for a discharge upgrade if you can show your discharge was connected to any of these categories:

• Mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Sexual assault or harassment during military service
• Sexual orientation (including discharges under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy)

The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs jointly operate an online tool to facilitate your application process.  By answering a series of questions, you will receive customized instructions on how to apply, and to which board to apply, for a discharge upgrade or correction.

Link:  https://www.va.gov/discharge-upgrade-instructions/

If you do not agree with a Service Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR) decision, and have relevant evidence that was not considered with the previous application, you may submit a new DD Form 149 to your respective BCM/NR and apply for reconsideration of your case.

Service members with a separation date on or after December 20, 2019, who have exhausted all available administrative remedies for a discharge or dismissal characterization upgrade by their Service BCM/NR, may be eligible to apply to the DoD Discharge Appeal Review Board. To learn more about the DARB and how to apply for review, visit the DARB page located on the Air Force Review Board Agency website.

If you believe an error or injustice exists in your military record, you may complete and submit a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record, along with sufficient evidence of the probable material error or justice, to your Service Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR).  A few examples of records that may be corrected include:  administrative information, pay and allowances, decorations and awards, performance evaluations and derogatory information, disabilities, promotions and rank, and separation and discharges*. 

*NOTE: Service members who are seeking a discharge upgrade and have been separated for less than 15 years, must first submit the DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the Unites States, to their respective Service Discharge Review Board.

When applying to your respective BCM/NR, download and use the most current version of the DD Form 149 located on the Official DoD Website for DoD  Forms: 
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0149.pdf.  Both the Army and Air Force offer online application portals and the Navy accepts applications via email. These methods are preferred and will streamline your application process and allow for timelier responses.  You may also mail your completed application and any supporting evidence to the appropriate address on page 3 of the DD Form 149 but be sure to first check the websites below to find the most up-to-date instructions and information for your Service BCM/NR. 

Air Force Review Boards Agency (includes Space Force applicants)
Website: https://afrba-portal.cce.af.mil/#

Army Review Boards Agency
Website: http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/

Board for Correction of Naval Records (includes Marine Corps applicants)
Website: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/bcnr/Pages/default.aspx

DHS Office of the General Counsel Board for Correction of Military Records
Website: https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/Legal/BCMR/

If you do not agree with a Service BCM/NR decision and have relevant evidence that was not considered with the previous application, you may submit a new DD Form 149 to apply for reconsideration of your case.

For discharge upgrade requests denied by your Service BCM/NR, you may also be eligible to apply to the DoD Discharge Appeal Review Board

The U.S. Armed Forces maintain an Official Military Personnel File, or OMPF, for every veteran and service member. If you are a veteran or a member of the Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Force and are serving as active duty, reserve, or guard, or if you are retired, you can use the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System page on the milConnect website to request and receive scanned copies of documents in your OMPF.

In some cases, OMPF records are not yet scanned into the DPRIS system on milConnect. To determine whether your documents are available online, what to do if they are not, and for many more details about your OMPF documents, visit the DPRIS section of the milConnect frequently asked questions page.

For OMPF records not available in milConnect, military veteran health records, or for records requests from a veteran's next of kin or a member of the public, please visit the National Archives - National Personnel Record Center, Military Personnel Records for assistance:

Link:  https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/military-personnel
Link:  https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/other-medical-records

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program prepares high school students for leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities and privileges as American citizens. It is a stimulus for promoting graduation from high school, and it provides instruction and rewarding opportunities that will benefit the student, community and Nation. JROTC teaches young men and women the kind of self-discipline, self-confidence, and leadership skills that can help them successfully meet the challenges of adulthood. This program is conducted at accredited secondary schools throughout the Nation, by instructors who are retired Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel.

Information about each military service's JROTC program is found on their respective websites. Additional questions should be directed to the contact addresses below:

U.S. Army JROTC Program Headquarters
U.S. Army Cadet Command
ATTN: ATCC-JR-IM (Instr Mgt)
394 2nd Dragoons Road, Bldg 6573
Fort Monroe, VA 23651-5000
Phone: 800-347-6641
http://www.usarmyjrotc.com/

U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding General
TECOM C46JR
1019 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5001
Phone: 703-784-3706
https://www.mcjrotc.marines.mil/

Naval Service Training Command
NJROTC Program
250 Dallas Street, Suite. A
Pensacola, FL 32508-5268
Phone: 877-253-7122 (option 1)
https://www.netc.navy.mil/NSTC/NJROTC/

Headquarters, Air Force Junior ROTC
ATTN: AETC HOLM CENTER/JROTC
60 West Maxwell Boulevard.
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6106
Phone: 334-953-7513 or 7743
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Holm-Center/AFJROTC/

We greatly appreciate your desire to join the Armed Forces. Our entry rules are purposely tough because in the field, the lives of your fellow service members may well depend on your physical and mental capabilities to perform as part of the unit. The Military services each set and review their standards for enlistment based upon their particular mission.

To appeal a decision made by a military service's recruiting command, you must submit your request in writing to the appropriate military service. Addresses for the military services are available on the DOD website at https://www.defense.gov/Contact/Mailing-Addresses/.

There are also areas where your situation may not be an issue, such as the U.S. civil service. For information on civilian job opportunities, please visit the USA Jobs website.

The Selective service System is an independent agency within the Executive Branch of the U.S. Federal Government. Selective service is not part of the Department of Defense.

Almost all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service.

It’s important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in a sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental, physical, and moral fitness by the military before being deferred or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed Forces.

The U.S. Selective Service website has more information, including how to register and who must register.

Information about each military service academy is found on their respective websites. Additional questions should be directed to the contact addresses below:

United States Military Academy
ATTN: Public Affairs Office
Taylor Hall, Building 600
West Point, NY 10996-1788
Telephone: 845-938-4011
Website: http://www.usma.edu/

United States Naval Academy *
ATTN: Public Affairs Officer
121 Blake Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5000
Telephone: 410-293-1000
Website: http://www.usna.edu/
* Graduates serve in the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps

United States Air Force Academy
ATTN: Public Affairs Officer
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 320
U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840-5016
Telephone: 800-433-9266
Website: http://www.usafa.af.mil

United States Coast Guard Academy **
ATTN: Public Affairs Officer
15 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320-4195
Telephone: 860-444-8270
Website: https://www.uscga.edu/
** The U.S. Coast Guard is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security; however, reports directly to the Department of the Navy only in wartime; in peacetime, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security.

United States Merchant Marine Academy ***
ATTN: Public Affairs Officer
300 Steamboat Road
Kings Point, NY 11024
Telephone: 516-726-5800
Website: http://www.usmma.edu/
*** The Merchant Marine Academy has a close relationship with the U.S. Armed Forces, as noted on its website, but is not part of the Department of Defense.

The Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers the Nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values.

The USCIS website contains helpful information about laws, policies, and procedures for non-citizen members of the military and veteran community seeking to become naturalized United States citizens. Link: https://www.uscis.gov/military/military

USCIS also operates a helpline toll-free military helpline, 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-4645, TTY 800-877-8339) and e-mail address at militaryinfo@uscis.dhs.gov exclusively for current members of the military and their families, as well as veterans. 

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/military/military-help-line

The Department of Defense employs 950,000 civilians, many serving in critical positions worldwide. There are multitudes of opportunities requiring a diverse range of skills. If a competitive salary, great benefits, unsurpassed training, and the pride of defending our Nation interests you, then your future is with DOD.

As a civilian in DOD, you play an important role in the defense of our Nation and in supporting our Armed Forces. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and other DOD Agencies have civilian positions in nearly 675 occupations.

Link:  https://www.DODciviliancareers.com/

As a student or recent graduate, you may be able to begin your career in the Federal Government through internships, the Recent Graduates Program, Presidential Management Fellows Program, with the assistance of DOD scholarship programs:

Link: https://www.DODciviliancareers.com/civiliancareers/studentsrecentgraduates

Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces is responsible for its own recruiting. You can learn more about each branch's recruiting policies, and contact a recruiter directly, at the following websites:

Army: https://www.goarmy.com

National Guard: https://www.nationalguard.com/

Marines: https://www.marines.com/become-a-marine/process-to-join.html

Navy: https://www.navy.com/careers

Air Force and Space Force: https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join

Coast Guard: https://www.uscg.mil/Join/