Dd Form 293 PDF Details

The DD Form 293 is the official application veterans use to request a review of their military discharge. The Discharge Review Board (DRB) for each branch of service receives and processes these requests. The board can change the discharge characterization, the narrative reason for discharge, or both.

A discharge characterization describes the nature of a veteran's service at separation. Common characterizations include honorable, general under honorable conditions, and other than honorable. The characterization directly affects access to VA healthcare, education assistance, and home loan benefits. Veterans with a less-than-honorable discharge often lose eligibility for many federal programs. Filing an application for review is the first formal step toward restoring that access.

Who Can Apply

Any veteran who received a discharge other than honorable may submit this application. The board accepts requests without age restrictions. Most branches consider applications filed within 15 years of the discharge date, though special circumstances may allow later submissions.

The next of kin may apply on behalf of a deceased veteran. Attorneys and legal representatives may also file with proper documentation of their authority. The form includes specific signature sections for spouses, widows, widowers, and legally appointed representatives.

Veterans citing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), or issues related to sexual orientation or gender identity receive specific consideration. Department of Defense Instruction 1332.28 requires the DRB to evaluate these cases under current compassionate standards. Applicants must indicate the applicable special issue in Section II.

What the Board Considers

Applicants must provide a clear basis for the requested change. Common grounds include material error, injustice, or inequity in the original discharge decision. The review board applies standards in effect at the time of review, not at the time of discharge.

Strong applications include personal statements, service records, and medical documentation. Character reference letters from former supervisors, healthcare providers, or community leaders carry significant weight. Evidence of rehabilitation, continued education, or community contributions since discharge is also relevant.

In some cases, the DRB may offer a personal appearance hearing. During a hearing, the veteran or representative presents testimony directly to board members. The DRB may take several months to schedule and conduct a hearing.

After You File

Review timelines vary by branch. Most applications are processed within 12 to 18 months. Keep copies of everything submitted, including the completed form and all supporting documents.

The board may approve the full request, grant a partial change, or deny the application. Denied applicants may appeal to the Board for Correction of Military Records by completing DD Form 149. That board has broader authority and can address military record issues beyond discharge status.

Veterans who need certified copies of their original service records can request them using a discharge application. Complete service documentation supports both the review process and any future benefit claims.

How the Form Is Organized

The form spans four pages and five sections. Section I collects personal information, branch of service, and education level. Section II identifies the specific changes requested and the legal grounds for the review.

Section III designates any legal representative or counsel. Section IV lists the supporting evidence submitted with the application. Section V contains the signature block and a certification statement from the applicant or authorized representative.

The completed application is mailed to the Discharge Review Board for the relevant service branch. Each branch has a separate DRB mailing address, printed in the form instructions. Some branches also accept submissions through official DoD electronic channels.

QuestionAnswer
Form NameDd Form 293
Form Length4 pages
Fillable?No
Fillable fields0
Avg. time to fill out1 min
Other namesform 293, 293, dd form 293 2021, application discharge military

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This PDF requires particular details to be typed in, so make sure to take some time to type in what is required:

1. Before anything else, once completing the dd 293, beging with the part that includes the subsequent blanks:

form 293 military writing process shown (portion 1)

2. Right after filling out the previous part, head on to the subsequent part and fill out the essential details in these blanks - DISCHARGE CHARACTERIZATION, Under Other than Honorable, Uncharacterized Entry Level, SEPARATION AUTHORITY DD Form box, SEPARATION CODE DD Form box, REENTRY CODE DD Form box, NARRATIVE REASON DD Form box, UNIT AND LOCATION AT DISCHARGE, SECTION REQUEST, a IS THIS A REQUEST FOR, Yes, b IF YES AND KNOWN PROVIDE THE, AND THE DECISION DATE YYYYMMDD, ACTION REQUESTED Enter applicable, and CHARACTER OF SERVICE.

Step # 2 for completing form 293 military

3. This 3rd segment should be pretty easy, ARE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, PTSD, TBI, Other Mental Health, Sexual Assault Harassment, DADT, Transgender, Reprisal Whistleblowe, DD FORM DEC, PREVIOUS EDITION IS OBSOLETE, and Page of - these blanks has to be completed here.

form 293 military conclusion process shown (stage 3)

4. The next part needs your information in the following parts: WHY IS A CHANGE REQUESTED, SECTION EVIDENCE AND RECORDS, IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLAIM THE, LIST ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING, IMPORTANT NOTE If the basis of, SECTION REPRESENTATIVE OR COUNSEL, The following representative is, NAME, Last, First, ORGANIZATION, MAILING ADDRESS Street, and Suffix. Ensure you give all needed details to move further.

Filling out part 4 of form 293 military

Those who use this document often make errors when filling out Suffix in this part. Ensure that you go over everything you type in right here.

5. Since you draw near to the last sections of the form, you'll find a couple extra requirements that need to be fulfilled. Specifically, MAILING ADDRESS Street, City State APO Country or, Email, SECTION APPLICANT if other than, ZIP, Phone, APPLICANT MUST SIGN IN ITEM A, name typeprint, and relationship by marking a box, SPOUSE, WIDOW, WIDOWER, NEXT OF KIN, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE, and OTHER specify must be done.

Filling in segment 5 in form 293 military

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