The number one delay we encounter in being able to submit a request to upgrade a military discharge is lack of appropriate documents. So what documents do you need to begin the process?
- DD 214 (NGB Form 22 if National Guard or separation orders if discharged from the Reserve Component)
- Case File for Approved Separation
Most Veterans have their DD 214 or equivalent document. However, most do not have their case separation file which is the packet sent between members of your chain-of-command containing the evidence used against you during the separation process, your Election of Rights, medical documentation (sometimes), the recommendation of your commanders and the final decision by the Separation Authority. If you do not have these documents, I highly recommend you try to find them now. If you were recently discharged by the military, your unit, the installation Staff Judge Advocate or the Transition Center may still have your case separation file. If not, there are a couple different ways to obtain your records. If you have a DS Logon, this is the easiest way:
You’ll need to sign in to milConnect to get your military service records: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/
To use this feature, you’ll need a DS Logon account. Your My HealtheVet or ID.me credentials won’t work on the milConnect website.
To obtain a DS Logon, Veterans, their family members and/or dependents have the option to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through Ask VA at https://ask.va.gov/ to work through the process of having their identity vetted and added to DEERS, if needed
Go to https://ask.va.gov/
Click on “Create Account/Sign in to start your message”
Click “Register for Sign-In Partner”
Click the next buttons and eventually you will reach “Register for DS Logon”
Click “Accept”
This link is sometimes nonfunctional (only the best for the VA)
OR
Click “Sign in with DS Logon”
Click “Accept”
Click “Create New Account”
Click the situation that applies to you and enter the information requested.
Remote Proofing –All documents must be U.S. issued and cannot be expired. Users will need to register for a DSL by selecting “Create New Account” and select “Remote Identity Proofing: I do not have a valid DoD ID card or CAC and will need to remote proof to verify my identity.” This will take you to the DSL remote identity proofing procedures. Review the Remote Proofing PRIOR to starting as there are specific items needed for remote proofing. Identity Proofing can take up to 10 minutes.
Users experiencing any issues with the other credentials on VA web sites, DMDC’s CCC will not be able to assist the user with any other credential. The user will need to contact the VA and/or the credential helpdesk that was used. Ask VA https://ask.va.gov/ can be used for further assistance
You’ll need to sign in to milConnect to get your military service records: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/
Follow these steps to submit a military records request.
- From your signed-in homepage, click or tap on Retrieve My Correspondence.
- Select Defense Personnel Records Information (DPRIS) from the drop-down menu under Correspondence/Documentation.
- Select Request My Personnel File.
- Fill out the form. In the Document Index section, check the boxes next to the document(s) you’d like to request.
- Click or tap on the Create and Send Request button.
If you cannot go through milConnect, you can submit a request through archives.gov at: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Archives.gov is notoriously slow when it comes to providing documents and it may take up to 18 months to get your request.
There is, of course, more bad news. When it comes to uploading documents into your Official Military Personnel File, the military does not always do their job. Your request for documents may come back with no documents found. I would estimate that about 20% of Veterans do not have their case file for approved separation loaded into their OMPF and about 1% are missing their DD 214. You can proceed with a discharge upgrade request without these documents, but your chances of success go down significantly. When I sat on the Army’s Discharge Review Board and an applicant did not have a copy of their case separation file and we could not see it in their OMPF, we called it a “NIF” case which means “Not In File”. We would have no idea why you were discharged and it is very difficult to get upgraded when the severity of misconduct cannot be determined.
My best advice it that you gather all your documents now.