Discharge Upgrade - First Step Video - Request Military Records

How to Begin the Process of a Military Discharge Upgrade

If you’re considering pursuing a military discharge upgrade, it’s crucial to start the process by obtaining your complete military record. This step ensures that you have all the necessary documentation that the review board will examine when deciding on your request.

Step 1: Request Your Military Record

To get started, you’ll need to download and fill out Standard Form 180 (SF-180), the official form used to request military records. Once you have the form, pay close attention to the instructions at the bottom, as they will guide you on where to send it based on when and where you were discharged. This information is vital for ensuring your request is directed to the correct location.

Step 2: Gather All Relevant Documents

Even if you believe you have most of your military records, it’s essential to submit the SF-180. There may be additional documents in your official file that you don’t possess, and these could be critical to your case. Having a comprehensive understanding of what the board will review allows you to build a stronger argument for your discharge upgrade.

Step 3: Review Your Records Thoroughly

Once you receive your complete military record, take the time to review every document carefully. The discharge review board will look at the same records, so it’s imperative that you know exactly what’s in your file. Being aware of all the details and potential issues beforehand will help you better prepare your case.

Why This Step is Crucial

The importance of this initial step cannot be overstated. Your military record is the foundation of your discharge upgrade request. Missing documents or unexpected information could weaken your case, so it’s in your best interest to be as thorough and prepared as possible.

In summary, before submitting your discharge upgrade request, make sure you’ve done your homework by obtaining and reviewing your full military record. This preparation will give you the best chance of presenting a compelling case to the board.

Video Transcript – Discharge Upgrade – 1st Step

If you’re seeking a discharge upgrade, the first thing you want to do is to request you military record.  So download SF-180 and fill it out and look at the bottom where it shows you, depending on when you were discharged, where you need to call or send that form into, in order to get your military record.  Even if you have most of your military record after you were discharged, you want to reach out, because there might be documents in there that you do not have and when you submit for a discharge upgrade you want to know exactly what the board is going to look at and they are going to look at those archived military records so it is imperative that you receive those and review those before submitting a discharge upgrade.