Half-Hour Form Gets Facelift for Veterans' Discharge Appeals
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Defense is updating the form veterans use to ask for a review of their military discharge. About 4,800 former service members fill out this form each year, which takes about 30 minutes. If you want to comment on these changes, you have until January 15, 2026, to speak up—no cost involved, just your voice!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
15‑Year Deadline to Appeal Discharge
Under the rules cited, former service members must file an appeal of an administrative discharge within 15 years from the date of separation to challenge the characterization or reason for separation. The DD Form 293 is the form used to make that appeal to the Discharge Review Boards.
Updated DD Form 293 — who files and how
About 4,835 former service members fill out the DD Form 293 each year to ask for a review of their military discharge. The form takes about 30 minutes to complete, is voluntary, and can be submitted online by email, through a secure portal, or by mail in either electronic or paper format. The form lets you explain why the discharge was unfair, name counsel of choice, and pick the hearing method you want.
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The Department of Defense is asking for approval to collect new info using special forms that let them check financial and health records during background checks. This affects about 3,500 people and helps keep government jobs and secrets safe. You’ve got until January 15, 2026, to share your thoughts, and filling out the form takes just 5 minutes!