Military DD 214 Question for Military Guys

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Dtrigg

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I recently requested my DD 214 in order to apply for VA health care benfits. Well, I received it yesterday, and it is full of mistakes.

Everything is OK with the exception of awards. These section my DD 214 omits a Silver Star, two of the Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters for valor,a regular Bronze Star, a Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Good Contuct medal, etc. It also omits my PURPOLE HEARTS. That is what's so importaint for VA health care benefits. I really don't care about the other stuff. It does inclued an Air Medal, CIB, Commendation Metal, etc.

Has anyone had to change their DD 214? I have copies of all of the Army documentation (General Orders) that were awarded me all of the medals, so that's not a problem.

Is this going to take me MONTHS or YEARS? Not a problem. I am fine, but I don't have health care insurance. What has been your experience and what do I have to do? Is there an advocate?

Thanks in advance.
 
Your Health care coverage should be in effect regardless what your DD214 says as long as it says Honorable. As far as your awards go, If you do indeed have the ones listed then you should have recieved them in formation or at the very least you should have the warrent with the signed certificate in a green army display booklet. you do realize how many discharges are going thru these days with all the injured Marines and soldiers etc.. I wouldnt expect anything less from the Army for jacking up your 214. Just photo copy all of your awards, find an Army liasion at a local Va hospital and have them submit for a new one, but stay on top of it and dont lose your awards, just in case they screw up again

PS how did you get an air medal with a CIB? I always thought that you had to be physically on the ground to earn the CIB..then again that was years ago I cant recall
 
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Dtrigg said:
I recently requested my DD 214 in order to apply for VA health care benfits. Well, I received it yesterday, and it is full of mistakes.

Everything is OK with the exception of awards. These section my DD 214 omits a Silver Star, two of the Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters for valor,a regular Bronze Star, a Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Good Contuct medal, etc. It also omits my PURPOLE HEARTS. That is what's so importaint for VA health care benefits. I really don't care about the other stuff. It does inclued an Air Medal, CIB, Commendation Metal, etc.

Has anyone had to change their DD 214? I have copies of all of the Army documentation (General Orders) that were awarded me all of the medals, so that's not a problem.

Is this going to take me MONTHS or YEARS? Not a problem. I am fine, but I don't have health care insurance. What has been your experience and what do I have to do? Is there an advocate?

Thanks in advance.
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sorry, can't be of any help here, doug... i was able to keep my original 214 and it's as it should be: says i was a slug and they were glad to be rid of me :)
 
I'll ask my S1 guys about it, but it might take a few days- we're on post deployment leave right now, and I don't know who's still around the shop.

I'll PM you if I come up with anything, but if you find out what you need before I can help, let me know.

Nick
 
Ahhh... 182 days, and then i'll have my DD 214 in my hands, not like i'm keeping track or anything.
 
You've got me beat. April of next year. I'm not going to spend time figuring out how many days that is, though. I'm going to take the same amount of time and figure out how to avoid work until it becomes zero days.

Nick
 
Sarge said:
Your Health care coverage should be in effect regardless what your DD214 says as long as it says Honorable. As far as your awards go, If you do indeed have the ones listed then you should have recieved them in formation or at the very least you should have the warrent with the signed certificate in a green army display booklet. you do realize how many discharges are going thru these days with all the injured Marines and soldiers etc.. I wouldnt expect anything less from the Army for jacking up your 214. Just photo copy all of your awards, find an Army liasion at a local Va hospital and have them submit for a new one, but stay on top of it and dont lose your awards, just in case they screw up again

PS how did you get an air medal with a CIB? I always thought that you had to be physically on the ground to earn the CIB..then again that was years ago I cant recall
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That is ABSOLUTLY NOT TRUE FOR ANY VETERAN READING THIS. Veteran health care benefits are allocated based on the VA budget. They are not able to take care of ALL veterans. If you think your're entitled to healh care benefits because you're a veteran, you're mistaken.

VA health care benefits are based on enrollment prioritory groups. There are eight groups in total and the VA is providing care for the top three groups.

Priority Group One
- Veterans with serviced connected disabilities rated more 50% or more
- Veterans determined by VA to be unemployable due to VA service connected conditions.

Priority Group Two
- Veterans with VA service connected disabilities rated 30% or 40% disabiliting

Priority Group Three
- Veterans who are former POWs
- Veterans awarded the Purple Heart Medal
- Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggraved in the line of duty
- Veterans with VA service connected disabilities rated 10% or 20% disabling

Anything less than that, you're not getting care. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you have to purchase your health care insurance.

Recently discharged combat veterans after November 11, 1998 are entitled to two years of health care services for conditions potentially related to that service to that service for that service for two years following seperation.

That is why I want to correct my DD 214 to reflect my Purple Hearts. I would be eligable to receive VA health care coverage versus purchasing individual insurance. What is that, $12K to $20K per a year?

In answer to your question regarding my Combat Infantry Badge and my Air Medal, I was an Infantry Officer with the 101st Airborne and the 11th Special Forces Group in Viet Nam.

So, the bigger question is how do I fix this thing?
 
I've always heard that getting a 214 changed is a tedious and drawn out experience. Your local VA is the best place to start. I remember a guy who was trying to re-enlist when I enlisted and had to get a discharge code and reason changed (he was given a JRB reason code). When I finished 4 years he was just shipping to AIT.

Good luck, I hope it doesn't take you anywhere near as long as his case.
 
I've met many people who had a messed up DD-214, seems that it's a common occurrence. Mine was messed up too and after months of battling to have it fixed, i just let it go. It literally stressed me out to the point I was feeling ill and couldn't sleep. Just when I'd get to the point that I think I had the right person/group that could help, back to square one. That's when I quit trying. Its a shame that it's so difficult and time consuming to get it done but it hasn't affected me in anyway. When I applied for VA benefits for the GI BILL, they were able to find my correct information for me.
 
I had a couple of medals added after the fact. If you have any of old orders/commendations, etc that indicate which medals you are missing, submit those back to the appropriate agency, they will send you an amended 214. The amendment will list the changes (and they even sent the actual medals) and you will submit the amendment along with the original for any 214 related issues...it took a few months for mine, and it was the Navy...
 
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Energy1 said:
I had a couple of medals added after the fact. If you have any of old orders/commendations, etc that indicate which medals you are missing, submit those back to the appropriate agency, they will send you an amended 214. The amendment will list the changes (and they even sent the actual medals) and you will submit the amendment along with the original for any 214 related issues...it took a few months for mine, and it was the Navy...
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Thanks for the insight. I really don't care about the medals. I just want the Purple Heart added so I am able to apply for healthcare at the VA.
 
My advive is this. Every time a recruit doesent get what he wants or gets his feelings hurt he writes home and has his parents send a letter to their local congressman. Ive seen this happen many times on the Drill Field. Funny how fast those guys will move for a recruit. Maybe you can try and figure out who your local congressman is and send him a certified letter explaining your situation. I really dont think you will get ignored since that would reflect poorly on him if you were to make a public or internet stink about it. I suppose that can be worth a try and perhaps get you the fastest results
 
Dtrigg said:
I recently requested my DD 214 in order to apply for VA health care benfits. omits a Silver Star, two of the Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters for valor,a regular Bronze Star, a Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Good Contuct medal, etc. It also omits my PURPOLE HEARTS. It does inclued an Air Medal, CIB, Commendation Metal, etc.


Thanks in advance.
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It does inclued an Air Medal
Lots of awards and an Air Medal...what action/theater?
 
TomCat said:
It does inclued an Air Medal
Lots of awards and an Air Medal...what action/theater?
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Yes, it includes an Air Medal. Viet Nam. I Corps. Infantry Officer with 101st Airborne and 11th Special Forces Group. Gee, I feel old.:frown:
 
You'll need to get a DD-215. I had to get one too. I got promoted just before getting discharged, and my DD-214 did not reflect that. Just call your old S-1 (admin) section and request it. 215 will show any corrections/changes to your 214.
 
NSXrebel said:
You'll need to get a DD-215. I had to get one too. I got promoted just before getting discharged, and my DD-214 did not reflect that. Just call your old S-1 (admin) section and request it. 215 will show any corrections/changes to your 214.
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I was told I must complete a DD Form 149. I have copies of my general orders for all of my awards. Once I complete the DD 149 I have to attach a copy of my orders and send it to the Army Review Board Agency. They will then send me a new copy of my DD 214.

Oh well. I guess this is going to take a few months to get all of this corrected.
 
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Dtrigg said:
I was told I must complete a DD Form 149. I have copies of my general orders for all of my awards. Once I complete the DD 149 I have to attach a copy of my orders and send it to the Army Review Board Agency. They will then send me a new copy of my DD 214.

Oh well. I guess this is going to take a few months to get all of this corrected.
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Wow that sucks the Army is making you go through all that. The admin Marines at the Group level made no fuss about getting the corrections done.
 
Mine apparently say "HOLY SHIT, put this jackass in the Marines" because the damn recruiter has been riding my ass since he got his hands on it.
Apparently "I have obligations through the end of the year" is one of those phrases they're taught to not hear.
 
queenlives said:
not old, seasoned.

and, congrats - we survived :)
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:biggrin::biggrin: Thanks Hal.

I've been reading some posts on line regarding having a DD 214 corrected. Some of the posters said it was taking them a year or a year and a half to get the corrected document. :frown::confused:
 
Dtrigg said:
VA health care benefits are based on enrollment priority groups. There are eight groups in total and the VA is providing care for the top three groups.
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I'm like in Priority group 7 and I get limited care. A yearly physical and medication really cheap if I need it, (Which I don't at this stage of my life). I have gotten x-rays, ultra sounds and colon scope. It costs me like $15 for each visit.
 
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