Posted on Mar 21, 2018
It has been 6 years since I have been discharged from the Army with a BCD. Am I eligible for an upgrade yet?
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Posted in these groups: 
Discharge
Benefits Advisor
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
SuicidePrevention
Discharge Benefits Advisor Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) SuicidePrevention
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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its unfortunate that stupid decisions follow you forever.....no you got off easy best of luck
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SPC Robert Stowell
Im confused how did i get off easy?
I got back from iraq in 2010 with a cab. Experienced a light firefight while in a tower, stopped a group of propane tanks daisied together from coming onto fob warhorse in 2009, the gunline i occypied was mortared weekly/bi weekly. My unit was ruthless to me for having mental health problems afterwards, and my friends and other experienced the same abuse. Then, my best friend who i was in the tower with on my deployment cpmes home, same prpblems as me and blows his brains out. OUR unit perpetuated this shit.
I got back from iraq in 2010 with a cab. Experienced a light firefight while in a tower, stopped a group of propane tanks daisied together from coming onto fob warhorse in 2009, the gunline i occypied was mortared weekly/bi weekly. My unit was ruthless to me for having mental health problems afterwards, and my friends and other experienced the same abuse. Then, my best friend who i was in the tower with on my deployment cpmes home, same prpblems as me and blows his brains out. OUR unit perpetuated this shit.
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Judging by your tags, there is another approach I haven't seen mentioned yet from a VA perspective.
That BCD means a conviction by Special or General Court Marshall, and it means that you did something bad enough to earn it.
HOWEVER
There are situations where the VA can make a finding that your conduct was caused by something in service and they give you something called an HVA - Honorable for VA purposes.
You give no details, so I will use a parable to explain this.
Let's say you deploy and get a TBI, and that leads to alcoholism. Your abuse of alcohol causes missed formations and discipline issues, culminating in a missed movement and additional charges. The CoC throws the book at you, thinking you are a ragbag that needs to go away. You refuse an Article 15 and the case goes to SCM, where you are found guilty and sentenced to 6 months confinement and a BCD.
If you can show the link between the conduct and the TBI, you have a fighting chance for a HVA finding an eligibility for treatment and Compensation - which I gather is the objective here.
That BCD means a conviction by Special or General Court Marshall, and it means that you did something bad enough to earn it.
HOWEVER
There are situations where the VA can make a finding that your conduct was caused by something in service and they give you something called an HVA - Honorable for VA purposes.
You give no details, so I will use a parable to explain this.
Let's say you deploy and get a TBI, and that leads to alcoholism. Your abuse of alcohol causes missed formations and discipline issues, culminating in a missed movement and additional charges. The CoC throws the book at you, thinking you are a ragbag that needs to go away. You refuse an Article 15 and the case goes to SCM, where you are found guilty and sentenced to 6 months confinement and a BCD.
If you can show the link between the conduct and the TBI, you have a fighting chance for a HVA finding an eligibility for treatment and Compensation - which I gather is the objective here.
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Why do you want to upgrade? There is a reason you got the BCD. You also accepted it. Bennies are for those who made it honorably.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
I see where you're headed with this Jason, "I was drunk the day my Momma got out of prison, and my dog got run over by a truck....". Country lyrics usually involve bad stuff happening etc.
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GySgt Bill Smith
CWO3 (Join to see) - LOL, I can see the connection you made with that. But, I was curious if he was a country singer because there really is a country singer with the same name.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
GySgt Bill Smith - OK, I'm pretty out of touch with Country. Stars when I was a kid were real Country. Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and more.
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https://www.thebalance.com/upgrading-your-military-discharge-3331982
You have a 15 year time frame from Discharge to apply so if it has been 6 yrs you have only Nine left, Form 293 can be found online and down loaded A stop at a local Library search it and Print it follow the instructions both front and back be matriculate triple check every thing.
I am only answering your question it is not for me to Judge, so I am just providing information.
Would Help if some other folks on RP would learn to answer questions instead of bashing some one when all the details and facts are not present.
stay safe!
You have a 15 year time frame from Discharge to apply so if it has been 6 yrs you have only Nine left, Form 293 can be found online and down loaded A stop at a local Library search it and Print it follow the instructions both front and back be matriculate triple check every thing.
I am only answering your question it is not for me to Judge, so I am just providing information.
Would Help if some other folks on RP would learn to answer questions instead of bashing some one when all the details and facts are not present.
stay safe!
Is it Possible to Upgrade Your Military Discharge?
Want to know how to upgrade your military discharge? Use this review to get tips on the process, including when to apply and where to turn for help.
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