Fill Out DD Form 293 Online
Application for the Review of Discharge From the Armed Forces of the United States
U.S. Department of Defense
Asks a Discharge Review Board to review and upgrade the characterization or reason for a military discharge.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
- 2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
- 3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
DD Form 293 is the Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States. Veterans use it to ask their branch's Discharge Review Board to change the characterization of their discharge, for example from general to honorable, or to change the narrative reason for separation.
The application itself is short, but the statement and evidence behind it decide the outcome. You can draft the DD 293 in the Universal PDF editor, revise your answers as your case comes together, and download a finished PDF to mail to the board.
What is DD Form 293 used for
Each military department runs a Discharge Review Board that reexamines discharges for propriety and equity. A successful review can change how your service is characterized or the stated reason you were separated, both of which appear on the DD Form 214 that employers and agencies ask to see.
Common requests on DD 293 include:
- Upgrading a general or other than honorable discharge
- Changing the narrative reason for separation and the related separation code
- Reviews that raise matters such as mental health conditions, traumatic brain injury, or experiences of assault or harassment connected to the discharge
Who can apply with DD Form 293
Former members may apply within 15 years of the date of discharge. If the veteran is deceased or incapacitated, a surviving spouse, next of kin, or legal representative can apply on their behalf.
Two important limits shape where a case goes. Discharges issued by a general court-martial are outside DRB authority, and cases older than 15 years are too. Both of those situations go instead to the Board for Correction of Military Records using DD Form 149.
How to fill out DD Form 293
Request your service records first if you do not have them, since the board will review your file alongside your application. Then work through the form:
- Your identifying information, branch, and the discharge you want reviewed
- The specific change you are requesting, stated plainly
- Whether you want a documentary review of the records or a personal appearance hearing before the board
- Your issues and supporting statement explaining why the discharge was improper or inequitable
- A list of enclosures, such as post service records, character evidence, and treatment records
- Counsel or representative information if a veterans service organization or attorney is helping you, and your signature
Where to send it
Mail the completed application to the Discharge Review Board for your branch at the address listed in the current form instructions. Keep a full copy of the application and every enclosure.
Accredited veterans service organizations can help you prepare the case at no obligation. Confirm you have the current edition of the form with the board or the official DoD forms site before submitting.
Frequently asked questions
It can change the characterization of service, such as upgrading a general discharge to honorable, and it can change the narrative reason for separation. It cannot review discharges from a general court-martial, and it does not decide veterans benefits.
The DRB can only review discharges within 15 years of separation. Older cases go to your branch's Board for Correction of Military Records using DD Form 149 instead.
A documentary review decides the case on the written record, while a personal appearance lets you address the board directly. You can choose either on the form, and many applicants start with a records review since an unfavorable result can sometimes be followed by a hearing request. A representative can help you weigh the options for your situation.
No, but you may name counsel or an accredited representative on the form, and many veterans work with a veterans service organization when preparing the application and evidence.
Yes. Open the PDF in the Universal PDF editor, type your answers and statement, then download the completed file to print, sign, and mail with your supporting documents.
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