We always aim to provide feedback on the discharge review boards after a personal appearance. The composition of the board changes regularly and success can sometimes be personality dependent on the membership of the board. On 7 November, Mr. Pristera represented a former Army National Guard NCO in a request for a discharge upgrade. The NCO was mobilized...

In recent months, this firm has seen an uptick in the number of marijuana cases in the military. Marijuana is increasingly available as states across the country decriminalize the drug. CONTACT US! The military, however, maintains a zero-tolerance attitude towards illegal drugs of any kind. As edible marijuana products become more popular, the risk of...

On 8 June, our firm reported that the Secretary of the Navy was issuing new guidelines for processing cases involving medical evaluation boards and misconduct.CONTACT US! ​We wrote:”Previously a service member’s misconduct took precedence over diagnosed mental health conditions when considering separation, which impacted the veteran’s ability to receive benefits. Now, if it contributed to...

The Secretary of the Navy has announced a new administrative separation policy for Sailors and Marines with PTSD and TBI. In the past, misconduct often took precedence over mental health conditions. Previously a service member’s misconduct took precedence over diagnosed mental health conditions when considering separation, which impacted the veteran’s ability to receive benefits. Now, if...

I had the pleasure of representing a fine young Marine before the Naval Discharge Review Board today. We got some good intel on the current board members. We were brought in for the personal appearance only. For many service members with adverse discharges, they simply are not economically able to afford civilian counsel. Over the last...

Most people going through the discharge review have a lot of questions. The Air Force Discharge Review Board process can be difficult. The process is slow. Personnel on the board can be difficult to contact. Andrews AFB can be challenging with their base security. The whole process can have uncertainty when you’re not represented by...

Mr. Conway finished two Army Discharge Review Board hearings today. I’ve always written that success before the ADRB can be highly personality driven. The composition of the various boards (Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) change regularly. We rarely have two boards with exactly the same composition – though we see...