Discharge Appeal Review Board

April 26, 2021

The Discharge Appeal Review Board (DARB) was established in April of 2021. The Air Force is the lead agency for the Board. The Board is limited to reviewing upgrade requests for character of service as documented in Block 24 of a DD Form 214. Veterans must first have exhausted all other appeals, such as applications to the Discharge Review Board and/or the Board of Corrections for Military/Naval Records.

The Discharge Appeal Review Board does not allow a Veteran to submit additional records or appear in person. Essentially, the board is established to review a Veteran's previous application to the Board of Corrections for Military/Naval Records, regarding character of service. Only Veterans discharged after 20 December 2019 may apply. For Veterans discharged between 20 December 2019 and 31 December 2020, an application must be filed on or before 1 January 2022 or within 365 days after receipt of the Board of Corrections for Military/Naval Records decision, whichever is later. For any discharge after 1 January 2021, an application must be filed within 365 calendar days of the date of receipt of the Board of Corrections for Military/Naval Records decision.

If the Veteran has new information to submit that wasn't included in his/her previous application to the Board of Corrections for Military/Naval Records, then he/she needs ask for reconsideration of his/her previous case, or submit an application to the Discharge Appeal Review Board without the new information.

A Veteran can apply either electronically or by mail. ONLY the following information is needed to apply:

Full name of Veteran, and proof of status or relationship if applicant is someone other than Veteran
Mailing address
Phone number
Email address
The Board of Corrections for Military/Naval Records Case Number and, if possible, a copy of the discharge upgrade or denial letter
If submitting by mail, a signature

Applications can be mailed to:

Air Force Review Boards Agency, SAF/MRBD (DARB), 3351 Celmers Lane, Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762-6435

Applications can be emailed to: saf.mr.darb@us.af.mil

More information can be obtained at this link.

This article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents clients worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.