
The DD Form 257 is the form used to award a "general, under honorable conditions" discharge for reserve service. So it seems you were in the reserves, and were separated early (prior to the end of your contract)
When is a DD Form 256 or DD Form 257 valid?
* A DD Form 256 or DD Form 257 must indicate a period of active duty service dates to be a valid document for eligibility determination purposes. ** Valid only if active duty service dates are indicated.
What is an honorable discharge certificate (DD 256a)?
• Look at the pattern of behavior, not isolated incidents. • Soldier receives DD Form 256A, Honorable Discharge Certificate. • Usually required if the Government introduces limited use information from the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) during discharge proceedings.
What do you need to know about DD214?
The DD Form 214 is a summary of a soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The DD Form 214 isnot intended to have any legal effect on termination of a soldier’s service.
What are the different types of military discharge documents?
Veterans Military Discharge Documents Form Title DD 2NOAA Armed Forces Identification Card (Active ... DD 2 (Retired) US Uniformed Services Identification Car ... DD 13 Statement of Service DD 214 *** Certificate of Release or Discharge from ... 41 more rows ...
What is a DD 214?
How many copies of a form must be legible?

What is a DD 257N?
DD 257N * General Discharge Certificate. DD 303. Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge.
What is the difference between a DD-214 and dd256?
Guard and Reserve members who complete their term of service are issued a DD Form 256 (Honorable Discharge Certificate) or DD Form 257 (General Discharge Certificate) upon completion of their term. If you were activated while part of the Reserves, then you should have a DD Form 214.
Are you a veteran if you have a dd256?
The DD 256 and 257 are issued when the person has not met the active duty requirements to be considered a veteran by the DoD. But having a DD214 form doesn't automatically mean you are a veteran!
What benefits do you get with a general discharge under honorable conditions?
Accordingly, veterans with an Honorable Discharge are entitled to all VA benefits, including applicable disability compensation, educational, healthcare, and vocational benefits.
Does having a DD214 make you a veteran?
Since the DD Form 214 is issued to those leaving the active military as well as to members of the National Guard and Reserves completing their initial active duty for training, possession of this document does not necessarily mean the student is a veteran.
How many years do you have to serve to be a veteran?
Service members must have served a minimum of 24 months of active duty to be considered a veteran. If the service member becomes disabled because of their time in the service, there is no minimum length of service to qualify for VA benefits.
Are you a veteran if you were discharged in basic training?
If a member of the armed forces was discharged during basic training for medical reasons, they are still considered a veteran for Federal student aid purposes so long as they served at least one day before being discharged.
Can spouse of veteran get VA health care?
If you're the spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or family caregiver of a Veteran or service member, you may qualify for health care benefits. In certain cases, you may also qualify for health care benefits due to a disability related to your Veteran's service. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
Does 6 years in the National Guard make you a veteran?
Does 6 years in the National Guard make you a veteran? Yes, if you spent at least 180 days of that 6 years deployed on federal active duty orders.
What are the consequences of a general discharge?
A service member that receives a General discharge (Under Honorable Conditions) may not receive certain benefits including: participation in the GI Bill, service on veterans' commissions, and other programs for which an honorable discharge is required, but is eligible for VA disability and most other benefits.
What disqualifies you from VA benefits?
If you've received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, you may not be eligible for VA benefits.
Can I upgrade my general discharge to honorable?
Can I Get a Discharge Upgrade? You can apply to the Discharge Review Board (DRB) of your branch of the service for a discharge upgrade or a change in the discharge reason (that is, character of service).
What qualifies you as a veteran?
§ 101(2) provides: The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (E) authorized travel to or from such duty or service.
How do you prove you are a veteran?
Here are a few common methods veterans can use to verify military service:Military ID Card (active duty, National Guard, Reserves, IRR, or retiree). ... VA Issued ID Card for Health Care.Veterans ID Card (starting Nov. ... Veterans Designation on Drivers License or State Veterans ID Card (almost all states now offer this)More items...•
What are the different veteran status?
Under VEVRAA, a veteran may be classified as a ''disabled veteran,'' ''recently separated veteran,'' ''active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran,'' or ''Armed Forces service medal veteran. ''
How do you spot a veteran?
Common Identifiers Tattoos are very common within the veteran population: Memorial tattoos among veterans and families, as well as “meat tag” tattoos—a tattooed copy of vital identifying information. Clothing, pins, or bumper stickers can identify the veteran's branch and/or unit.
Personnel Separations Separation Processing and Documents
1. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations.
DD Form 214, Discharge Papers and Separation Documents
A Report of Separation is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of active duty training. The Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veterans' organizations.
Personnel Separations Separation Documents - DD214
1–9. Commanders of major Army commands Commanders of major Army commands will— a. Monitor separation documents and provide policy direction/guidance to subordinate installation commanders.
What You Should Know About Chapter 5, AR 635-200 - Seperation For the ...
Title: What You Should Know About Chapter 5, AR 635-200 - Seperation For the Convenience of the Government Author: allen.sivley Created Date: 11/6/2008 8:37:50 AM
Army Publishing Directorate
Army Publishing Directorate
DD FORM 214, CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY
Personnel Services Delivery Guide (PSD) – TFSC 2 Dec 2014 2 Delivery Timelines of DD Form 214: IAW AFI 36-3202, paragraph 10.1., the DD Form 214 is the document that separates a member from the AF (Title 10, U.S.C., section 1168 and paragraph 14), or ARC members.
What is DD 256?
A Form DD 256 is a certificate of honorable discharge utilized by the U.S. Department of Defense and the different branches of military service. An honorable discharge occurs when a service person successfully completes a term of duty with one of the military branches.
What is the difference between a DD-214 and a DD-214?
Another key difference between the DD-256 & the DD-214/NGB-22 is that it is only issued after the completion of the entire service contract whereas a DD-214 and/or NGB-22 are often issued while the military service member still has an ongoing obligation to the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) ...
Do National Guardsmen get DD-214?
National Guardsmen/women receive usually receive a Form DD-214 or NGB-22 as a final discharge if the unit was activated. Traditional Reservists, those that served their entire contract without an activation, will not have received a DD-214 except for the one they received at the completion of their initial military training (boot camp, ...
What is a DD 214?
The DD Form 214 is a summary of a soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief , clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The DD Form 214 isnot intended to have any legal effect on termination of a soldier’s service.
How many copies of a form must be legible?
The information on all eight copies of the form must be legible. Each block of the form must have an entry; whendata is not applicable, enter “NA,” “NONE” or hyphens, as appropriate. Avoid abbreviations whenever possible, sincethe form is often used by civilian organizations.
