DoD Directive 1332.41

Department of Defense

DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 1332.41
March 8, 2004

USD(P&R)

SUBJECT: Boards for Correction of Military Records (BCMRs) and Discharge Review
Boards (DRBs)
References: (a) DoD Directive 1332.28, "Discharge Review Board (DRB) Procedures
and Standards," August 11, 1982 (hereby canceled)
(b) DoD Instruction 1336.6, "Correction of Military Records," December
28, 1994 (hereby canceled)
(c) Sections 1413(a), 1552, 1553, 1556, and 1557 of title 10, United
States Code
1. PURPOSE
This Directive:
1.1. Cancels reference (a) and replaces reference (b).
1.2. Assigns responsibilities for administering discharge review boards (DRBs) and
for correcting any military record of the Military Department when the Secretary
concerned deems necessary in accordance with reference (c).
1.3. Establishes uniform policies for the review of discharges or dismissals under
reference (c).
2. APPLICABILITY
The provisions of this Directive apply to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD),
the Military Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant
Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the
Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the

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Department of Defense (hereafter referred to as "the DoD Components"). The term,
"Military Services," as used herein, refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the
Marine Corps.
3. POLICY
It is DoD policy that:
3.1. Procedures established by the Secretaries of the Military Departments for the
correction of military records and for the review of discharges and dismissals must
conform to the requirements of reference (c) and this Directive.
3.2. Military Department policy governing the operation and conduct of boards for
the correction of military records and boards for review of discharges or dismissals
shall state the scope of each board's authority and, at a minimum, require that:
3.2.1. The boards consider applications individually and fashion relief
appropriate to the facts and circumstances of each case.
3.2.2. Applications be submitted by the individual seeking relief or by an
appropriate representative as defined in reference (c), as applicable.
3.2.3. Before granting relief, sufficient evidence justifying the relief must be
on the record or provided by the applicant. Relief shall be denied if there is
insufficient material evidence in the record or provided by the applicant to warrant
relief.
3.3. Combat-Related Special Compensation.
3.3.1. In considering an application for combat-related special compensation
under reference (c), the Boards for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) shall seek
an advisory opinion from the Director of Compensation, Office of the Deputy Under
Secretary of Defense (Military Personnel Policy) (ODUSD/MPP).
3.3.2. The BCMRs shall provide the ODUSD/MPP a copy of any final
decision concerning an application for combat-related special compensation.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1. The Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (USD(P&R)) shall:

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4.1.1. Resolve all issues concerning DRBs that are not resolved by the
Military Departments.
4.1.2. Ensure uniformity among the Military Departments in the rights
afforded applicants in discharge reviews.
4.1.3. Review and approve procedures prescribed by the Secretaries of the
Military Departments for correction of military records under the authority of
reference (c).
4.2. The Secretaries of the Military Departments have the authority for final
decision and the responsibility for the operation of their respective BCMRs and DRBs
under reference (c).
4.2.1. The Secretary concerned shall prescribe procedures for the correction
of military records and obtain approval of such procedures in accordance with this
Directive. Additionally, the Secretary concerned shall maintain a permanent record of
each procedure approval.
4.2.2. The Secretary of each Military Department shall ensure that an applicant
seeking corrective action by the Department's BCMR or DRB is provided a copy of all
correspondence to or from the agency or board with an entity or person outside the
agency or board in accordance with reference (c). Any administrative correspondence
or military record that is or may be provided to the applicant by the Military Department
or other source need not be provided to the applicant.
4.2.3. The Secretary of each Military Department shall ensure that the time
standards for disposition of applications before the BCMRs are met, in accordance with
reference (c).
4.3. The Secretary of the Army shall:
4.3.1. Serve as the designated DoD Lead and DoD-wide focal point for
administrative matters regarding DRBs.
4.3.2. Review suggested modifications to this Directive, including
implementing documents; monitor the implementing documents of the other Military
Departments; resolve differences, when practicable; recommend specific changes;
provide supporting rationale to the USD(P&R) for decision; and submit appropriate
documentation through the USD(P&R) and the OSD Federal Register liaison officer to
effect publication in the Federal Register.

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4.3.3. Maintain the DD Form 293, "Application for the Review of Discharge or
Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States," and DD Form 149, "Application
for Correction of Military Records Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code,
Section 1552," and republish them as necessary after appropriate coordination with the
other Military Departments, the USD(P&R), and the Office of Management and Budget.
4.3.4. Respond to all inquiries from private individuals, organizations, or
public officials with regard to DRB matters. When a specific Military Service can be
identified, refer such correspondence to the appropriate DRB for response or designate
an appropriate activity to perform this task.
4.3.5. Provide overall guidance and supervision to the DoD Boards' Electronic
Reading Room and the Reading Room Library. The DoD Electronic Reading Room's
website is located at and shall contain all the decisional
documents since 1996 for each Department's boards and application forms for
complainants to download electronically. The DoD Reading Room Library shall consist
of microfiche records of the decisional documents for each Department's boards from
1976 through 1996 and be maintained by the Office of the Secretary of the Army.
Notice of the location, hours of operation, and similar types of information regarding
the Reading Room Library shall be published in the Federal Register.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Directive is effective immediately.

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