Unlocking Benefits: Veterans Seek Discharge Upgrades for Access to Services
For civilians, the military experience holds certain aspects veiled from view, but for veterans of the nation, the status of their discharge can determine whether they receive the full range of post-service benefits or none at all.
While many are familiar with the concept of honorable discharges, which grant access to comprehensive Veteran Affairs hospital benefits, those who receive less-than-honorable discharges find themselves without such support. Lindsey Geihsler, chief counsel with Koch Industries, highlights this disparity:
"A lot of people may not know — I didn’t know before I started doing this work — if you don’t get an honorable discharge, if you get other-than-honorable, you don’t get access to that."
Geihsler and a team of lawyers gathered in Atlanta to offer pro bono assistance to veterans seeking to upgrade their discharge status, recognizing that for many, it's not just about accessing benefits but also about reclaiming pride and overcoming the stigma associated with leaving the service with a less-than-honorable discharge.
It's important to note that receiving a less-than-honorable discharge doesn't necessarily imply wrongdoing; it can stem from minor disciplinary issues, medical discharges, or even from policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Geihsler acknowledges the emotional toll this can take on veterans: "There’s maybe some stigma, maybe there is some shame that they have, maybe they don’t have as much pride in their service because they have this less-than-honorable discharge."
However, the process of upgrading a discharge is challenging and time-consuming, often requiring representation by an attorney. Geihsler emphasizes:
"It’s a lengthy process, you have to go in front of military boards, it often takes a year or more. It’s hard, it doesn’t work for a large portion of people, and that’s why we just think it’s really worthy to devote our time to help."
For veterans unable to attend such events, Geihsler recommends reaching out to organizations like the Veteran’s Consortium, which provide resources such as discharge upgrades free of charge.
While many are familiar with the concept of honorable discharges, which grant access to comprehensive Veteran Affairs hospital benefits, those who receive less-than-honorable discharges find themselves without such support. Lindsey Geihsler, chief counsel with Koch Industries, highlights this disparity:
"A lot of people may not know — I didn’t know before I started doing this work — if you don’t get an honorable discharge, if you get other-than-honorable, you don’t get access to that."
Geihsler and a team of lawyers gathered in Atlanta to offer pro bono assistance to veterans seeking to upgrade their discharge status, recognizing that for many, it's not just about accessing benefits but also about reclaiming pride and overcoming the stigma associated with leaving the service with a less-than-honorable discharge.
It's important to note that receiving a less-than-honorable discharge doesn't necessarily imply wrongdoing; it can stem from minor disciplinary issues, medical discharges, or even from policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Geihsler acknowledges the emotional toll this can take on veterans: "There’s maybe some stigma, maybe there is some shame that they have, maybe they don’t have as much pride in their service because they have this less-than-honorable discharge."
However, the process of upgrading a discharge is challenging and time-consuming, often requiring representation by an attorney. Geihsler emphasizes:
"It’s a lengthy process, you have to go in front of military boards, it often takes a year or more. It’s hard, it doesn’t work for a large portion of people, and that’s why we just think it’s really worthy to devote our time to help."
For veterans unable to attend such events, Geihsler recommends reaching out to organizations like the Veteran’s Consortium, which provide resources such as discharge upgrades free of charge.
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