Administrative Discharge Reviews

The type of discharge you receive from the military can permanently affect your life. It can mean the loss of service-related benefits, including college money under the GI Bill, VA benefits, and separation/severance pay. Your discharge also affects your civilian job opportunities. If you are being administratively separated from the military, David Sheldon will fight to obtain the best outcome for you, whether that is retention in your service or separation with an honorable or general discharge.

In an administrative separation, you have the right to an Administrative Discharge Board if you have been on active duty for at least six years OR if your command is seeking to separate you with an other than honorable (OTH) discharge. Mr. Sheldon will explain your options to you and represent you before the Administrative Discharge Board. He will:

Investigate the command’s case. To challenge the discharge, you need complete information about the command’s case. David Sheldon will determine the facts and arguments that were the basis of the command’s decision and find out where its case is weak or unfounded.

Collect evidence and call witnesses on your behalf. Your challenge depends on complete evidence, especially documents, photographs, and testimony that the command has overlooked. David Sheldon will identify the material and call the witnesses that can strengthen your case.

Cross-examine government witnesses. Damaging testimony by government witnesses often tells only party of the story. An effective cross-examination of government witnesses is critical to exposing the facts that support your challenge and showing the weaknesses in the command’s case. David Sheldon knows the right questions to ask to show your record in the best possible light.

Prepare you to make a statement to the board. Your statement to the board provides your best opportunity to set the record straight. You will need strong guidance to be sure your statement focuses on the most important facts that support your challenge. David Sheldon will help you make a statement that presents the key facts—and prepare you to deliver your statement in the most effective way.

Appeal adverse decisions. If the Administrative Discharge Board rules against you, you have the right to appeal an adverse decision to the command level. If your case is strong, Mr. Sheldon will fight for your appeal.

Examples of David Sheldon’s Results:

Navy CDR retained after show cause board where accused was alleged to have smoked marijuana.

Army LTC retained after dirty urinalysis; board finds chain of custody was altered and procedures for taking sample were violated.