Meh…
I’m in the middle of an interesting situation WRT changing states and getting new tags and a new driver’s license. It seems that a DD-214 that shows I’m retired gets me a USN Retired plate in Texas…
BUT…
It will NOT get me a veteran’s notation on my driver’s license!
From the Texas DPS web page HERE,
A Texas driver license or ID card may be provided free-of-charge to a veteran of the United States Armed Forces if the veteran:
- Was honorably discharged
- Has a service-related disability of at least 60 percent
- Receives compensation from the United States because of the disability
The local DL office is hanging their hats on NOT giving me the veteran’s designation because my RETIRED DD-214 does not say honorable retirement…
Really???
Soooo… I talk to the local manager, and he won’t budge. Saying if it doesn’t say honorable on the DD-214, no veteran’s designation. He even questioned whether I should get a retired plate! When I tried to question the discrepancy, he told me words to the effect that I could call my legislator and get the law changed, or go back to the Navy and get a ‘corrected copy’ of a 1992 DD-214!!!
You can bet your ass I’ll be making some phone calls tomorrow!
Gah…
Do these drones not understand that retired DD-214s don’t say honorably retired? Does anyone of my readers actually have a retired DD-214 that says honorable???
Just curious…
Grumble…
If I thought it would do any good, I’d put the guy’s name and office number out and ask for help, but it’s apparent he’s wrapped himself in the mantle of ‘Rules and Regulations state’, and he’s not budging out of his ‘comfort’ zone there…
Edit- Apparently I was given the WRONG version of the DD-214 when I retired… I got the short form, NOT the members form… Thanks to Peter for pointing out that there ‘should’ be blocks numbered up to 30. Mine ends at 21…
Sigh… Now filling out forms for a replacement form.
Writing to his superiors does work.
Dad separated in the 70s after 26 yrs USMC. He passed away Memorial Day 2011 after lengthy multiple illness. In the midst of her grieving she had to deal with red tape you cannot imagine. Being a writer helped tremendously in her campaign to iron out the wrinkles then to ferret out incompetence. Mom prevailed and yes, a few heads did roll. Alright mom!
This crap with this one office with this one self-absorbed buffoon is only the beginning. Do not make the error of thinking your service prepared you for the ever more inane bureaucracy in your future. Do not let these bozos remain insulated from the obligation of their office.
Old NOFO double check that you have the correct copy.
Had a similar problem myself. Most of the copies of the DD 214 have a blank space on the bottom which is we’re the type of separation is listed. I know that “Member-4″ has blocks 23-30 which list 23 type o separation ” voluntary retirement, and 24 character of service “honorable. I am still having problems because I have the other copies that keep turning up.
Hope this helps
Peter Zukowski MSGt USAF Ret.
Check your DD 214 copy “Member-4” has blocks 23-30 on the bottom, not all of the copies do. 23 “type of separation” and 24 “character of service”.
All the rest have a blank space about an inch on the bottom of the first page.
Peter Zukowski USAF Ret.
It’s easy to take it out on the pencil pusher, NFO. But if he is toeing the line you have to too. He isn’t the problem, the regs are the problem.
It might be a worthwhile retirement project. Hmmmmm. Could the case be made that the State is insinuating that you were not honourably discharged with the enforcement of these regs as they now stand? And if so, does that not constitute grounds for a defamation suit? Unless, of course, the State wants to settle out of court by changing its regs so that the perks are withheld only from soldiers that have been dishonourably discharged…
You just need to request a honorable discharge certificate from the Navy Personnel Command. DD-214 does not show honorable.
Here is the web address http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/recordsmanagement/Pages/DischCert.aspx
Was this a small town DMV? They gat comfortable in their positions and try and dictate the laws as they see fit. Try their supervisor, that will make things happen.
In Texas, each county has a “Veterans” officer to help vets get their bennies. Call the county court house, start with the county clerks office and ask who the person is that helps retired vets with problems. Keep calling til you find that person. County judge, auditor, somebody will know. Then get them to straighten out the DPS. Or call your state Rep and/or Senator (you do know who they are, right?) rinse, repeat. Failing that, http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/ Texas veterans commission or http://gov.texas.gov/ Governors office. You are probably NOT the first person this has happened to. Good luck
And we thought Texas was supposed to be friendly!?
BUREAUCRATIZILLA everywhere!
Good luck getting as you deserve!
gfa
after getting the right document, go to the county court house and register it. Permanent record. free copies as needed with a certified stamp, and your original back… (Alabama resident, Texas should have same curtesy)
It does. Did that myself.
What a revoltin’ development, all ’round. At least now you have a way to combat the bureaucracy. My discharge certificate says “Honorable” … haven’t looked at the DD214 in a very long time.
At one time, Texas had some shrewd, competent public servants. That was the past. Texas now has more than its share of incompetent bureaucrats, with an attitude.
Looks like you’ve been sunk down in the dictatorship of the bureaucracy from which no one ever surfaces. Sorry to hear that.
What the currently serving and recently separated call a “potato”.
Filling out the forms and sending them online with a faxed copy of your signature, you will get a reply in a week or so telling you they will send your request in about three weeks. Good luck. I have both vet dl and Navy tag. But then, I didn’t retire. I got out running and screaming the first chance I got.
All- Thanks… Working through it. No other choice…
Posted from my iPhone.
NFO, I had the same problem with my DD-214 not showing “honorably discharged” when I took it to the sheriff’s office to get my CHL here. I hadn’t noticed before that it didn’t say it, and the officer and I sort of puzzled over it for a while before deciding that since it didn’t say “other than honorable” (and since I knew how I’d gotten out), she was ok with it.
Apparently, I have the wrong form, too! (Have to check with rest of the family to see which ones they all have.)
All my DD-214s (6), titled “certificate of release or discharge from active duty” (the title has changed over the years) have an item number , different item numbers on most, but all labeled “character of service” and HONORABLE typed in the box. Believe these use to be called page 2s.
Perhaps the info in the DD-214 for Os and Es is different. Do Os get an “Honorable” discharge or is there another term used??
Call TXDOT HQ in Austin.
I had the local TXDOT tell me that my expired (yet still valid with Mil ID, and I had the extension card with me) license from another state was not valid for getting a TX DL. She was firm that I would have to re-take the driving portion of the test for both auto and motorcycle. I politely showed her the reference from their website that disagreed, but she wouldn’t budge. Not once did I raise my voice or say anything I later regretted. I merely thanked her for her time and left.
I called Austin for a rules interpretation. The sweet little gal at HQ agreed with my take. She asked what office I had been to and with whom I had spoken. She put me on hold while she called local office. When she came back, she said I was to return to the local office and all would be well. I do not know what she said, but the local grumpy grandma made a beeline for me when I walked in the door. She was as sweet as could be and gave me Grade A service. At one point, she asked what I had told the girl in Austin. I smiled at her and said, “I just asked for clarification on what you told me this morning.”
Good luck.
I would advise against your DD-214 at the county court house. If you do so, it may become part of the public record (i.e. searchable/discoverable by anyone willing to pay for a copy) and possibly used for identity theft. My two cents; YMMV.
reading further down the site, it looks like you can get a Veterans on your DL, but you don’t qualify for a free testing/license, because you retired, and were not medically discharged.
START RELEVANT SECTION>
Verification of Disability
To qualify for a fee exemption, veterans must present documents to verify their disability status while at the driver license office. If renewing by mail, the verification documents must be included with the renewal invitation. Once the disability status is established, the veteran will be eligible to use online services for fee-exempt driver license transactions.
To verify the disability, please present one of the following:
A signed letter on disability status issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; or
Official documents certifying conditions 1, 2, and 3 above.*
*If a veteran receives disability compensation but does not have a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, verification of the disability must be provided by the veteran’s branch of military service.
END RELEVANT SECTION
The stupidity of half witted paper shufflers
Can’t you just get letters of recommendation from some of your former commanders, like Halsey and Nimitz and Rickover?
JPJ maybe?