Military Discharge

[JKletus]

Do you have to submit your DD214 on applications?

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[chssoccer7]

No. You just answer some questions in the Biographical section. The only thing you have to "submit" for the AMCAS app is your JST.

 

[esob]

Nope. I was just thinking about this the other day. No one has ever asked for any proof that I was in the military. In fact, I think I'll start introducing myself as General esob, lol. But seriously, it is reasonably astounding that prior service is a big boost but there is no verification process.

 

[chssoccer7]

Nope. I was just thinking about this the other day. No one has ever asked for any proof that I was in the military. In fact, I think I'll start introducing myself as General esob, lol. But seriously, it is reasonably astounding that prior service is a big boost but there is no verification process.

I am also confused how it isn't verified, I made sure to know where my DD214 copy was in case I needed it but there was nothing. Just clicking a button. I presume it can be found on a background check? Good luck to the first pre-med that tries to fake it as an EC, that would be so very obvious to any actual veteran that asks them for a story

 

[esob]

I am also confused how it isn't verified, I made sure to know where my DD214 copy was in case I needed it but there was nothing. Just clicking a button. I presume it can be found on a background check? Good luck to the first pre-med that tries to fake it as an EC, that would be so very obvious to any actual veteran that asks them for a story

So true. I had a pt try to give me a story about his scars being from an IED, and then he started blathering on about how "the medics did this and that." I told my upper that there was no way anything that the guy said was true, and sure enough, it was from a crime he committed

 

[RocuroniumRedux]

Not trying to entirely co-opt this thread, but this question was just on my mind too. If I have an entry-level separation (neither honorable nor dishonorable) from Navy OCS (DQ'd from aviation), is this likely to hurt my app? If anything I wanted to submit a copy of my DD-214 to show that I'm eligible to re-enlist with a waiver with the RE-3K code. Reason for separation just shows failure to complete OCS with no other context.

 

[chssoccer7]

Not trying to entirely co-opt this thread, but this question was just on my mind too. If I have an entry-level separation (neither honorable nor dishonorable) from Navy OCS (DQ'd from aviation), is this likely to hurt my app? If anything I wanted to submit a copy of my DD-214 to show that I'm eligible to re-enlist with a waiver with the RE-3K code. Reason for separation just shows failure to complete OCS with no other context.

The applicant guide says this:

"The question asks if you have ever been discharged by the Armed Forces. Answer No if you have never served in the Armed Forces or are currently serving without previous discharge. If you answer Yes, you will be asked if you received an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable circumstances. If you © 2023 Association of American Medical Colleges 24 aamc.org 2024 AMCAS® Applicant Guide answer No, you must explain in 1,325 characters (or fewer) the circumstances of your discharge, including the circumstances leading to your discharge, your period of service, and your rank at the time of discharge"

In the blank, you would just write you were discharged via entry level processing. Time of service would be first day of OCS to whenever you got dropped. It's not going to hurt your app, you just won't receive any benefits of being a veteran either.

 

[RocuroniumRedux]

Got it, thanks for the clarification. Glad it won't hurt my application, and definitely not trying to claim I did anything other than sit in student pool waiting to be discharged.

 

[esob]

Got it, thanks for the clarification. Glad it won't hurt my application, and definitely not trying to claim I did anything other than sit in student pool waiting to be discharged.

If your ELS was a DQ for something beyond your control (for example, less than 20/20 vision at the time of training in a position requiring 20/20 vision), then be sure to note this specifically. Otherwise, prior service people reading your app may see the ELS as an FTA (failure to adapt), which some might use as a reason to pass over your application.

 

[Cognimancer]

Do you have to submit your DD214 on applications?

It came up for me during the background investigation. I had to FAX it to them... A facsimile machine in the year 2023... oh wait, healthcare still uses them all the time.

 

[RocuroniumRedux]

If your ELS was a DQ for something beyond your control (for example, less than 20/20 vision at the time of training in a position requiring 20/20 vision), then be sure to note this specifically. Otherwise, prior service people reading your app may see the ELS as an FTA (failure to adapt), which some might use as a reason to pass over your application.

Thanks esob, I think this definitely warrants some "over-sharing" with respect to explaining the ELS. The DQ was related to an antihypertensive I was taking, so it was beyond my control entirely.

It came up for me during the background investigation. I had to FAX it to them... A facsimile machine in the year 2023... oh wait, healthcare still uses them all the time.

Was shocked to find fax was extensively used when I worked in healthcare IT but apparently it's more secure than most other means of communication, and you can fax to remote locations provided you have a phone line.

 

[esob]

Thanks esob, I think this definitely warrants some "over-sharing" with respect to explaining the ELS. The DQ was related to an antihypertensive I was taking, so it was beyond my control entirely.


Was shocked to find fax was extensively used when I worked in healthcare IT but apparently it's more secure than most other means of communication, and you can fax to remote locations provided you have a phone line.

I would definitely make that point prominent in your application. I would imagine that just about everyone who has participated in military entry-level training had someone in their cohort "wash out" for failure to adapt. That commonality makes it the first thing that comes to people's minds when they see an ELS.

 

[IntoTheStorm]

No. You just answer some questions in the Biographical section. The only thing you have to "submit" for the AMCAS app is your JST.

Wait, we have to submit our JST? What if there aren't any college courses on it. Mine is literally just some leadership classes, humanitarian response courses and my officer school. Why on earth would AMCAS want to see that?

 

[chssoccer7]

Wait, we have to submit our JST? What if there aren't any college courses on it. Mine is literally just some leadership classes, humanitarian response courses and my officer school. Why on earth would AMCAS want to see that?

Yes, the applicant guide requires it for AMCAS. AACOMAS specifically says not to submit it. TBH I don't know the exact reason why, but my guess is it's because it's "school" w/ ACE recommended credits. It made my GPAs look incredibly weird which I hope doesn't cause issues in the cycle. (My sophomore and junior year have no credits and no GPA because I was "given" 85 pass/fail credits due to my military training and my senior year has 90 credits).