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The DD-214 blocks that actually matter

The form has 30-plus blocks. Four of them carry almost all of the weight, and the short form leaves out three of those four.

Which blocks on a DD-214 actually matter. The form has more than 30 blocks, but a handful carry almost all of the weight. Block 24, character of service, is the single most important block: it controls eligibility for nearly every benefit, and its values are Honorable, General under honorable conditions, Other Than Honorable, Bad Conduct Discharge, and Dishonorable. Anything below Honorable requires a separate VA character-of-discharge determination, and a less-than-honorable discharge does not automatically mean no VA benefits. Block 26 is the three-character SPD separation code, which gives the granular reason for separation and can affect reentry eligibility. Block 27 is the reentry code: RE-1 is eligible to reenlist, RE-3 is ineligible for a waiverable reason, and RE-4 is ineligible and not waiverable. Block 28 is the narrative reason for separation, usually the most readable summary of why someone left. Ask for Member Copy 4, the long form. Copies 2 and 3 omit character of service, narrative reason and reentry code, which are the fields VA needs.

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Source: The DD-214 blocks that actually matter — Military Transition Toolkit (https://www.militarytransitiontoolkit.com/diagrams/dd214-blocks-that-matter)

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<figure>
  <img src="https://www.militarytransitiontoolkit.com/diagrams/dd214-blocks-that-matter.png"
       alt="Which blocks on a DD-214 actually matter. The form has more than 30 blocks, but a handful carry almost all of the weight. Block 24, character of service, is the single most important block: it controls eligibility for nearly every benefit, and its values are Honorable, General under honorable conditions, Other Than Honorable, Bad Conduct Discharge, and Dishonorable. Anything below Honorable requires a separate VA character-of-discharge determination, and a less-than-honorable discharge does not automatically mean no VA benefits. Block 26 is the three-character SPD separation code, which gives the granular reason for separation and can affect reentry eligibility. Block 27 is the reentry code: RE-1 is eligible to reenlist, RE-3 is ineligible for a waiverable reason, and RE-4 is ineligible and not waiverable. Block 28 is the narrative reason for separation, usually the most readable summary of why someone left. Ask for Member Copy 4, the long form. Copies 2 and 3 omit character of service, narrative reason and reentry code, which are the fields VA needs."
       width="720" height="516">
  <figcaption>
    The DD-214 blocks that actually matter. Source:
    <a href="https://www.militarytransitiontoolkit.com/diagrams/dd214-blocks-that-matter">Military Transition Toolkit</a>
  </figcaption>
</figure>

Where this comes from

This diagram is drawn from The DD-214, explained for family, which cites the regulations and rate tables behind every figure shown here. If a rate changes, the guide and the diagram are updated together.

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