Here is an email that I have received from DPS that I want to pass along.  
The Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office has raised a question about the



federal Form DD-214 that will most likely be of interest to all



Sheriffs' Offices. Their question was about a DD-214 that did not



contain any discharge information. We have learned a little more about



DD-214s that we would like to share.
Defense Department (DD) Form 214 is entitled Certificate of Release or



Discharge From Active Duty. The title indicates that the form can be



used for two different reasons: release from active duty and discharge



from active duty.
A release from active duty means that the person has previously been



activated (for reasons such as training, deployment, etc.) and has since



been released from such active duty to resume status as a member of the



National Guard or a Military Reserve unit. The DD-214 will not contain



discharge information; it will indicate that the person is now in the



National Guard or Reserve. This is shown in box #2 (see attached



example). The letters NG indicate National Guard and the letters RV (or



similar) indicate military reserve.
A discharge from active duty means that the person has been separated



from military service. This can be verified in box 13a which would show



the type of discharge (honorable, general, etc.). Note that box 13a does



not appear in the above example of a DD-214 that is for release from



active duty.
If an applicant presents a DD-214 that is a release from active duty,



then he/she should be asked if they are still in the National Guard or



Reserves. If the answer is yes, then the fact that the person is still



in service should mean that they have been through basic training and



they have received the requisite training to qualify for an Iowa permit



to carry.
If the answer is that the person is no longer in the National Guard or



Reserves, then the person should have another DD-214 that shows the



discharge information in box 13a. They would need to produce this second



DD-214 to show that they have the appropriate discharge as required by



SF2379

 
 

The last paragraph is incorrect. If the soldier is discharged from the National Guard, they do not receive a DD-214, but a NGB form(can"t remember the number) but I think it is NGB 214. (NGB stands for National Guard Bureau) Unless this has changed since I was a Unit Administrator.

wtf?  come on dps, we want to help every chance we can, but you guys are way off on some of this stuff...  if this continues the flaws will be brought to light and reactions equal to and opposite DPS action will result...

I don't understand?

Either way you have been thru Boot/Basic,so what's the difference??

All they should be concered with is block 24 & 26, Conditions & Code.

Makes no sense to me. If all they require is completion of basic training they should accept any orders; PCS, TDY, separation, or even a range score card. Any one of these would obviously be proof that you completed basic.

What the above DPS email does not elaborate on or explain is that if a person has been "released" and are not currently serving in a "Reserve" or National Guard capacity then they should present the "Discharge".  Failure to do so could be because they are hiding the fact that they were "DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED".

That's a good way for DPS to double check.
I think someone would already be committing a felony if they neglected to mention a dishonerable on the application, regardless of what proof of training they provide.

So the way I see it is it is a double no go by the applicant because, they will be providing false documentation and on the app. it asks if you were ever discharged under dishonorable conditions.

Another little known fact, my military service ended at the same time that my unit came back state side. When I request the National Guard Bureau form, I was told I have 3 DD-214s' that were all honorable, the NGB was not going to print out a useless document.

Question, My permit expired while I have been away, along with many others.  Now, who can search for me information about the newest veterans bill that was passed in Iowa concerning that topic?  I have time after returning home to get it renewed right?

I got my permit from my sheriff with a pistol range card.  I think it's kind of strange that they would allow only a DD-214 as proof that you know how to shoot a pistol, unless of course your pistol qualification was listed on it (not always the case as it doesn't have to be there).  I can only think of one MOS in the Army that you have to qualify with a pistol in Basic/OSUT and that involves fat guys riding around in tanks, of course there could be more I don't know.  I would think that only a percentage (35%?) of service members have to qualify on a pistol anyway.

Edit: spelling and thanks in advance for any help on my question.

Just apply for a new permit instead of renewing, and use proof of current service. The way it's written now, a renewal with training over 12 months old needs more training They need to change that.

From the code:
2) For personnel on active duty or serving in one of the national guard or reserve
components of the armed forces of the United States, possession of a certificate of completion of
basic training with a service record of successful completion of small arms training and
qualification.

I don't have a 214 showing anything about discharge, so they are probably talking about the DD214 I used applying for my permit. I do have my honorable discharge certificate though(the one that looke like a diploma). Would that work for proof of honorable discharge?

Would that work for proof?  I would think so, but who the hell knows, DPS is working harder trying to find ways not letting people get a permit, this is going to be a pain for us that have to give out the permits.  It should be this simple, DD214 with honorable discharge and you are good to go.  What is so hard about that?










 

true, BUT a dishonorable discharge AUTOMATICALLY precludes you as it is a federal disqualifier on your NICS check when you buy a firearm or apply for a permiy...  thus, if you had been booted from the military and left with a dishonorable discharge you couldn't get a permit or buy a gun anyway...  DPS is making this too hard and apparently they know very little about the proper research of federal law and regs that take precedent over iowa code and certainly iowa 'administrative' code...



page 1, question 11.g

http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-4473.pdf

Just that when I went to the unit and asked for my DD214, that's what they printed and gave me, it doesn't say anything about discharge. Then, witht he above poster saying they use a different form than regular army but not knowing what it is, I don't know what to go ask for.

Sorry about that, my comments weren't directed to you Shack, didn't mean it that way, it was toward DPS.










 

No hard feelings here either. Just need to work harder on getting the right copy.

So what are they going to do when I show up and my DD214 and box 13 only shows my citations and awards? Box 24 shows the Character of Service. Have they said which form they want, there are 4 versions of the damn things after all?

So all this discussion had me wondering what my DD214 stated. Now mine was for all active service with no Guard or Reserve duty attached. On mine, circa 1987, box 13 is Decorations, Medals, etc. There is no 13a. Box 22 is for Type of Separation, mine states discharged. Box 24 is for Character of Service, mine states Honorable. Guess I am one of the good guys. Box 26 is for Separation Code, mine is JBK, whatever that means. Box 27 states the Reenlistment Code, mine is RE-1.

Also for any vet that hasn't done so, it is a good idea to have your County Recorder record your discharge in the records. It costs nothing for a veteran to record or obtain copies of that record.

Do they still recommend having the dd214 recorded at the county?
I know some discussion was taking place regarding making that info public information.
I don't know what the final decision was.

No, because it then becomes public record and open to anyone to see. Just get noterized copies made and tuck them away safely. I have some in my safe and a couple at my parents for safe keeping.



 

No I don't think it is public anymore because it contains your SSN. I am certain it changed several years ago b/c of identity theft concerns. This would also apply to any record which contain SSN's.

I have recorded my DD214's with the county recorders office.  It does not bother me folks know I was in the military.  I'm sure the FBI already knows that, if they really wanted to.  If they are STILL in the National Guard or active Army, they will have an appropriate ID card.   A DD 214 will be icing on the cake.  A RETIRED ID card should tell the Sheriff the holder has been to the range on several occasions.  It sounds likes some Sheriff's are grabbing at straws looking for some reason not to issue a permit to carry.   A DD 214 will also show the dates of active service and rank at release or discharge.   How much more do these guys need?  kwg

Not so, DD214s are not supposed to be realeased to anyone but the owner, unless they are redacted.

I was just relaying what I was given by the Jag brief during my out processing.





 

Got another response from DPS, discharge certificate IS acceptable as proof of honorable discharge if DD214 does not show discharge information-just a heads up for those who have a similar 214. If you saved your "military diploma" you're covered.

you guys seeing a trend here?  we fight to change the law.  we accomplish our goals.  the state puts somebody in charge of manipulating and interpreting what is already written in code from an "administrative" standpoint and they fuck it all up...  they have a bunch of terrible short sided poorly researched answers and after common sense oozes to the surface they quietly mention that they have a new interpretation...

please, please, please join IFC and NRA and continue helping us change these laws for the better.  we can't do it without your help and funding.