Testimonials

Officer Grade Determinations

“After 20 years of service and tremendous sacrifice for my family, learning that I was facing an Officer Grade Determination (OGD) was an extremely stressful moment. There is a great deal on the line, professionally, financially, and emotionally. After my previous military representation became challenging with limited availability and lack of experience with the OGD process, I did some research and retained Ferah. She was able to leverage her extensive experience with the OGD process to put everything in context and help uncover my own blind spots. With her help, I had absolute confidence that my response to the OGD was the best possible. This put me at ease during the months that followed waiting for the outcome. Thanks to Ferah, I retired in grade. There is a lot at stake, and I encourage anyone in a similar situation to retain a professional like Ferah Ozbek.” [Member retired in grade as a Lt Col]

“After learning I would go through an OGD, I considered my options,  I stumbled upon Ferah’s website and after a phone call, I knew she was the right person to represent me.  I was confident she had the experience, professionalism, and tenacity to argue my case.  One of the things I liked about Ferah is I never had to worry about her focusing solely on my case…she was MY lawyer through all of the stages of the case.  She guided me every step of the way and provided me a master class of how to defend against an OGD.  If you are on the fence on whether or not to hire Ferah… hire her!  You won’t regret it… I know I didn’t!”  [27 year prior-enlisted member retired in grade as a Lt Col]

“For the first time in nearly two years, I experienced tears of joy and relief.  Ms. Ferah Ozbek’s exceptional counsel, expertise, and communication skills made it happen!  Words cannot describe the level of gratitude and appreciation I have for her.  She is a military legal expert with years of experience specializing in the Officer Grade Determination (OGD) process.  From my initial encounter to our final correspondence, which lasted over a year, Ms. Ozbek always embodied professionalism, integrity, and had a results-driven work ethic. I valued her honesty and transparency as she analyzed my case, explained the process, and developed a comprehensive OGD response for the reviewing and decision authorities.  Her expertise in the military justice system and the chain of command hierarchy was key to resolving two separate legal issues concurrently.  She devoted and dedicated countless hours to my case, continuously engaging with the Air Force to ensure the commanders were provided with all the pertinent facts of my case to make an informed decision.  Ms. Ozbek is incredibly reliable, promptly responds to any questions, and always follows-up.  It was her guidance, support, compassion, and encouragement that helped me maintain my well-being and turned my hope for a successful resolution into reality as I retired in grade.  I wholeheartedly urge anyone in a similar situation to retain Ms. Ozbek—she is absolutely the best!” [Member retired in grade as a Lt Col]

“It was a blessing to work with Ferah Ozbek, Esq., to assist in my Officer Grade Determination (OGD) nightmare. As a 22-year career officer with an untarnished record, I was stunned to be informed the day prior to final pack-out before retirement that an administrative hold had been put on my retirement.  Incredulous and bewildered, on very wise advice, I found a skillful and very adept civilian attorney, Ferah Ozbek, Esq., to help me.  The instantaneous relief I felt after the first conversation with Ferah was incredible. I no longer felt alone and lost on this journey.  I felt I had guidance and direction.  As a very competent, retired (O-6) Air Force JAG, the breadth and depth of knowledge with the OGD process that Ferah had was just what I needed.  From the moment I retained Ferah, she handled things in an incredibly professional and organized manner, giving timelines of what to expect in the process.  Her experience working with the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Counsel (where the OGD boards are held) was invaluable.  In essence, Ferah was the calm to the horrendous storm I encountered, and not only I, but my entire family sincerely appreciates what she did for us.  Thank you Ferah. I am forever indebted to you.” [Member retired in grade as a Colonel]

“It’s difficult to express just how much I appreciate the work of Ferah Ozbek.  I was essentially in a bizarre battle the the last 4 years of my career and in hindsight should have sought a professional from the beginning.  I had confidence that the system would be fair and the truth would be obviously in my favor.  After 4 combat deployments I officially applied for retirement only to be notified that I indeed would go through an Officer Grade determination after receiving a LOA 4 years prior to my retirement.  Ferah was extremely organized throughout the process and always kept me up to date on where she was in the process.  Her expertise was evident throughout.  I supplied her with over a hundred pages of information and she produced a masterpiece summary of my career and in particular highlighting the discrepancies and inconsistencies that were the basis for the LOA.  My only regret is not finding Ferah earlier.  My best advice to anyone in my situation is to not take the chance on your own.  It is a difficult time when you go for years as a subject matter expert and leader and then find yourself completely isolated with a dark cloud over you.  Ferah constantly checked in with me during the long waiting period and offered positive thoughts and realistic timelines.  The results turned out exactly as she predicted, despite my own doubts.  Ferah’s expertise in this area is comprehensive and you will have the best ally possible in your fight for justice.”  [Member retired in grade as Colonel]

“Ferah Ozbek superbly represented me through the Officer Grade Determination process.  My personnel file contained a letter of reprimand, which is why I had to undergo an OGD.  If the decision was made to downgrade my retirement grade, it would impact my family for the rest of my life! I wanted to have the best possible representation through this process, so I thoroughly researched attorneys to determine who would be the most qualified in the area of OGDs.  Ferah Ozbek’s background as serving with the SecAF Personnel Council, working on OGD boards, experience in UCMJ, and post-retirement experience as civilian counsel representing cases like mine led me to decide she was, without question, the best person for the case.  From the time I started working with Ferah, my apprehension about the OGD process began to subside.  Ferah was superb at answering all of my questions and was always responsive to calls and emails.  She took personal interest in seeing that justice was properly served in the OGD.  Her legal brief provided an expert and objective description of my career and gave the OGD board a thorough context for my life-long contributions to our nation.  She astutely argued that allegations of misconduct in a lower grade could not be considered under law if it was found that I had served satisfactorily in my current grade.  Ferah’s expertise on the process also guided me in presenting my personal story in a way that best reflected my career.  It has been a wonderful relief to know that I will retire in grade, and I am extremely glad that I had Ferah Ozbek in my corner throughout the OGD process.”  [Member retired in grade as a Colonel]

“First things first, WE WON!  I faced an Officer Grade Determination (OGD) as part of applying for retirement.  Someone along the way recommended I contact Attorney Ferah Ozbek.  It was the right move.  Ferah is a retired US Air Force Colonel JAG who worked at the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council where the OGD Boards are held.  She has valuable first-hand insight into the OGD process and knows the key information the board considers in evaluating OGDs and when making recommendations to the Secretary of the Air Force designee. She listened to what I had to say and provided straightforward feedback on how we should proceed.  We went with her course of action.  As days turned to weeks and weeks turned into months, Ferah reassured me that the package had the right content.  She was also the inspiration I needed in order to remain calm.  I did not endure the OGD alone.  Standing in support of my retirement in-grade were family, friends, senior leaders, mentors, peers, and subordinates.  Ferah and I worked diligently on keeping track of where the package was throughout the staffing process.  Ferah’s know-how was the cornerstone of our success. After eight months, eight long, arduous months, the outcome was favorable and it was determined I would retire in-grade as an O-5/Lt Col.  Many thanks for ALL of your support!”  [Member retired in grade as a Lt Col]

“Let me be clear right up front … if you’re going through an Officer Grade Determination (OGD), you absolutely want Ms. Ferah Ozbek as your attorney!  She is the epitome of a professional and, as a retired O-6 Air Force JAG and former member of the SecAF Personnel Council, she had the perfect background and experience to handle my complicated OGD case.  She knows the Air Force and OGD legal processes at an expert level, and used her expertise and insight to guide me through a very cumbersome process.  The OGD legal product that she produced was incredibly powerful and of the highest quality.  Prior to hiring Ms. Ozbek, a senior mentor of mine advised me to do two things when selecting an attorney … hire the best one you can find and follow their guidance.  Without a doubt, Ms. Ozbek is the best OGD attorney out there and her advice is always 100% on the mark.  Bottomline — retain Ms. Ozbek as your OGD attorney … you won’t regret it!”  [Member retired in grade as Colonel].

“In my 24 years of service I had never been in any trouble or needed to consult an attorney.  That changed when I was placed under investigation for creating a hostile work environment.  After dealing with the subsequent letter of reprimand with an Area Defense Counsel, I quickly realized I needed to find a true professional to help me with my Officer Grade Determination.  After doing some research, I found Ms. Ozbek and I am relieved I did.  From the initial consultation with Ms. Ozbek was nothing less than great.  She explained every aspect of the process.  She thoroughly reviewed my case with the eye of a prosecutor and planned and prepared an amazing legal review of my case with the seasoned eye of a defense attorney.  Ms. Ozbek was super responsive to every question I had, email request or phone call.  I was most impressed that Ms. Ozbek cared about me.  She wanted to ensure I was doing well mentally and emotionally and gave me great advice throughout my case.  She not only helped me with my legal case, but mentally as well.  She is a true legal professional and a great person.  As a result of her hard work and thoroughness of the legal review, I retired in my highest grade held.  Without her legal guidance, legal review and preparation, and most importantly her caring for me, none of this would have been possible.  If you find yourself needing legal help with an OGD or other military discipline issue, call Ms. Ozbek and she will be there to help and guide you.”  [Member retired in grade as a Lt Col].

“Because I had received an Article 15, I had to go through an Air Force Officer Grade Determination Board.  Finding someone with experience dealing with military matters and more specifically an OGD was not an easy task.  I had worked with military attorneys in the past when I got an Article 15, but I found myself doing much of the work on my own case.  This time, I wanted to find someone who had experience dealing with OGDs.  I was fortunate to find Ferah on the internet.  I decided to retain her based upon her prior experience with OGDs while she was on active duty in the Air Force.  I had a lot at stake as a reduction in rank had substantial monetary ramifications on my retirement pay.  Once Ferah began working on my case, I knew I had made the right choice to retain her as my attorney.  She was on top of my case from day one and the product she produced was outstanding.  I never had to worry about the process or what to expect.  She handled my case from start to finish and never left me in the dark.  Ferah went above and beyond and as a result of her outstanding work, I retired in my current grade!”  [Prior enlisted member retired in grade as a Captain].

“This was the first experience of my career dealing with legal representation, and Ms. Ozbek was exactly what I hoped for in a lawyer. She was extremely smart, built our case very quickly and efficiently, and always available, every email or call or question I had was answered quickly and efficiently without any extra cost.  And most importantly we won–I retired in grade!”  [Member retired in grade as a Colonel]. 

“Ferah Ozbek was exactly the right person who came into my life at exactly the right time. I was extremely frustrated with a military issue to the point of not knowing where to turn next. That all changed the day I began working with Ferah. She was always there for me, whether it was through our phone conversations or prompt responses to my many emails. Through her effort, knowledge, hard work and compassion, my case came to a very successful conclusion.  I retired in grade.  She is a true professional who CARES!”  [Member retired in grade as a Colonel].

Halted Officer Grade Determination against Retired Officer by citing statutes and applicable regulations that prohibit the “reopening” of an officer grade determination unless certain statutory criteria have been met.  Service agreed and discontinued grade determination against retired officer. [Member retired in grade as Lt Col]

Halted Officer Show Cause (OSC) for Retention and potential Officer Grade Determination (OGD) against officer by advocating that officer’s case met the criteria for a separation waiver.  Officer was retained, then retired without subsequent OGD due to officer’s pending medical retirement and application of statutes that prevent an OGD in such cases. [Member retired in grade as Major]

“After many attempts to obtain legal advice from Military Legal Counsel, I reached out to a friend who knew about the struggles and challenges I was facing regarding my very unique legal situation.  My friend contacted a lawyer who recommended I contact Ms. Ferah Ozbek for help and that I would not regret it if I did.  I immediately contacted Ms. Ozbek and she was very attentive as I explained what I was facing.  Ms. Ozbek explained all of the steps in the disciplinary process and clarified and corrected much of the misguided information that I had been previously provided by other lawyers.  I am very happy that I retained her to be my military counsel.  Ms. Ozbek immediately took action and kept me informed of all the steps in the legal process and the way ahead for addressing the pending legal issues.  After many phone calls, email correspondence, and a written legal memorandum outlining my case, Ms. Ozbek was able to get my legal situation resolved successfully and was instrumental in helping me get my retirement approved without further delay.  I am very happy that I retained her legal services. I  recommend Ms. Ferah Ozbek to anyone needing legal expertise.  I take my hat off to an excellent, dedicated, knowledgeable and hardworking lawyer.  Thank you, Ma’am.”        [Member’s potential Officer Show Cause (OSC) for Retention and potential Officer Grade Determination (OGD) halted.  Officer retired without subsequent OGD due to officer’s pending medical retirement and application of statutes that prevent OGD in such cases. Member retired in grade as Major.]

Discharge Upgrades

“I am fortunate that I found an attorney who was willing to take my case after I had lost all hope.  Ferah was very professional and reassuring during the entire process. After our initial application was denied, Ferah did not give up and filed an appeal with the Board for the Correction of Naval Records (BNCR).  The BCNR granted my Appeal and corrected my discharge from an OTH to a General discharge under honorable conditions and changed my narrative reason from Misconduct to Secretarial Authority. It has been over 30 years since I was discharged from the Navy and I had lost all hope this would ever happen. I am very blessed to have met Ferah. She made the world a better place for me!”  [OTH discharge for Misconduct changed to General Under Honorable Conditions and Narrative Reason to Secretarial Authority.]

“Ms. Ozbek is an incredible attorney who changed the course of my life. I received news this week that my discharge has been upgraded to Honorable and change of the narrative reason to Secretarial Authority. A 16-year pursuit has finally ended. I could not have done this without Ms. Ozbek’s expertise and determination. I know this because I tried fighting my own case to the DRB and was denied. I lost my career at a young age due to hostile NCOs who had it in for a young kid who was naïve and spoke his mind thinking the feedback would be appreciated.  A less than honorable discharge and being characterized as a trouble-maker has followed me for 16 years. Clearances denied, interviews declined, graduate school background checks that put a mark of uncertainty on me, due to my DD 214. A less than honorable discharge is a curse that tells the world you are not to be trusted. The injustice is that felons get second chances and those who choose to serve their country are remanded to serve a life sentence for far less serious offenses unless they are able to change their military records.  I reached out to Ms. Ozbek as I wanted to fight my case.  She took the time to study my records and gave me her thoughts—no fluff, transparent and straight to the point.  Her in-depth expertise of military law and 22 years of experience as a USAF Judge Advocate helped me craft a clear plan of action to appeal my discharge, which resulted in victory!  My success was due to Ms. Ozbek’s drive and level of attention to detail from start to finish. I am now unbounded and am applying to graduate school next year. I owe her everything for helping me pursue a future that would not have been possible otherwise.”  [General Discharge under Honorable conditions for Pattern of Misconduct changed to Honorable Discharge and Narrative Reason to Secretarial Authority.]

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“Ms. Ozbek is an outstanding lawyer and person!  You can’t find anyone better than a former retired USAF Colonel who was once a board member on the Discharge Review Boards (DRB). She’s the ultimate professional who is also compassionate.  After retaining her, it was obvious to me that she continues doing her craft because she is still passionate in helping her fellow servicemembers and veterans find justice.  I was going to give up because I couldn’t find any lawyer who would take my case.  Ms. Ozbek listened to me and understood the injustice I had suffered.  I was discharged with an administrative discharge shortly after I was placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List. Ms. Ozbek accepted my case and it was resolved in my favor by the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) four years after beginning my application with the DRB and appealing to the AFBCMR.  She showed the Board that the offense that triggered the discharge was contrived in order to prevent me from getting a medical retirement.  The AFBCMR agreed and I now have the medical retirement that was unjustly taken away from me 6 ½ years ago.  Ms. Ozbek is someone you’d want by your side, in the trenches, leading the way, to help you achieve justice.” [General Discharge under Honorable conditions for Minor Disciplinary Infractions changed to a Medical retirement].

“In 2012, I was discharged with an Other than Honorable Discharge from the U. S. Marine Corps. I was crushed and I struggled to realize what had led me to the situation in which I had to depart from the military with an OTH discharge. I later realized I had been suffering from PTSD, depression, and TBI after serving two combat tours. After my deployments I was headed towards a dark path in my career. I was charged with a one-time drug abuse offense after having a major vehicle accident in which I almost lost my life. I had no one to blame but myself. I accepted my fate and was immediately processed out. For seven years I sat in disappointment because of my actions, blaming myself and recollecting what went wrong. I attempted to apply for VA healthcare benefits but was denied because of my OTH discharge. I found myself defeated and did not understand the consequences of my discharge. After speaking to a few veterans, I was advised to seek help and I was referred to Ferah Ozbek. I spoke to her about my case and after reviewing my documentation, she gave me her honest assessment. Her ability to break down my case and explain my options for an upgrade gave me hope. She was able to help me navigate and build a case. After a year of waiting, I was upgraded to General under Honorable conditions discharge. I am grateful for her attention to detail and professionalism.  It is evident in her work–Ferah is hands down one of the best lawyers you will find. I highly recommend Ferah Ozbek; she is a strong advocate for defending Veterans!”   [Naval Officer discharged with Other than Honorable Conditions Discharge In Lieu of Court-Martial. Discharge changed to General Under Honorable Conditions.]

“I had been on a 30-year journey trying to get my USMC Other Than Honorable Conditions (OTH) discharge upgraded.  I enlisted in the Marine Corps when I was 17 years old. I had to get my parents’ permission because I was not yet 18.  Unfortunately, I was young, immature and made foolish mistakes that got me kicked out of the Marine Corps before my enlistment was up. After I was discharged from the Marine Corps with an OTH discharge, I knew that I needed to get my life together and show others that the DD 214 that said “Discharge in Lieu of Court-Martial” with an OTH characterization was not who I was.  I was an immature young man who did stupid things, which I regretted.  But I never gave up—this is what the Marine Corps taught me. I worked many odd jobs and after working hard for 7 years, I got a lucky break and was hired as a State Corrections Officer. Since I had not completed my USMC enlistment, I wanted the opportunity to serve my country again and make things right. Several years later, the Army National Guard gave me the opportunity to enlist with a waiver.  After several months, I deployed to Afghanistan for one year. I wanted to correct my records because I knew the OTH discharge did not portray who I was nor my love for the Marine Corps. I contacted many lawyers with expertise in military discharge matters. No one would take my case because they did not think I had a chance of success. I was going to give up, but before I did, I thankfully found Ferah’s website and contacted her with one last glimmer of hope that she could help me. Ferah listened to my story and believed my case had merit based upon the facts and issues in my case. With Ferah’s guidance and expertise, the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) upgraded my discharge to a fully Honorable Discharge, changed the narrative reason to Secretarial Authority and also changed my RE code.  I am grateful that the BCNR took the time to carefully review my case and reviewed all of my contentions.  My 30-year fight for justice has finally come to an end. I can now hold my head high.  The pride I feel is overwhelming. I will tell my young children about my service in the Marine Corps and when they are older and I hope they will also serve their country as I did.  Thank you, Ferah for taking my case and helping me make my dream come true.  Semper Fi”  Veteran, USMC  [Other than Honorable Conditions Discharge changed to “Honorable Discharge,” Discharge in Lieu of Court-Martial changed to “Secretarial Authority”]

“I was discharged with an Other than Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2005. My faith had been broken so many times that it was hard to believe that I could receive an upgrade of my discharge, but it happened!  I had two combat deployments to Iraq and was diagnosed with PTSD when I returned home.  While we believe that we can handle the weight of the world, to include PTSD, TBI, anxiety and depression, this was not the case for me.  After being discharged from the Marine Corps, I spent a few years on the streets as a homeless veteran.  With the help of family and friends, I began a path to a better life though I still struggled with day to day activities.  My bad paper discharge continued to haunt me. I did not feel complete and felt like a failure.  One night while going through my closet, a folder fell out with photos from Iraq. As I sat in the closet looking at the photos, I had a simple prayer. God, what do I need to do to put my past to rest?  The constant regret over the circumstances of my discharge and the regret that I would never be considered a veteran by the VA with my bad discharge haunted me.  After speaking with my wife and gathering the courage to face my past, realizing that the process would be a roller coaster, I did research and found Ms. Ozbek.  With hundreds of thoughts racing through my mind, I spent the next 45 minutes on the phone with her explaining the circumstances of my service and discharge.  I cannot explain in words how much I appreciate Ms. Ozbek. She made the process easy and put me at ease when I had questions or concerns. She helped me upgrade my discharge to an Under Honorable Conditions discharge, which gives me access to VA services and treatment for my PTSD.  I just received my veteran I.D. and I feel the weight of the world is off my shoulders.  I am grateful that I am now considered a Veteran after serving my country for almost four years. I loved being a Marine and will always be a Marine in my heart.  I cannot say enough about Ms. Ozbek’s professionalism, dedication, and attention to detail.  Ms. Ozbek, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me and continue to do for Veterans!”  [Discharge for Drug Abuse upgraded from Other than Honorable Discharge (OTH) to General under Honorable Conditions]

“I heard about Ms. Ozbek from my husband who thought she could help me, and I’m so glad that I decided to give her a call. From the very beginning, she was very easy to talk to. She asked a lot of questions and I could tell that she was really trying to understand every part of my situation. I never felt rushed and she easily answered any questions I had. It was easy to see her expertise in how easily she could answer my questions and talk me through the next steps in the process. The process is a long one, but she would keep in contact with me to check in and update me with anything, which was nice to know I wasn’t forgotten. Thanks to Ms. Ozbek, my discharge has been upgraded to honorable. With an honorable discharge, I can now use my Post 9-11 GI Bill and pursue a degree to help further my career and take care of my family. It is truly life changing. I highly recommend working with Ms. Ozbek.  She truly is a professional.” [Discharge upgrade from General to Honorable and Narrative reason changed from Unsatisfactory Performance to Secretarial Authority]

“I couldn’t be happier with my decision to have Ms. Ozbek handle my case. From the beginning, she made me feel comfortable sharing my story. I had initially sought her out because of her experience having served on Discharge Review Boards (which proved to be invaluable).  But what really sets her apart from other attorneys is the amount of personal attention she gives each of her clients.  She was accessible, incredibly responsive and patient with all of my questions.  She gave me sound legal guidance I could trust and also created an environment where I could provide my input.  Ms. Ozbek is a thorough, detail-oriented individual and that was reflected in the argument and legal memo she drafted for my case. This is one of the few instances that the old adage, “if you want something done right, do it yourself” does not apply. It’s a cumbersome process and having a subject matter expert with the tenacity to navigate through the bureaucracy was a great relief. I would recommend Ms. Ozbek to anyone applying for a discharge upgrade or correction of military records.”  [Discharge upgrade from General to Honorable and Narrative reason changed from Drug Abuse to Secretarial Authority]

“I had been wanting to get a review of my discharge for years and I knew I didn’t have the knowledge nor experience to go at it on my own.  I tried calling every attorney listed in my state bar with military or national guard experience and then to all the surrounding states of where I live and each time I had tried to talk about the events that led to my discharge, I was shutdown.  I would state the issue and before any facts were out of my mouth, a simple “No. Thank you.” or “I wouldn’t be interested.”  It felt as if no one would ever hear me much less represent me.  Fast forward a few decades and I came across Ms. Ozbek’s website.  I admit I thought I was going to be hit with the same, “No. Thanks.” but to my surprise, I found someone who at least heard me out.  She listened to me.  For close to 30 years no one would even listen.   And my experience, one possibly just like yours, was finally heard.  Whether or not she took my case was irrelevant in that moment.  Someone finally listened.  I was fortunate that she did take my case and if you are on the fence as to whether or not to get in contact with her; Do.  I could not have asked for a better attorney client experience.” [Discharge upgrade from Other than Honorable Conditions to General under Honorable Conditions and Narrative reason changed from Pattern of Misconduct to Secretarial Authority]

“It is hard to find an attorney with expertise for the complex process of upgrading military discharges. After working with other attorneys, I finally found Ms. Ozbek.  I am not aware of any other attorney with her qualifications.  She was not only the senior legal advisor to the Discharge Review Board, but she was also a voting member of the Discharge Review Board where she voted on discharge review board applications just like my case.  I found Ms. Ozbek and she impressed me with her professionalism and knowledge of the discharge review board process.  She was always responsive to my emails, answering my e-mails the same day and encouraged me to ask questions at any time.  Ms. Ozbek exceeded all of my expectations.  I am thankful that I found her online during my search for an attorney with discharge review board experience.  I highly recommend Ms. Ozbek if you are going through the process!”

“I contacted Ferah Ozbek at a very difficult time in my life.  After researching various attorneys, I knew that Ms. Ozbek was the best-qualified attorney to handle my case. I was discharged from the Army and it was a huge injustice.  As a retired Air Force Colonel, Ms. Ozbek has a very thorough understanding of how the military justice system works in every branch of the armed forces.  Although I was a soldier in the Army, she had an understanding of the technicalities to strategically argue my case to the Discharge Review Board (DRB).  Ms. Ozbek also has an excellent understanding of how both the DRB and the Board of Correction for Military Records (BCMR) because she was the senior legal advisor at the DRB.   I was impressed not only with her background but also after speaking with her, I knew she was the right attorney to fight for me.  When Ms. Ozbek speaks with you, you can tell that she has genuine compassion and empathy. She is very understanding, competent, and truly cares for service-members and veterans. Ms. Ozbek’s legal memorandum was very thorough and she knows exactly what to argue for your case.  She always makes you feel like your case is a top priority and her communication is top-notch! Ms. Ozbek is extremely responsive and I have never left a conversation with unclear answers or unanswered questions. Last, she is honest and reliable.  I highly recommend Ms. Ozbek to anyone who needs a strong, competent and experienced attorney to fight for them. FIVE STARS!!!!!”

“I knew I was in over my head when I started researching the process and all the details involved in getting my general discharge and RE code corrected.  There were so many issues involved in getting my discharge changed, and I knew my chance of success would be drastically lower if I attempted to do it on my own.  I called Ms. Ozbek and had no doubt when we finished our first phone conversation that I had the right person to help navigate me through this administration nightmare.  Ms. Ozbek’s career in the Air Force for over 20 years gives her great insight and knowledge on exactly how the upgrade process works and what the Discharge Review Board (DRB) considers when making their determination.  Her invaluable knowledge of the process enabled her to ask me the exact questions she needed to know to put together my DRB application.  Ms. Ozbek returned all of my phone calls and emails quickly and I never had to wonder where she was in the process.  She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and very personable.  I really enjoyed working with her through the entire process.  Ms. Ozbek made a very daunting process very smooth and she took the uncertainty and worry out of it.  I would not hesitate to recommend Ms. Ozbek to anyone who is trying to upgrade their discharge.  You are not going to find a more professional and pleasant person to work with.” [General Under Honorable Conditions discharge changed to Honorable; Substandard/Unsatisfactory Performance changed to Secretarial Authority; and RE Code changed to allow Reenlistment].

“For many years I thought about and wanted to upgrade my discharge from the military.  It was important to find out how to effectively go about submitting for a change on my DD 214/NGB 22.  In 2017, I came across an attorney who handles military discharge upgrades, Ferah Ozbek, Esq, PLLC.  Ms. Ozbek is a Veteran, Attorney and excellent advocate for veterans who are trying to upgrade their discharge.  I reached out to her via email and I got a same day response and was able to discuss the specific details of my situation over the phone within 24 hours of my initial contact. I was surprised how comfortable I was when speaking to her about my situation.  Ms. Ozbek was empathetic and allowed me to share the circumstances that led up to my discharge from the military.  She provided me excellent information about the discharge application process and the discharge review board (DRB) itself.  She has the expertise in the DRB process, expertise in preparing the DRB application and writing the legal memorandum.  I recommend Ms. Ozbek to anyone who would like to upgrade their military discharge.  I truly feel validated with my service after my upgrade.  I could not have accomplished this without Ms. Ozbek and am very blessed to have crossed paths.” [General discharge was upgraded to Honorable and Narrative reason changed from: Misconduct-Discreditable Involvement with military or civilian authorities to Secretarial Authority]

“Ms. Ozbek did an amazing job on my recent DRB case.  I submitted an application to the discharge review board and it was denied.  I requested a personal appearance and retained Ms. Ozbek 3 weeks before my personal appearance.  Ms. Ozbek reviewed my case, wrote a legal memorandum pointing out the inequity in my case and accompanied me to my Board.  She worked with me to help me articulate what really happened during my career in the military.  I would not have been able to get through my personal appearance before the DRB without her by my side.  Ms. Ozbek advocated for me and I know that I could not have gotten an upgrade of my discharge to an Honorable without her.  I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for me!” [Discharge upgrade from General to Honorable and Narrative Reason changed from Misconduct (Serious Offense) to Secretarial Authority]

“When getting pushed out of the Coast Guard I was allowed to fight the administrative discharge.  I called a JAG to see if they could help.  I was told that I had no recourse because I had been in less than six years and I was not entitled to an administrative discharge board. While I got an Honorable discharge, my DD 214 said “Misconduct,” and this has negatively affected my life and job prospects ever since I left the Coast Guard.   It was my first time being in any trouble and I had just gone through the Captains Mast.  After the Captain’s Mast, I learned that I would be discharged from the Coast Guard.  I was still young and didn’t know what else to do.  After almost 6 years, I decided that my discharge was unjust and I needed to try to correct it.  I contacted Ms. Ozbek to see if she could help.  We put our heads together and fought to get my discharge narrative reason and RE Code changed and we won! The board corrected my DD 214 narrative reason from “Misconduct” to “miscellaneous reasons” and changed my RE code.  I could not have done it without the help and guidance of Ms. Ozbek.  I am beyond grateful that she took my case and helped me get my DD 214 changed!”  [Discharge for “Misconduct” changed to Misc. Reasons and RE Code changed].

“I sought legal counsel to correct my DD 214.  My experience with Ferah Ozbek was extremely positive.  She is admirable, patient and will fight for you to correct the injustice in your records.  I am grateful that Ms. Ozbek was willing to examine my case.  She provided me honest feedback and articulated the errors and injustice in my discharge in a legal memorandum that hit all the points spot on.  I highly recommend Ferah Ozbek to anyone who wants to correct the errors and injustices in their discharge from the armed forces.” [Entry level discharge for adjustment disorder was changed to Secretarial Authority.]

“Words can’t express how grateful I am to be represented by Ferah Ozbek.  Ferah is an expert in Discharge Review Boards and she is sincerely passionate about helping military members obtain a just and accurate discharge.  I highly recommend Ferah Ozbek when in need of a Military Law Attorney.”

” Ms. Ozbek impressed me throughout the time I worked with her.  She made the process of upgrading my military discharge less intimidating, and her understanding of the discharge review board made the entire process painless.  Ms. Ozbek was always professional and it was obvious that she takes a personal interest in her client’s success!  A true answer to my prayers!  Ms. Ozbek has given me a sense of confidence about my case that I never felt before!” [OTH discharge for Drug Abuse upgraded to General Under Honorable Conditions]

USMC member’s discharge for Misconduct was upgraded from OTH to fully Honorable Discharge and Narrative Reason was changed from Misconduct to Secretarial Authority.  The Board stated: “The Board further noted that Petitioner provided medical documentation indicating PTSD is directly related to Desert Storm…Petitioner did meet the criteria for PTSD in 1991, 1992, 2020.”  Client finally got justice 30 years later.

–USMC member’s discharge for Drug Abuse upgraded from OTH to General under honorable conditions.

Board for Correction of Military Records

“The mistake I made was not hiring Ferah Ozbek sooner.  Unfortunately for me, my previous legal counsel led me down the wrong path.  They were more interested in getting my money than taking care of me.  This was not the case with Ferah; she is a consummate professional.  She hit the ground running and never slowed down.  She expertly navigated the complexities of my case, resulting in the best possible outcome for my situation.  She was always available for questions and consistently provided expert legal guidance and updates.  The military legal counsel community is a shallow pool but fortunately for the men and women defending this country who have made a mistake, Ferah is a shark in a pool full of minnows.  I cannot say it enough, I wish I had found Ferah sooner.  You owe it to yourself to contact her, you will not regret it.”

Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits  “If you need a correction to your military records, look no further!  I called Ferah when I discovered that I had not assigned at least one month of Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits to each of my dependents prior to retiring from active duty as I did not know this was a requirement. Ferah is an expert in this field and submitted an application for me advocating that my dependent’s denial of GI Bill benefits was unjust based on my specific circumstances.  Ferah knows what the board is looking for and expertly leverages her 25+ years of experience to get results. The BCMR approved my application and I was able to successfully transfer benefits to my 2 sons. The value of this benefit for my son’s college “out of state” equates to almost $200K (there is also an additional Yellow Ribbon Program associated with his school). Once you’re retired/separated from the military, it is extremely difficult to navigate your options with regards to your military records and earned benefits. I give Ms Ferah Ozbek my highest recommendation.”

“I highly recommend Ferah Ozbek if you need help with a correction of your military records.  Prior to my retirement from the US Air Force Reserve, I had inquired about transferring my Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to my daughter. I was incorrectly told that I was I unable to do so because I was ineligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  Due to the incorrect information I was given, my young daughter did not have benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  I consulted Ms. Ozbek to see if she could help me. She answered all of my questions pertaining to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and filed an application with the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR).  The AFBCMR granted my application and corrected my military records to reflect the transfer of my Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to my daughter.  Thanks to Ms. Ozbek’s advocacy, my daughter now has the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits I had earned by serving my country during three deployments after 9/11.” 

“Ferah Ozbek is a life saver! Her assistance through my complicated AFBCMR case was nothing but indispensable.  She immediately made me feel confident in her abilities and expertise. She took a very heavy weight off my shoulders from our first contact which allowed me to refocus on living without constant worry. Ferah is insightful, knowledgeable and extremely responsive.  Her background on sitting on Personnel boards in the past allowed her to see the strengths and weaknesses of my case and to target what really matters to the board.  I appreciated her candor, compassion, and confidence in my case.  I have never had a better wing-man, and have nothing but good to say about her representation.  Ferah is the real deal.  I cannot recommend her highly enough!”

“I hired Ferah Ozbek to help out with a challenging event from my military service. I needed assistance in seeking a wrong to be corrected by the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records.  Before I spoke with Ferah, the event was extremely stressful and I felt hopeless.  Ferah quickly put me at ease.  Within minutes of our first phone consultation I knew she was the right person and would do everything she could to present my case.  While I wish I never had to seek an attorney’s services, things happen for a reason.  Finding Ferah happened for a reason.  I am extremely thankful and would hire her again in a heartbeat!”