How
to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service
(DD
Form 214, DD-214, DD214)
Military
personnel records can be used for proving military service, or as
a valuable tool in genealogical research. Most veterans and their
next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD
Form 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical
records several ways:
1. Required
Information
Your request must
contain certain basic information for us to locate your service records.
This information includes:
* The veteran's
complete name used while in service
* Service number
* Social security number
* Branch of service
* Dates of service
* Date and place of birth (especially if the service number is not
known).
* If you suspect your records may have been involved in the 1973
fire, also include:
- Place of
discharge
- Last unit
of assignment
- Place of
entry into the service, if known.
* All requests must be signed and dated by the veteran or next-of-kin.
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2. Recommended Information (optional)
While this information
is not required, it is extremely helpful to NPRC staff in understanding
and fulfilling your request:
* The purpose
or reason for your request, such as applying for veterans benefits,
preparing to retire, or researching your personal military history.
* Any deadlines related to your request. We will do our best to meet
any priorities. For example, you may be applying for a VA-guaranteed
Home Loan and need to provide proof of military service by a specific
date.
* Any other specific information, documents or records you require
from your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) besides your Report
of Separation (DD Form 214).
3. Emergency
Requests and Deadlines
If there is an
emergency or deadline associated with your request, please explain
this in the "Comments" section of eVetRecs
or in the "Purpose" section of the SF-180
so that we fully understand the situation and we will do our best
to meet your priority.
Information
for people affected by Hurricane Katrina
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4. Where to send my request
You can mail or
fax your signed and dated request to the National Archives's National
Personnel Record Center (NPRC). Most, but not all records, are stored
at the NPRC. Be sure to use the address specified by eVetRecs or the
instructions on the SF-180. The locations of military service records
for active and retired personnel are listed at
Location
of Military Service Records.
* NPRC Fax Number
:
314-801-9195
* NPRC Mailing
Address:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
314-801-0800
Please note that
requests which are sent by Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS, or other "express"
services will only arrive at the NPRC sooner. They will not be processed
any faster than standard requests. See the section above on emergency
requests and deadlines.
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5. Cost:
Military personnel
and health record information is usually free for veterans, next-of-kin,
and authorized representatives. If your request involves a service
fee, you will be notified as soon as possible.
NOTE: Some records
(Navy and Marine Corps enlisted personnel pre-1939) are in the process
of being accessioned into the National Archives' collection and are
no longer considered part of the NPRC, but are now part of the new
Archival Programs Division. Standard reproduction charges may
apply for copies of these documents. The process for requesting these
records remains the same for now.
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6.
Response Time:
The National Personnel
Records Center (NRPC) normally responds to requests for Separation
Documents (such as DD Form 214) in ten (10) working days or less.
However, requests that involve reconstruction efforts due to the 1973
fire or older records which require extensive search efforts may take
much longer (such as requests for your complete OMPF). You will receive
our response in writing by U.S. Mail.
7. Checking the Status of Your Request:
Once you have
allowed sufficient time for us to receive and process your request
(about 10 days), you may check the status of your request by e-mail
through our NPRC Customer Service Center at mprstatus@nara.gov.
Please provide your name, request number if you have one, service
number and social security number to allow us to access your request
in our system. You will receive a return e-mail from us with a projected
completion date for your request.
You may also telephone
the NPRC Customer Service Line (this is a long-distance call for most
customers): 314-801-0800
Note: Our peak
calling times are weekdays between 10:00 am CST and 3:00 pm CST. Staff
is available to take your call as early as 7:00 am and as late as
5:00 pm cst.
This number will
allow you to hold until a technician is available to help you.
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8. Other Methods to Obtain your Military Service Records
Other potential
methods to obtain your records include writing
a letter, visiting the NPRC, contacting your state or county,
or hiring an independent researcher. See Other
Methods to Obtain your Military Service Records for more details.
NOTE: Some companies
advertise DD Form 214 research services and will charge a fee for
obtaining copies. This is provided as a free service by the National
Archives and Records Administration.
9. Access
to Military Records by the General Public
Limited information
from Official Military Personnel Files is releasable to the general
public without the consent of the veteran or the next-of-kin. You
are considered a member of the general public if you are asking about
a veteran who is no relation to you, or a veteran who is a relative
but you are not the next-of-kin. Next-of-kin is defined as the unremarried
widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister
of the deceased veteran.
Access
to Military Records by the General Public and Researchers for
details on how to request service records.
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