Federal Government Form Dd 214

Who Gets A Dd

Every veteran receives a short and long copy of their DD Form 214 upon discharge from the military. Copies are also sent to federal and state agencies, including the VA. The original copy of the document usually stays at the military branch for which the veteran served. After a certain amount of time, the government moves it to a permanent federal archive.

Military personnel in active or inactive reserves are not entirely separated from service. Therefore, they cannot obtain a DD-214 yet. The same is true for National Guard members or personnel who havent completed service or have been formerly discharged.

The two forms of DD-214 are:

• Copy 1: Short form
• Copy 4: Long form

The long form includes information about the service members nature of discharge. Employers and government agencies may require the long form when the veterans discharge status is relevant, such as for security purposes. The long form may also be necessary for certain military benefits.

Difference Between Long And Short Dd

Service members receive two versions of the DD-214:

• Copy 1: Short form
• Copy 4: Long form

The long form contains information about the service members character of discharge, including separation and re-entry codes. Government agencies and employers may ask for the long form when discharge status is relevant, such as for security clearances. You may also need the long form to access veterans benefits.

What Is The Dd Form 214

The DD-214 is a document that proves military service and discharge from the military. The Department of Defense issues this certificate to every service member upon discharge.

This form details how the discharge occurred, which can be:

• Other than honorable

A dishonorable discharge disqualifies veterans from VA burial benefits. If a veteran is discharged other than honorable, they are still entitled to VA benefits depending on the discharge type.

In order to secure benefits, many veterans will need a form 214 to prove their service.

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Once Ive Signed In To Milconnect How Do I Request My Dd214 Or Other Military Records

Follow these steps to submit a military records request.

When Do You Get A Dd Form 214

A DD-214 is a Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty that veterans and service members need to apply for certain military benefits, college discounts, Department of Veterans Affairs loans, association membership, and other benefits.

If you are a veteran or a family member of a veteran looking to obtain copies of military service records, this article will detail all the information you need.

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Where Do You Get A Dd

Upon official discharge, the office from which you are discharged will personally provide a copy of your DD-214 or have it mailed to you. If you lose your form or are a relative of a veteran that needs it, you can request another copy.

Veterans and family members can obtain DD-214s from The National Archives. You can send a signed and dated request via fax or mail to the National Archives National Personnel Record Center using the Standard Form 180 Request Pertaining to Military Records.

NPRC Fax Number :

St. Louis, MO 63138PHONE: 314-801-0800

You can also send a request online through eVetRecs. After completing the form on the web page, print, sign, and either fax or mail the signature page to the address specified on the request form.

Your Dd214 And Veterans’ Employment Opportunities

Service members transitioning from the military today are some of the most educated, technically savvy, professionally qualified the armed forces have ever produced,says Willie Hensley, deputy assistant secretary for human resources management and labor relations for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Soldiers receive training in areas such as engineering, health care, information technology and security.

Generally, employers will ask those claiming prior military service to provide a copy of their discharge form, DD214. While most employers are not permitted to disqualify applicants for a less than honorable discharge, the DD214 will disclose all of the veteran’s military schools and training, as well awards and commendations.

Employers and others needing proof of military service are expected to accept the information shown on documents issued by the military service department at the time a service member is separated. Employers can only verify military service through a DD214. For that reason, they will generally request an”undeleted certified copy“.

Certification is accomplished by the adding of a seal by the repository where your DD214 is located and from where it was retrieved. Of course through credit verification, address verification and reference checks employers can easily determine if a falsified or forged DD214 has been tendered. But overall, the DD214 itself is the main source of military service verification.

Examples of a few spin codes:

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Dd Form 214 Discharge Papers And Separation Documents

A Report of Separation is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of active duty training. The Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veterans’ organizations. Information shown on the Report of Separation may include the service member’s:

• Date and place of entry into active duty
• Home address at time of entry
• Date and place of release from active duty
• Last duty assignment and rank
• Foreign service credited

The report of separation form issued in most recent years is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and the NAVCG 553.

Who May Request A Dd

You may request military records if you are a veteran or the next of kin of a deceased veteran. The next of kin can be any of the following:

• A surviving spouse who was not remarried

A next of kin must provide proof of the veterans death to make a request. Valid documents include a death certificate, a published obituary, or a letter from the funeral home.

If the veteran is still alive, the requester must obtain authorization from the veteran or next of kin to obtain military service and medical records. The authorization must:

• Include additional information or copies the NPRC may release
• Include the signature of the veteran or next of kin

Without authorization from the veteran or the next of kin, the NPRC can only release limited information from non-archival OMPF.

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Where To Send My Request

You can mail or fax your signed and dated request to the National Archives’ National Personnel Record Center . Be sure to use the address specified ” rel=”nofollow”> eVetRecs). Most, but not all records, are stored at the NPRC.

NPRC Fax Number :

St. Louis, MO 63138 PHONE: 314-801-0800* *Our peak calling times are weekdays between 10:00 a.m. CT and 3:00 p.m. CT. Staff is available to take your call as early as 7:00 a.m. and as late as 5:00 p.m. CT.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.

Other potential methods to obtain your records include:

• Writing a letter
• Contacting your state or county

See Other Methods to Obtain your Military Service Records for more details, or see more information on access to the general public.

Special Note on Contacting by Email: Requests for military personnel records or information from them cannot be accepted by email at this time. The Privacy Act of 1974 and Department of Defense directives require a written request, signed and dated, to access information from military personnel records. Our email address should only be used only to request general information or to submit compliments, complaints, or concerns.

Welcome Veterans And Their Families To The Dd214 Website

If you’d like to learn everything possible about DD Form 214, commonly referred to as just DD214, you’ve come to the right place. But, before we get into the minutia, the DD214’s history, importance and many uses, most people who visit this site simply want to know the best method to acquire a certified copy of their DD214. In order to save you some time, we’ve placed a link to The Best Method to Acquire Your DD214 first.

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The Information Displayed On A Dd

• Date and place of entry into active duty
• Home address at time of entry
• Date and place of release from active duty
• Home address after separation
• Last duty assignment and rank
• Military job specialty
• Total creditable service
• Foreign Service credited

Before January 1, 1950 several similar forms were used, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and the NAVCG 553.

Dd 214 Military Discharge

Although it is not required, filing your DD 214 with the Bexar County Clerks Office provides permanent retention of the record. Doing so allows the County Clerks Office to provide a certified copy of your DD 214 should you need a replacement copy for your records in the future. An original, complete DD 214 must be provided for the filing and will be returned once the filing is completed.

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How To Get A Dd

If you need a family members DD-214 to plan their burial in a VA cemetery, call the VAs national cemetery scheduling office at 800-535-1117 for assistance.

Next of kin and authorized representatives can request a DD-214 copy from the National Archives Website. Fill out and sign an SF-180, and submit it along with other required documents.

Below are the step-by-step instructions on how to obtain a DD-214 for a relative who has died:

• Go to the National Archives Website and click on the blue box labeled Start Request Online under Looking for records? DD214/Separation Documents. It will bring you to a new page with the Privacy Act of 1974 compliance information and the Paperwork Reduction Act public burden statement. Click on Make a new request.
• Answer the two questions. You must be the legal representative or next-of-kin: parents , siblings, offspring or surviving unremarried spouse of the deceased. Press Continue.
• Fill out the veterans service details: branch of service, service component, enlisted or officer rank and the purpose of the request. If this is for burial, choose emergency request as the purpose. Press Continue.
• Fill out the veterans personal information such as full name, date of birth, place of birth, Social Security number, service number and approximate end date of service.
• As next of kin, you must submit proof of death of the veteran. Examples include a copy of the death certificate or a letter from the funeral home.

Who Can Make The Request

Veterans and next-of-kin of deceased veterans have the same access rights to the record. The next-of-kin is defined as any of the following:

• the un-remarried widow or widower
• brother or sister

In the event a next-of-kin is making the request, proof of death of the veteran must be provided. Acceptable proof include: a death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, or a published obituary.

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Requesting A Dd214 Form: The Process And How Long It Takes

DD214 forms should be treated like Social Security cards or birth certificates. For example, its a good idea to keep it in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet along with your other sensitive personal documents. Paperwork does get misplaced, damaged, or destroyed, however, which is why the National Personnel Records Center will provide replacement forms.

You can request a copy of your own DD214 form online via the National Archives. The next of kin for a deceased vet can also use the online system to request the form the government considers next of kin to be an unmarried surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. You can also send a request via mail or fax by completing the SF-180 form to request military records.

However you request the form, the NPRC will need certain information to find the correct record. The information it requires includes:

• The veterans complete name, service number, date of birth, place of birth, and Social Security number
• The branch the vet served with
• Dates of service

The request must also be signed by the vet or his or her next of kin.

Its free to request a DD214 copy be returned to you via mail, fax, or the online portal. You can also pay a service to go to the NPRC to conduct the research immediately, which can speed up the process. If you plan to use such a service, check out the section below on avoiding retrieval scams. Most people who request the document themselves receive it in approximately six to eight weeks.

Emergency Requests And Deadlines:

If your request is urgent and there is a deadline associated with your request, please provide this information in the Comments section of eVetRecs or in the Purpose section of the SF-180 form and fax it to the Customer Service Team at 801-0764.

If your burial request involves internment at a Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery, contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 535-1117 or click HERE.

If the veteran is not going to be interned at a National Cemetery, the requester may fax the SF-180 or signature page from eVetRecs to the Customer Service Team at 801-0764).

If you request involves the burial of a Marine Corps veteran, you may also contact the USMC Liaison Officer at 538-2344 or click HERE

If you need help or immediate assistance completing your request call:

National Personnel Record Center:

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How Can You Check The Status Of Your Request

Allow the National Personnel Records Center enough time to receive and process your request. Afterward, you can check your status online on eVetRecs using your request number.

If you do not know your request number, use the Online Status Update Request form and provide the following information:

• The name, address, and phone number of the requester
• The veterans branch of service this information can help staff find the request on the NPRC online system

You can also call the NPRC Customer Service Line at 314-801-0800. Peak calling times are weekdays between 10:00 AM CST and 3:00 PM CST. The customer service team takes calls between 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

What You Need To Know To Get A Copy Of Dd214

So you say you cant find your separation document and you need to get a copy of DD214? Or you need to find it for your relative?

You can obtain separation documents through The National Archives.

Receiving a copy of your DD214 doesn’t have to be a headache. Read on for more information and details. We’ve helped tens of thousands of veterans get their copy!

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What Information Is On The Dd Form 214

The DD-124 includes details of a service members separation from service. Apart from the discharge status of the personnel, the DD-124 may include other information, such as:

• Date and place of entry into active duty
• Home address at the time of entry
• Date and place of release from active duty
• Home address after separation from the military
• Last rank and duty assignment
• Military education
• Awards, decorations, badges, citations, and campaign awards related to military service
• Total creditable service, both domestic and foreign

What If Im Not The Veteran Or Next

• It depends on the date the service member separated from the military. Military personnel records are open to the public 62 years after they leave the military. Records of any veteran who separated from the military 62 years ago can be ordered by anyone for a copying fee . See Access to Military Records by the General Public for more details.

But what if it’s been less than 62 years?

• Records of individuals who left service less than 62 years ago are subject to access restrictions and only limited information or copies may be released to the general public within the provisions of the law. The Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act provide balance between the right of the public to obtain information from military service records and the right of the former military service member to protect his/her privacy. See Federal Records Center Program to access these records.

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The Dd: A Vital Document For Those Discharged From The Military

The DD214 is a vital document and should be treated with the same care Social Security cards, marriage licenses, and birth certificates are. If you do lose your DD214, a copy can be requested. Since the form is so critical in accessing benefits, its a good idea to check now: do you have the form? If not, consider requesting it now before it becomes an emergency for yourself or your loved ones.

Interested in more information on Veteran death benefits and memorialization? Click the button below to download our complete guide.

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