DD-214

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is it?

2. Is it important?

3. Should it be recorded somewhere?

4. How should I store it?

5. Who should know where it is?

The Right Answers!

1. The DD-214 is the Defense Department form that details your separation from Active Duty service. It will list all of your pertinent information concerning your time in the military including your active duty dates.

2. It is as important as your Birth Certificate, Marriage License, Social Security Card, and financial records.

3. It is strongly recommended that you record your original DD-214 with the Clerk at your Courthouse.

4. Before you store it, you should make several copies of it and store one in a plastic sleeve.

5. Your wife, children, and the Executor of your Estate should know where your DD-214 is located. This will be needed for many things when you die.

If you do not have the original copy of your DD-214, then you can write to the following and request a copy(need your Name, Service #, and Dates of service):

                Military Personal Record Center
                9700 Pace Avenue
                St. Louis, MO 63132

GETTING YOUR MILITARY RECORDS ON-LINE

If you are looking for a copy of your military records, you can now do this online. Go to Web site: archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/index.html

You will get the following information:

Welcome to the online military personnel records request system.

Use their system to create a customized order form to request information from your, or your relative's, military personnel records. You may use this system if you are:

A military veteran, or next of kin of a deceased, former member of the military. The next of kin can be any of the following: surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother.

How to Initiate a Request for Military Personnel Records:

Click on the "Request Military Records" button to start. This will launch a separate window.
Enter the required information in the system to create your customized request form. There are 4 steps that you need to navigate. The system will guide you through the steps and tell you exactly which step you are on.
Print, sign and date the signature verification area of your customized form. If you don't have a printer, have a pen and paper handy and they will guide you through the process. This is important because the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that all requests for records and information be submitted in writing. Each request must be signed and dated by the veteran or next of kin.
Mail or fax your signature verification form to them, and they will process your request. You must do this within the first 20 days of entering your request, or your request will be removed from their system.

Note: If you experience problems using eVetRecs, please see their Help and FAQs page.

We will Never forget you...

We will never forget our POW's and MIA's

Page Created by Joe Schroen.

Page Maintained by Jerry Coleman.

Updated 8/23/2005