VA benefits
Disability, health care, education, pension and other benefit applications.
Military records assistance
Need a copy of your DD Form 214?
Your DD Form 214 is the official summary of a period of active-duty service. Use this guide to request a replacement from the correct federal records office—without paying an unnecessary third-party fee.
Official source: Most veterans and eligible next of kin can request basic service records from the National Archives at no charge.
Is this for an urgent burial, surgery or emergency?
Do not use the routine process without identifying the emergency. The National Archives provides a priority procedure for urgent requests.
Start here
Which situation applies to you?
Choose one option. The page will show the most appropriate starting point.
Recommended starting point
Select your situation above
We’ll point you to the appropriate official instructions. This tool does not collect or transmit personal information.
About the document
What is a DD Form 214?
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, summarizes a service member’s active-duty service when they separate, retire or are released from active duty.
It commonly records service dates, character of service, rank, specialty, awards and other separation information. Earlier veterans may have a different separation document that serves the same purpose.
Burial benefits
Eligibility for a national cemetery, burial flag or military funeral honors.
Employment
Veterans’ preference, licensing or proof of qualifying military service.
Membership and records
Veterans organization eligibility and personal or family recordkeeping.
Three official methods
How to request a copy
Choose the method that works best for you. Use only official government websites and forms.
Recommended
Request online through eVetRecs
The National Archives’ online system creates a customized request for the veteran or eligible next of kin.
- Open the National Archives request page.
- Select Start Request Online.
- Complete identity verification through ID.me.
- Provide the requested service details and submit.
Paper option
Submit Standard Form 180
Download SF-180 if you prefer to submit the request by mail or fax or cannot complete the online process.
- Download and complete all applicable sections.
- Sign and date the form.
- Use the chart on the last page to identify the correct destination.
- Mail or fax it to the address or number shown for your service record.
Some recent records
Check milConnect/DPRIS
Some veterans with more recent separation dates may be able to download documents from their Official Military Personnel File through the Department of Defense.
- Air Force: after October 1, 2004
- Army: after October 1, 2002
- Marine Corps: after January 1, 1999
- Navy: after January 1, 1995
Availability depends on whether your service repository has the document. A milConnect account is required.
Go to milConnect Marine Corps and Coast Guard note
VA guidance says Marines who served from 1998 to the present and Coast Guard members who served from 2008 to the present may need to contact their personnel command. You may still submit through the National Archives, which can route the request.
Requesting another person’s record
Next of kin and public access
Privacy rules depend on your relationship to the veteran and how long ago the veteran left military service.
Eligible next of kin
For a deceased veteran, the National Archives recognizes these relatives as next of kin:
- Surviving spouse who has not remarried
- Parent
- Child
- Sibling
Include proof of death, such as a death certificate, funeral-home letter or published obituary.
General public requests
Military personnel records become archival and open to the public 62 years after the service member’s separation from the military. Archival-copy fees may apply.
For separations less than 62 years ago, the public may receive only limited information unless the veteran or eligible next of kin provides authorization.
Priority requests
Burials, surgery and urgent needs
Clearly identify the emergency so the request reaches the correct priority process.
Online emergency request
In eVetRecs, select Emergency Request in the Veteran Service Details section and provide the reason and deadline.
Emergency request by fax
State the emergency in the "Purpose” section of SF-180 and fax it to the National Archives Customer Service Team at 314-801-0764.
VA national cemetery burial
Call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. The scheduling office can work directly with the National Archives to verify service.
Natural-disaster replacement requests: If you need a replacement separation document because of a natural disaster, enter Natural Disaster in the eVetRecs comments or the SF-180 purpose section so the National Archives can identify the request for priority handling.
Read official emergency instructions Protect your information
Keep personal data on official forms
Your request may require a service number or Social Security number. Enter that information only through an official federal website or on the signed SF-180 sent to the correct records custodian.
- VFW Post 7824 does not collect, store or transmit DD Form 214 request information through this page.
- Do not email your Social Security number, date of birth or an unredacted DD Form 214 to the Post.
- Most basic requests for veterans and eligible next of kin are free through the National Archives.
Common questions
Before you submit
Does it cost money to request a DD Form 214?
Basic requests from veterans, eligible next of kin and authorized representatives for non-archival federal records are generally free. Records that became archival 62 years after separation can have copying fees. Commercial record-retrieval companies may charge for a service the National Archives often provides at no cost.
Do I need to request a DD Form 214 before applying for VA benefits?
VA states that when you submit an application for VA benefits, VA will request your DD Form 214 after receiving the application. You do not have to request it separately from the National Archives solely for that application.
How long will the request take?
Response time depends on the complexity of the request, availability of the record and workload. The National Archives asks requesters not to submit a follow-up before 90 days have elapsed because duplicate follow-ups can cause delays. Emergency needs use a separate priority procedure.
How do I check an existing request?
Allow about 10 days for the National Personnel Records Center to receive and initiate processing before checking the request status. Use the official status page, call NPRC Customer Service at 314-801-0800, or call toll-free at 1-866-272-6272. Staff are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time on weekdays.
What if my Army or Air Force record was damaged in the 1973 NPRC fire?
Many Army and Air Force personnel files from portions of 1912–1964 were damaged or destroyed. Alternate records may still be used to reconstruct service. Provide as much unit, discharge and entry information as possible.
What if the DD Form 214 contains an error?
A replacement copy does not correct the underlying military record. The National Archives directs correction requests to the appropriate service personnel command or service review board. DD Form 149 is generally used for military-record corrections, while DD Form 293 is used for a discharge review.
Free veterans assistance
Need help with the next step?
VFW Accredited Service Officers help veterans navigate VA claims and benefits at no charge. They can explain what records may be useful, but the National Archives or the appropriate service branch is the official record custodian.
Official references
Verify current instructions
This page summarizes official federal guidance. Agency instructions control if requirements, contact details or processing procedures change.
