How do I request military service records?
You can request your military records in any of these ways:
- Mail or fax a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form SF 180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
- Write a letter to the NPRC.
- Visit the NPRC in person.
- Contact your state or county Veterans agency.
- Hire an independent researcher.
How do I verify previous military service?
Military personnel records are open to the public 62 years after a service member leaves the military. You can find veterans’ military service records from World War I to the present in the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Simply call NPRC or submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by mail.
Is a dd214 public record?
Without the consent of the veteran or next-of-kin, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) can only release limited information from the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) to the general public.
Is your military service number your Social Security number?
Since that time, social security numbers have become the de facto military service number for United States armed forces personnel. New regulations declared that on all but the most official of documents (such as a DD Form 214 or evaluation reports) social security numbers would only list the last four digits.
What does a military service number look like?
The following formats were used to denote U.S. military service numbers: 12-345-678: United States Army and U.S. Air Force enlisted service numbers. 1234-340: United States Coast Guard enlisted service numbers. 123456: United States Marine Corps enlisted service numbers.
What does RA mean on dog tags?
volunteer enlisted
What is the recommended way to ask if someone is a military veteran?
What to Ask
- How long did you serve?
- What did you do (in the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Guard, or Reserves)?
- Why did you choose that branch?
- Do you come from a military family?
- Did you visit any other countries?
- Where was your favorite place you lived?
- How’s your family doing?
- What do you do outside of work?