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Form Availability. If the form number does not have a hyperlink, the form is not available electronically. To obtain hard copies of current forms not available in electronic format, please contact your own Military Service or DoD Component Forms Management Officer. Whp,qglfdwhwkhfruuhfwwlwohriwkhdssrlqwhh 0lolwdu 3rvwdo&ohun 8qlw0dlo&ohunru 0dlo2ughuo,whp 6wdwhwkhh[dfwdfwlylw l h 6t*s 6kls v1dph%1 &2%62 1&2&oxe ([fkdqjh.
The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a 'DD 214', is a document of the United StatesDepartment of Defense, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, e.g., U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, or U.S. Navy.
History and usage[edit]
The first DD Form 214s were issued in 1950, replacing the older 'WD AGO' (War Department Adjutant General's Office) Forms and the NAVPERS (Naval Personnel) discharge documents. These documents had existed since 1941. In earlier versions of the form (1 November 1972) it was called a 'Report of Separation from Active Duty'; the current title dates from 1 July 1979.
DD Form 214 is the capstone military service document, as it represents the complete, verified record of a service member's time in the military (Active and Reserve), awards and medals, and other pertinent service information, such as highest rank/rate and pay grade held on active duty, total military combat service or overseas service, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) or Navy officer designator, Navy Officer Billet Code (NOBC), Additional Qualification Designation (ACD) or Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) identifiers and a record of training and schools completed. Individuals who served exclusively in the Air National Guard or Army National Guard do not receive a DD Form 214, but will receive a form called NGB-22 from the National Guard Bureau.
The DD Form 214 is commonly used by various government agencies, chief among them the Department of Veterans Affairs, to secure veteran benefits, and may be requested by employers should a person indicate he or she has served in the military.
This document also contains codes used by the Armed Forces to describe a former servicemember's reason for discharge and, in the case of enlisted personnel, their reenlistment eligibility. These codes are known as Separation Designator/Separation Justification (abbreviated as SPD/SJC) Codes and Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) Codes, respectively.
DD Form 214 is also generally required by funeral directors in order to immediately prove eligibility for interment in a VA cemetery, to obtain a grave marker or to provide military honors to a deceased veteran. On September 1, 2000, the National Defense Authorization Act enabled, upon the family's request, every eligible veteran to receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include the folding and presentation of the United States burial flag and the sounding of Taps at no cost to the family.
Copies of DD Form 214s are typically maintained by the government as part of a service member's 201 file or OMPF (Official Military Personnel File). The 201 file generally contains additional personnel related forms.
Available versions[edit]
There are two versions of the DD Form 214, usually referred to simply as 'short' or 'redacted' or 'deleted' (edited), and 'long' or 'unredacted' or 'undeleted' (unedited) copies. The edited, or 'short', copy omits a great deal of information, chiefly the Characterization of Service, Reason for Separation, and Authority for Separation.[1][2]
Copies[edit]
Service members are given the option of accepting the 'short form' edited Member 1, 'long form' unedited Member 4 or both copies upon separation.
The most important copy of the DD 214 for the individual is the long form copy. It is the standard form needed to obtain benefits such as GI Bill or government employment priority.
There are eight original DD214 copies. All but Member 1, the 'short form' copy, contain information as to the nature and type of discharge, and the re-enlistment code. This code is used to determine whether or not the service member can go back into the service. For unemployment benefits, veterans affairs benefits, as well as for several other services, the 'Member's Copy 4' is usually requested but any other 'long form' copy is acceptable. All eight copies are identical except Member 1, the 'short form,' which lacks this critical information. The military will not provide a replacement 'Member's Copy 4' (it is the service member's personal copy and physically given to him at separation) and any request for a replacement is always honored by providing a 'Service 2', 'Service 7' or 'Service 8' copy. All but Member 1 are acceptable legal substitutes for Member 4.
Other versions of the DD Form 214 include the 'Member 1' (deleted version), 'Service 7 & 8' (additional copies of the 'Service 2'), 'Veterans Affairs 3' (sent directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs), 'Member 6' (provided to the respective veteran's State Department of Veteran Affairs), and 'Department of Labor 5' (provided directly to the United States Department of Labor).
If for whatever reason an original DD214 is unusable, unreadable, or destroyed, upon verification of service, the National Personnel Record Center can issue NA Form 13038, a Certification of Military Service, which is also a perfect legal substitute for DD214.
Electronic Cost-Free Copy of DD 214[edit]
eBenefits, a web portal[3] managed jointly by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the United States Department of Defense (DoD) provides Service members with free electronic copies of their Official Military Personnel File, including their DD Form 214. Electronic copies will be provided within 48 hours from the time of request. In order for a service members to request a DD 214 in eBenefits, theymust have an eBenefits Premium Account ( DS Logon Level 2[4]).
Paper Cost-Free Copy of DD 214[edit]
The National Personnel Records Center is the government agency tasked with replacing lost and destroyed DD Form 214s upon request from a veteran. Requested copies are mailed from the Military Personnel Records Center. Most veterans who separated from their service generally pre-1992 can obtain their DD 214 from the National Personnel Records Center, ('NPRC'). The NPRC has two distinct tracks available to obtain records for veterans. The first is for the veteran to submit a Department of Defense Standard Form 180 ('SF180') to the facility via mail or fax. The second is to appear in-person at the facility. The National Archives also maintains a list of independent researchers who will physically visit the St. Louis facility to request records in person.[5]
Corrections[edit]
The DD Form 215 ('Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty') is used to correct errors or additions to a DD Form 214 discovered after the original had been delivered or distribution had been made. It is distributed in the same manner as the DD Form 214.GED is not on DD 214
Distribution[edit]
A DD Form 214/215 is prepared in eight copies and distributed as follows:
- Copy 1 – Service Member
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See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Northwest Justice Project. 'Sample DD 214'. RepWaVets.org (Representing Washington Veterans). Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^DD214.TLD. 'Your DD214 and Veterans' Employment Opportunities: DD214 and Jobs'. DD214.us. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^eBenefits Site Tour. YouTube. 17 October 2012.
- ^How to Get a DS Logon for eBenefits. YouTube. 9 May 2014.
- ^How To Acquire Your DD214, Military Separation Records. YouTube. 12 May 2014.
External links[edit]
- How to get copies of Military Service Records (e.g.,: DD 214/DD 215) - National Archives
- Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes (PDF)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DD_Form_214&oldid=926930556'
The National Archives and Records Administration cannot make changes or corrections to military records or to your discharge status other than to make minor administrative corrections to fix some typographical errors.
You will need to apply to the review board for your respective service branch for corrections or changes. Instructions on what to submit for each are listed below.
(DO NOT submit these forms to the National Archives. Be sure to use the appropriate address for your service branch as listed on the back of the form.)
The following information is from the Department of Veteran's Affairs Guide to Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents and is provided as a courtesy. We encourage you to check directly with the VA for updates or changes:
- Military Service Record
Submit DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Recordsto the relevant service branch.- Please Note: The form is expired at the time of posting, we are awaiting update from the DoD Forms Manager. In the interim, this form can be used until a new version is released.
- Discharge Status
Submit DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United Statesto the relevant service branch.
Correction of Military Records
The secretary of a military department, acting through a board for correction of military records, has authority to change any military record when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. A correction board may consider applications for correction of a military record, including a review of a discharge issued by courts martial.
The veteran, survivor or legal representative generally must file a request for correction within three years after discovery of an alleged error or injustice. The board may excuse failure to file within the prescribed time, however, if it finds it would be in the interest of justice to do so. It is an applicant’s responsibility to show why the filing of the application was delayed and why it would be in the interest of justice for the board to consider it despite the delay.
To justify any correction, it is necessary to show to the satisfaction of the board that the alleged entry or omission in the records was in error or unjust. Applications should include all available evidence, such as signed statements of witnesses or a brief of arguments supporting the requested correction. Application is made with DD Form 149, available at VA offices, from veterans organizations or from the Internet ( http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/index.htm).
Review of Discharges
Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with authority to change, correct or modify discharges or dismissals that are not issued by a sentence of a general courts-martial. The board has no authority to address medical discharges. The veteran or, if the veteran is deceased or incompetent, the surviving spouse, next of kin or legal representative may apply for a review of discharge by writing to the military department concerned, using DoD Form 293. This form may be obtained at a VA regional office, from veterans organizations or from the Internet: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/index.htm. However, if the discharge was more than 15 years ago, a veteran must petition the appropriate service Board for Correction of Military Records using DoD Form 149, which is discussed in the “Correction of Military Records” section of this booklet. A discharge review is conducted by a review of an applicant’s record and, if requested, by a hearing before the board.
Discharges awarded as a result of a continuous period of unauthorized absence in excess of 180 days make persons ineligible for VA benefits regardless of action taken by discharge review boards, unless VA determines there were compelling circumstances for the absence. Boards for the correction of military records also may consider such cases.
Veterans with disabilities incurred or aggravated during active military service may qualify for medical or related benefits regardless of separation and characterization of service. Veterans separated administratively under other than honorable conditions may request that their discharge be reviewed for possible recharacterization, provided they file their appeal within 15 years of the date of separation. Questions regarding the review of a discharge should be addressed to the appropriate discharge review board at the address listed on DoD Form 293.