What You Need to Know About Your DD214
Your DD Form 214, also known as just DD214, is the official name of your military discharge papers. Every Veteran should receive this Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty when they leave military service. Vets should hold on tight to this form, as it’s one of the most important documents they may receive from their time in the military.
What Is a DD214 Form and Why Is It Important?
Essentially, the DD214 form serves as proof of service for all branches of the military. As such, it is vital to getting many kinds of benefits. The form provides a complete summary of a Vet’s military service, listing important information such as dates of service and the type of discharge.
The information listed in a DD214 may include but is not limited to:
- Active-duty information, including entry date
- Place of entry into active duty
- Home address at time of entry
- Mailing address after separation
- Last duty assignment and rank obtained before getting out
- Military occupational specialty (MOS)
- Military education
- Decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign awards
- Service length
- Any foreign service
- Separation information (type, character of service, authority/reason for separation, eligibility codes
Your DD214 is an important document because the information it contains is usually necessary to prove your military service when applying for benefits, retirement, employment, etc.
Most Veterans need a DD214 for the following:
- Determining VA benefits
- Determining unemployment compensation
- Home loans
- Civilian employment
- Veteran organizations membership
- Social Security
- Burial/flag
- Education
- Homeless veteran services
- Medical services
How Can I Get a Copy of My DD214?
Veterans are entitled to receive copies of their records for free. Watch out for ads or people claiming that you have to pay to get your DD214, as they are likely scams. Here are a few ways you can request a copy of your DD214:
- Via the eVetRecs website.
- Access your records via milConnect. Go to the VA website for instructions.
- Download the Form SF 180 mail it to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at 1 Archives Dr., St. Louis, Missouri 63138.
- Fax the completed Form SF 180 to the NPRC at 314-801-9195.
- Visit the National Personnel Records Center in person.
- Contact your state or county veterans agency
We are Veterans Helping Veterans
The Veteran Legal Assistance Program is here to support Veterans and Active-Duty service members. We want to inform you of the issues affecting the Veteran community and connect you with people we trust.
We’ve got your six.
