Request Military Service Records

 Recent military service and medical records are not online. However, most veterans and their next of kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and the following military service records any of the ways listed below. 

• DD 214/ Separation Documents
• Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)
• Replacement Medals
• Medical and Health Records

• Burials and Emergency Requests
  (Same day service possible)
• Natural Disaster Requests

• It depends on the date the service member separated from the military. Military personnel records are open to the public 62 years after they leave the military. (To calculate this, take the current year and subtract 62.) Records of any veteran who separated from the military 62 (or more) years ago can be ordered by anyone for a copying fee (detailed below under “cost”). See Access to Military Records by the General Public for more details.

But what if it's been less than 62 years?

• Records of individuals who left service less than 62 years ago are  subject to access restrictions and only limited information or copies may be released to the general public within the provisions of the law. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act provide balance between the right of the public to obtain information from military service records and the right of the former military service member to protect his/her privacy. See Federal Records Center Program to access these records.

Generally there is no charge for basic military personnel and medical record information provided to veterans, next of kin and authorized representatives from Federal (non-archival) records.

Some companies advertise DD Form 214 research services and will charge a fee for obtaining copies. This is provided as a free service by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Costs for Discharge Dates MORE than 62 years ago:

There is a fee for records that are considered "Archival," which depends on the discharge date. If the request is made 62 years after the service member's separation from the military, the records are now open to the public and subject to the public fee schedule (44 USC 2116c and 44 USC 2307). This is a rolling date, the current year minus 62 years. Learn more.

These archival requests require the purchase of the COMPLETE photocopy of the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF):

• A routine OMPFs of 5 pages or less: $25 flat fee
• A routine OMPF of 6 pages or more: $70 flat fee (most OMPFs fall in this category)
• Persons of Exceptional Prominence (PEP) OMPF: $.80 cents per page ($20 minimum)

If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as that determination is made.

Response times from NPRC vary depending on the complexity of your request, the availability of the records, and our workload.

• Requests for separation documents DD 214 within 10 days (about 92% of the time)
• Requests that involve reconstruction efforts due to the 1973 Fire, or older records that require extensive search efforts, may take 6 months or more to complete.

We work actively to respond to each request in a timely fashion, keep in mind we receive approximately 4,000 - 5,000 requests per day.  

Please do not send a follow-up request before 90 days have elapsed, as it may cause further delays.

RESPONSE TIME: Most Requests for seperation 

Response times from NPRC vary depending on the complexity of your request, the availability of the records, and our workload.

• Requests for separation documents DD 214 within 10 days (about 92% of the time)
• Requests that involve reconstruction efforts due to the 1973 Fire, or older records that require extensive search efforts, may take 6 months or more to complete.

We work actively to respond to each request in a timely fashion, keep in mind we receive approximately 4,000 - 5,000 requests per day.  

Please do not send a follow-up request before 90 days have elapsed, as it may cause further delays.

You can mail or fax your signed and dated request to the National Archives' National Personnel Record Center (NPRC). Be sure to use the address specified (either in the instructions on the SF-180 or in our online system, eVetRecs). Most, but not all records, are stored at the NPRC. (See full list of Locations of Military Service Records.)

NPRC Fax Number :
FAX: 314-801-9195

NPRC Mailing Address:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138
PHONE: 314-801-0800