If you'd like to learn everything possible about DD Form 214, commonly referred to as just DD214, you've come to the right place. But, before we get into the minutia, the DD214's history, importance and many uses, most people who visit this site simply want to know the best method to acquire a certified copy of their (or their close relative's) DD214. In order to save you some time, we've placed a link to The Best Method to Acquire Your DD214 (Click HERE) first.
What is a DD214?
The Defense Department issues to each veteran a DD-214, identifying the veteran's condition of discharge - honorable, general, other than honorable, dishonorable or bad conduct. You can find a sample DD-214 which can help you determine if a veteran served in armed combat HERE. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and the NAVCG 553.
The report of separation form issued in most recent years is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and the NAVCG 553. 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 States Department 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. Marine Corps, U.S. Space Force, and the U.S. Dd form 1907 chain of custody. Dd from 1348-1a. Dd form 2760 qualification to possess firearms or ammunition. Navmc 10359 ecr. Hero warning labels for radios.
Want to know the legal nitty gritty? We've provided the complete DoD Instruction NUMBER 1336.1 concernng Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214/5 Series) HERE (4.5 mb). We've also provided:
- Air Force Regulation 36-3202 Guidance Memorandum for the Preparatuion of Separation Documents HERE (494 k)
- Army Regulation 635-8 concerning the preparation and distribution of separation documents HERE (449 k)
- the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, MARCORSEPMANHERE (1.54 mb)
- the Naval Military Personnel Manual NAVPERS 15560DHERE (19.79 mb)
- and you can access the National Guard's process for their issuance of their discharge certificates (NGB Form 22) HERE (874 k).
Dd Form 214-automated Nov 88 Template Pdf
Why is a DD214 important?
The Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans' organizations. Information shown on the Report of Separation may include the service member's:
- Date and place of entry into active duty
- Home address at time of entry
- Date and place of release from active duty
- Home address after separation
- Last duty assignment and rank
- Military job specialty
- Military education
- Decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign awards
- Total creditable service
- Foreign service credited
- Separation information (type of separation, character of service, authority and reason for separation, separation and reenlistment eligibility codes)
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. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
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]
Free Fillable Dd 214 Form
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 member to request a DD 214 in eBenefits, they must 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.
Distribution[edit]
A DD Form 214/215 is prepared in eight copies and distributed as follows:
- Copy 1 – Service Member
- Copy 2 – Service Personnel File
- Copy 3 – United States Department of Veterans Affairs
- Copy 4 – Member (if initialed in Block 30)
- Copy 5 – United States Department of Labor
- Copy 6 – State Director of Veteran Affairs
- Copy 7 & 8 – Distributed in accordance with Military Service Department directions (shredded and retain)
See also[edit]
Dd Form 214-automated Nov 88 Template Download
References[edit]
Sample Dd Form 214
- ^Northwest Justice Project. 'Sample DD 214'. RepWaVets.org (Representing Washington Veterans). Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. 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]
Form Dd 214 Download
- How to get copies of Military Service Records (e.g.,: DD 214/DD 215) - National Archives
- Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes (PDF)