How To Find Out If Someone Served In The Military

Figuring out how to bank check some other individual's Official Military Personnel File is relatively straightforward and open to the public.

There are various reasons why someone may need access to military files—that is, anyone who does non identify every bit the service member on file or the adjacent of kin. Well-nigh requests are used to check for eligibility, legal, or fiscal transactions.

Information technology usually helps to know what type of information you need and your relationship to the service member. Hither are a few ways to check the military machine service records of someone else.

FOIA and the Privacy Act

Nigh documents are kept at the National Personnel Records Center, a drove of over 70 1000000 files in St. Louis, Missouri. NPRC stores service records from the Department of Regular army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Baby-sit.

Every bit outlined on the NPRC website, the Freedom of Data Human action (FOIA) typically grants anyone with the statutory right to view general information from executive co-operative agency records. These files do not require the veteran'south or next-of-kin's permission.

The FOIA's purpose is to provide transparency to the public while also protecting the service member's privacy through the Privacy Human action. The Privacy Act limits the type of information accessible to the public and how they are used.

Any documents needed beyond public information are limited to the next-of-kin are permitted by the service member.

Information that may be viewed by the public:

Proper noun
Service Number
Dates of Service
Co-operative of Service
Concluding Duty Status
Final Rank
Assignments and Geographical Locations
Military Instruction Level
Awards and decorations (eligibility simply, non actual medals)
Photo
Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials
Place of entrance and separation

Items such as salary, source of commission, and promotion sequence number are rarely on file. Typically, deceased veterans accept the place of nascency, date, and location of decease, and place of burying on public file.

Annotation: OFMPs, separation documents (DD214), replacement records, and medical records are not open to the public and must go through a verification process to obtain these items.

Obtaining Service Records using SF-180

Military personnel records are requested using the SF-180 grade. SF-180 is used by the NPRC to obtain public files from a service member and outlines several ways to send in your asking:

Download and postal service it in.
1. The PDF is available online for download. Fill up out the form with authentic data to the all-time of your ability.
2. NPRC explains how to return the document: "Review the tables on folio 3 of SF-180 to identify the correct location of the record you need (based on co-operative of service, dates of separation, and type of record) and ship the completed course to the address identified on the table."
Fill out an inquiry form on NPRC to have the SF-180 mailed to you directly.
1. Render the documents to:

National Personnel Records Eye
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63138

Visit a Veterans Assistants office, VA organization, or Federal Information Center.

The SF-180 tin can be mailed straight or faxed to (314) 801-9195. NPRC responds in the order in which the request was received. Separation documents typically take about 10 concern days, whereas older records may have upwards to half dozen months to retrieve.

Next-of-kin of deceased veterans may fill out a SF-180 form or have the option of filling out an online order course.

Write a Letter

If for some reason yous cannot obtain an SF-180, NPRC does have letters of request. Provide as much information in the letter to locate the service member'south file, such every bit:

The veteran's complete name used while in service
Service number or social security number
Branch of service
Dates of service
Date and place of birth may likewise be helpful, especially if the service number is not known
Further information may be needed

Mail-in your letter with contact information to:

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Bulldoze
St. Louis, Missouri 63138

Troubleshooting Certificate Locations at the NPRC

Be sure to provide the individual's date of service, service number, or social security if applicable. In 1969, armed services switched from service number to social security, so files before '69 may exist filed under the service number.

A burn down destroyed the Section of Ground forces and Air Strength files betwixt the years 1947 and 1963. If you are looking for personnel files in betwixt this twelvemonth gap, provide as much data equally y'all know. The Records Eye will endeavor to piece together as much information from historical information.

National Archives Information

The National Athenaeum part is a separate line from the NPRC and holds military personnel files 62 years past the cease date of service. (Files under 62 years are held past the Department of Defense force.) Like the NPRC, the National Archives does place some documents in the public domain.

You tin can cull either 3 options to proceeds admission to archival records:

Request records online (must mail-in signature page)
Mail service in an SF-180 asking form or letter to:
National Personnel Records Center

Or fax documents to (314) 801-9195.

Cristina Van Orden is a literary author and active war machine spouse. She holds an MFA from Antioch University and taught Yard-12 English earlier working in editorial. Cristina currently resides on base of operations with her hubby and children.