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TIPS & CLIPS

TIPS and CLIPS:

Request Military

Records

Military records help prove military service when
applying for jobs or government benefits. They’re
also helpful for ancestry and historical research.
Most military records are on paper or microfilm and you’ll need to request printed copies to
Joanne Elliott, YNC be mailed to you. They are not typically available to view online.
National President

Types of Military Records

World War I to Present

You can find veterans’ military service records from World ● Enlistment or appointment and separation dates
War I to the present from the National Personnel Records ● Duty stations and assignments
Center (NPRC) https://www.archives.gov/personnel- ● Training and qualifications
records-center. The NPRC houses many types of records, ● Awards
including Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). These ● Disciplinary actions
files can include the Report of Separation (DD Form 214) Veterans’ health and medical records are located in various
and show a veteran’s service history, which may include: places, depending on their branch and date of separation.

Before World War I
You can find older military service records (gener- https://www.archives.gov/research/military/genealogy
ally before World War I) from the National Archives at or in Washington, D.C.

Request Recent Military Records (World War I to Present)

If You Are a Veteran or Next-of-Kin
To get a copy of the vet’s military records, you can: ● Mail or fax a Standard Form 180 (SF-180) or mail a
● Start a request online at https://www.archives.gov/ letter
veterans/military-service-records#evetrecs (then Most requests are free.
print and mail)

If You Are Not the Veteran or Next-of-Kin
You can only get limited information about non-archival Request Older Military Records (Before World War I)
records without the consent of the veteran or next-of- You can order older military personnel records by visit-
kin. Non-archival records are those from 62 years ago to ing https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-
the present. Learn about access to non-archival military records/pre-ww-1-records online or by printing and
records by the general public and researchers by visiting mailing a downloadable form. You may have to pay a
https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/ fee for copies of archival Official Military Personnel Files
ompf-access-public. (https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/

14 The Mariner • 2020 SUMER Edition • Volume 64 • Issue 2