Most important is to know
who you have to contact and how to do so. First you are going to be dealing
with a government agency, the National Personnel Records Center in most cases.
They are like the military and love their forms (used to working with them).
You can find that the most of the forms used for your requests are available
on-line. One good place to get directions to the form online is:
http://www.va.gov/sta/guide/home.asp
Another place is right at
home … the Service Officer of your local veteran's organization have the forms.
Check the above link to find your local organization. Government office’s that
work with veteran's affairs should all have them. Sometimes you can find
appropriate information at the Freedom of Information Act Web site:
When you get the form you
are seeking, just consider how difficult it would be for someone other then
yourself to complete the form. Who would know your dates of service or your
serial number better than yourself.
When
should you start searching for information? Do it now before someone without all the information has to do it.
Think how hard it would be for you to complete the request for your father’s
records. Next-to-kin have to try their best to get all the information together
needed to complete Section I of the SF-180. The more information you can
include, the better your chance of getting what you are requesting.
How
do you complete a form? First,
complete a separate SF-180 (go to this site for SF-180. Remember -
fill in as much information that you can obtain about the Veteran.) for each
part of the record you are requesting (DD-214, Personal File, Medical Records).
Each request goes to a different section of the records center. On the back of
the SF-180 are the addresses needed for the category of records. If you worked
in the Personal Records Section, try to imagine what would be easiest to do
with a request for a DD-214 (lookout round file basket!). NOTE: NEVER mail more
then one request per envelope.
With access to a printer
and the Adobe Acrobat Reader software available below, you may download and
print a copy of the Standard Form 180 - Request Pertaining to Military
Records. The front and back of the form are separate files,
which must be downloaded separately. NOTE: Please
download both sides of the form as the back of the form
contains important mailing addresses and instructions.
The Standard Form 180 is
formatted for legal size paper (8.5" x 14"). Please print that
way if your printer can accommodate that. If your printer can only print
on letter size paper (8.5" x 11"), select "shrink to
fit" when the Adobe Acrobat Reader "Print" dialog
box appears.
A fillable version of the
Standard Form 180, front and back, is also available using the link
below. It will allow you to type the needed information into the form
using your keyboard. You will still need to print, sign and mail the form.
Otherwise, it works the same as stated above.
Click here to
download the latest version of the FREE Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader.
If you don't have access to a printer, or are
unable to download the SF 180, you may still submit a request for military
records. Please read the two options below, and choose the one best
suited to your needs:
- Contact the National Archives and Records Administration's Fax-on-Demand
system. The SF 180 is available as document number 2255.
NOTE:
You must call the system from a fax machine (using the handset) in order to
receive documents. Voice instructions will guide you. There is no
charge for this service except for any long distance telephone charges you may
incur. The phone number to access the fax-on-demand system is as
follows: 301-713-6905.
- Send your request as a letter. Requests must contain enough
information to identify the record among the more than 70 million on file
at NPRC (MPR). Certain basic information is needed to locate
military service records. This information includes the veteran's
complete name used while in service, service number or social
security number, branch of service, and dates of service. Date
and place of birth may also be helpful, especially if the service number
is not known. If the request pertains to a record that may have been
involved in the 1973
fire, also include place of discharge, last unit of assignment, and
place of entry into the service, if known.
The
SF 180 may be photocopied as needed. Please submit a separate request
(either SF 180 or letter) for each individual whose records are being
requested. You may submit more than one request per envelope or fax. Our
mailing address is:
National
Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Our
fax request number is 314-538-4175. The Center will respond in writing by
U.S. Mail.
Contact
Veterans Administration by Telephone
If
you wish to try a direct phone contact to the VA, check out this list of phone
numbers:
1. VA Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
(for information about: Education, Home Loan, Disability,
Medical Care, Burial, Life Insurance or Sexual Trauma)
2. Life Insurance: 1-800-669-8477
3. Education (GI Bill): 1-888-442-4551
4. Health Care Benefits: 1-877-222-8387
5. Income Verification and Means Testing: 1-800-929-8387
6. Mammography Helpline: 1-888-492-7844
7. Gulf War/Agent Orange Helpline: 1-800-749-8387
8. Status of Headstones and Markers: 1-800-697-6947
9. Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD): 1-800-829-4833
10. For health care service, contact your nearest VA medical facility. To locate the nearest VA medical facility, go online to: http://www.va.gov/sta/guide/division.asp?divisionId=1
11.
CHAMPVA by E-mail: hac.inq@med.va.gov
By
phone 1-800-733-8387
By
FAX 1-303-331-7804
By mail:
VA Health Administration Center
CHAMPVA
PO Box 65023
Denver, CO 80206-9023
Medical Records are kept
by the VA if service ended before the following dates:
ARMY Oct 16'92
NAVY Jan 31 ‘94
MARINE CORPS
Air Forces May 1'94
New address to request
them is:
Department of Veterans
Affairs
PO Box 150950
Saint Louis, MO 63115-8950
If a veteran had
previously filed a medical claim simultaneously with separation from active
duty, the local VA Regional Office has the records.
They don’t tell you but
you can request replacement for your awards and decorations. You have to send a
COPY of your DD-214 (ONLY SEND A COPY – keep any you have or get from the
records center because they have the seal on them) to the records center so
they can check you records first before they will order new decorations and
awards for you. With the cost of the
average decoration being around $25, why not have Uncle replace them for you.