HERE'S HOW TO LOOK UP MILITARY RECORDS
From genealogy, to historical research, and more, there are many reasons to look up military records. However, there are several caveats in doing so to protect the privacy of service members and Veterans. Military public records have a process to navigate. Additionally, you can find family members' military records, but there’s a different process you’ll need to know. Our guide helps you make sense of it all with the right steps and resources available. Suggested read: 3M Earplug Lawsuit Update – $6 Billion Settlement Moving Forward
How to Find Family Members' Military Service Records
Taking the time to look up military records means first understanding how to start. That the process can differ if you are not related. Here’s how to obtain military records of a family member:
Determine Your Circumstances for Finding Military Records
Accessing armed forces personnel records isn’t always allowed. However, for things such as a burial or genealogy, there are methods. To start, you’ll need to look at a few factors in your request:
Requesting Military Records Because of a Burial
If you are related to a Veteran in a VA national cemetery and don’t have their records, reach out to the VA’s National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711) who can look them up for you. You can call on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. All times are in ET. If you are next of kin and wish to look up military records, meaning you are the Veteran’s surviving spouse but haven’t remarried, are their parent, their child, or their sibling, contact the National Archives online, by mail, or fax. Steps for how to look up military records by contacting the National Archives can be found further below. Furthermore, the following options are also available:
- Visiting the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in person at 1 Archives Dr, St. Louis, MO 63138.
- Contact the Veterans agency in your state or county.
- Hire a professional.
Be sure to provide a copy of the Veteran’s death certificate or other public record for proof of their passing and/or a letter from the funeral home.
Military Public Records Access
You can look up the military records of a Veteran who has been discharged from the U.S. military for more than 62 years and order a copy from the National Archives. However, if the Veteran was discharged before this time, here’s what you need to know:
- You’ll have to request information from the NPRC but unless you have consent from the Vet or their next of kin, the information is in a limited format from the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF).
- The information you receive depends upon the type of request, specifically, regarding seeking information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
- If you do receive consent from a Veteran or next of kin, information not available through FOIA may become available if it meets the right authorization criteria.
How to Contact the National Archives to Look Up Military Records
If you are an active duty military member or a family member of a Vet proving eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery, you’ll need a copy of a DD214 form and possibly others. To receive this information, you’ll need to contact the National Archives. Be aware that if you are a Veteran looking to apply for benefits, when you submit your application, the VA requests a DD214 for you.
Online Through the eVetRecs Tool
To request your records using eVetRecs, select the option to make a new request. After you do, you’ll receive an email to confirm that the National Archives have received your request.
Mail or Fax Standard Form 180
Alternatively, you can mail or fax a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form 180) to the National Archives to find military records free. Should a fee apply, which there are some exceptions, you’ll be notified. On the last page of Standard Form 180, you’ll find the appropriate address or fax number you need to send the information according to the first chart on the page. Related read: Can You Sue the Military?
Looking Up Military Records Due to an Emergency or Unique Circumstances
When there is an emergency, such as a severe medical situation or funeral, use the "Comments" section of eVetRecs or the "Purpose" section of the SF-180 to provide the specifics of your situation. Take the form and fax it to the VA’s Customer Service Team at (314) 801-0764. You can also call the staff at (314) 801-0800 for extra assistance, however, expect long hold times. For internment requests at a VA National Cemetery, contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at (800) 535-1117 or online.
Contacting the DoD
If you need to contact the DoD for your military records, you can do so by signing into the milConnect website. Be sure to have a Premium DS Logon account. This applies to Soldiers discharged after October 1, 2002, Sailors discharged after January 1, 1995, Airmen discharged after October 1, 2004, and Marines discharged after January 1, 1999.
Marines Who Served From 1998 and Coast Guardsmen Who Served Since 2008
If you were in the USMC or USCG during the timeframe listed above, you can contact the National Archives who will contact your personnel command to obtain your records, or simply contact your personnel command on your own.
Resources for Looking Up Military Records
Many nuances and factors can affect how you look up military records. Below are additional resources that can help you with finding military records, family or not:
- Requesting information through FOIA.
- Additional resources from the VA.
- Information on access to the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) from the National Archives.
- Information for creating your DS Logon account.
Keep in mind that if you look up military records from 1912-1964, they may be incomplete. This is due to The 1973 Fire at the National Personnel Records Center, which damaged or destroyed millions of documents. Reconstruction options are available but generally take longer than normal to navigate. Read next: Members of the Ghost Army WW2 Awarded Long-Awaited Gold Medal