DD-214 Explained: What It Is and How to Get It

Transition · Updated July 2026 · 15 min read

The DD Form 214 is the document that proves what you did in uniform and how you left. This guide explains what it contains, which copy to keep, how to request a replacement, and what to do if your records burned in the 1973 St. Louis fire. Free accredited help with any of it is available from a County Veterans Service Officer or a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representative.

What a DD-214 is and what it records

The DD Form 214 is titled the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. The National Archives states that a Report of Separation "is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of active duty training." Most benefits that depend on military service — VA health care and disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits, VA home loan eligibility, veterans preference in federal hiring, state veterans benefits, military funeral honors, and many employer veteran programs — start with this form. Note the word "active": someone whose service was National Guard or Reserve duty without a qualifying active-duty period may have an NGB Form 22 or a Reserve-component record instead of a DD-214, and that is normal, not an error.

According to the National Archives, the DD-214 records the date and place of entry into active duty and the date and place of release; the home of record at entry and the mailing address after separation; final rank and pay grade; last duty assignment; military job specialty and military education; decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign awards; total service time, foreign service and sea service; and separation information. That last category is the important one. It covers the date and type of separation, the character of service, the authority and reason for separation, and the separation and reentry eligibility codes.

Before January 1, 1950 the services used other separation forms, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and NAVCG 553. VA publishes a long list of older and alternative documents it accepts in place of a DD-214, including DD Form 303 (Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge), DD Form 217 (Discharge Certificate), DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty), and NGB Form 22 for National Guard service. Read the conditions on that list rather than assuming a form qualifies on its own — VA's list, for example, states that an NGB Form 22 must show previous active federal service for something other than training, or a minimum of 20 years total service for pay. If you served before the DD-214 existed, your proof of service is one of those forms, not a DD-214.

One caution about the form itself. The Department of Defense has revised the DD-214 and DD-215 series more than once, and the services fill in some blocks differently — the Army's own guidance, for instance, marks the reentry-code block "N/A" for officers. Block numbers on a 1970s form do not always match block numbers on a form issued last year. When you are reading your own copy, go by the printed label on the block — "Character of Service," "Reentry Code" — rather than by a block number you read somewhere else.

The copies: Member-1, Member-4, and the service copies

A DD-214 is produced in several numbered copies, and they are not identical. Some are short-form (sometimes called deleted or redacted) copies. Others are long-form (undeleted) copies that carry the separation detail. The Commonwealth of Virginia's block-by-block guide puts it plainly: "Sections 23-30 ... can only be found on long form or undeleted copies of the DD214. Service 2 copy and Member 4 copy are the long-form copies." On the form, that whole group of blocks sits under the heading "Special Additional Information (For use by authorized agencies only)." Blocks 23 through 29 hold the type of separation, character of service, separation authority, separation code, reentry code, narrative reason for separation and dates of time lost; Block 30 is the box where the member requests Copy 4.

An Army transition-center DD-214 information sheet (published by Fort Bragg, restating Army separation regulation) says the same thing from the other direction: the separation authority block and the separation code block are "to be completed for copies 2, 4, 7, and 8 only." The same sheet describes Block 30, where the separating service member requests Copy 4, and states that if requested, Copy 4 "will be physically delivered to the separating Servicemember prior to departure from the transition center."

This is why Member-4 matters. A short-form copy proves you served. A Member-4 copy proves how you served and why you left, which is what VA, state veterans agencies and many benefit programs need in order to make an eligibility decision. If you are separating now, ask for the Member-4 copy and check it before you sign. If you already separated and hold only a short form, say explicitly in your request that you want the undeleted (long-form) copy — a request that does not say so may come back short.

Copies of the DD-214 are also distributed to other agencies. On the Army form, Block 20 lets the member direct Copy 6 to a state veterans affairs office for state benefit determinations, and Block 20a lets the member send a photocopy of Copy 3 to VA's central office in Washington, DC. If you moved states after separation, the copy sitting at your old state's veterans office may not help you now.

Character of service, separation codes and reentry codes

The character of service block is the one that controls most benefit eligibility. Army separation guidance lists seven possible entries: Honorable; Under Honorable Conditions (General); Under Other Than Honorable Conditions; Bad Conduct; Dishonorable; Dismissed; and Uncharacterized. The same guidance explains that when an officer or service-academy cadet receives a dismissal as punishment from a court-martial, it is equivalent to a Dishonorable characterization of service. Which entry appears is set by the authority that directed the separation, so if yours reads Uncharacterized and you do not know why, ask the branch — do not guess.

For VA purposes, VA states that a discharge that is "honorable, under honorable conditions, general" meets the character-of-discharge requirement. Be careful here, because character of discharge is only one requirement, not the whole test. Most VA programs also impose a minimum active-duty service period: VA states that veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, generally must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty — with exceptions including discharge for a service-connected disability, or a hardship or "early out" discharge. Individual programs add their own rules on top of that. A clean DD-214 is a good sign, not an automatic yes.

If your discharge is undesirable, other than honorable, or bad conduct, VA does not automatically say no. VA reviews the record and makes what it calls a character of discharge determination. VA is explicit that this determination is for VA eligibility only: it "does not change the Armed Forces' characterization of service and has no effect on the former Service member's military discharge status."

This area changed recently and the change is worth knowing about. VA amended its character of discharge regulations by final rule published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2024 and effective June 25, 2024. VA describes the rule as eliminating the regulatory bar tied to "homosexual acts involving aggravating circumstances or other factors affecting the performance of duty" and creating a "compelling circumstances exception" for certain former service members. VA has said the change opens the door for previously denied service members to reapply. If you were turned down before mid-2024, that old answer may no longer be the right answer.

Two coded blocks sit next to the character-of-service block and are widely misunderstood. The separation code — often called the SPD, short for Separation Program Designator — is a short alphanumeric code tied to the regulatory reason for separation. Virginia's guide describes it as used in conjunction with the type-of-separation, character-of-service and narrative-reason blocks, "for internal use only." The reentry code, or RE code, records enlisted eligibility to re-enter military service; a recruiter will read that block first if you want to enlist again or join a Guard or Reserve component. Neither code is a VA eligibility rule in itself, but both can shape how a recruiter, a state agency or an unemployment office reads your file, so it is worth knowing what yours says.

The DD-214 also feeds unemployment compensation for ex-service members. Army guidance requires a mandatory remark in Block 18 reading "SOLDIER (HAS) OR (HAS NOT) COMPLETED FIRST FULL TERM OF SERVICE," and states that this "assists the State in determining eligibility for unemployment compensation entitlement." If that remark is wrong on your form, it can cost you money.

How to request your DD-214

There are three main routes, and which one is fastest depends on when you separated. If you separated recently, start with milConnect, the Department of Defense site. VA lists the milConnect cutoffs by branch: Air Force discharged after October 1, 2004; Army discharged after October 1, 2002; Marines discharged after January 1, 1999; Navy discharged after January 1, 1995. You sign in to (or create) a milConnect account and use its personnel-file request feature, which runs on DPRIS — the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System. The exact on-screen wording changes from time to time, so follow the prompts inside milConnect rather than a script copied from elsewhere.

For everything older — and for most veterans generally — the source is the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, run by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The online route is eVetRecs at vetrecs.archives.gov. The National Archives states that users "are required to verify their identity through the third party service, ID.me when submitting new requests and retrieving electronic responses."

The paper route is Standard Form 180 (SF-180), Request Pertaining to Military Records. Mail it to the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138, or fax it to 314-801-9195. The National Archives requires that all written requests for Federal (non-archival) records be signed and dated within the last year, and asks that you submit a separate SF-180 for each individual whose records you are requesting. There is a genuinely urgent lane: for a situation such as surgery or a funeral, mark the request urgent and fax it to the emergency line, 314-801-0764.

Veterans and next of kin can request. The National Archives defines next of kin as "the un-remarried widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister" of a deceased veteran, and requires proof of death — a copy of the death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, or a published obituary. Other third parties, including attorneys and historians, need the veteran's or next of kin's signed and dated authorization. If you are working with a County Veterans Service Officer (a county-employed, accredited benefits counselor) or an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative, they routinely help with these requests, and that help is free.

What it costs, how long it takes, and how to check status

For most veterans, a copy costs nothing. The National Archives states that "generally there is no charge for basic military personnel and health record information provided to veterans, next-of-kin, and authorized representatives from Federal (non-archival) records" — meaning records of anyone who separated less than 62 years ago. Once a veteran separated 62 or more years ago, the record becomes archival, it can be ordered by anyone, and NARA's reproduction fees apply: a $25 flat fee for a routine file of five pages or fewer and a $70 flat fee for six or more pages, which the National Archives notes is where most personnel files land. A separate rate applies to the small set of files NARA designates Persons of Exceptional Prominence: $0.80 per page, with a $20 minimum.

Turnaround improved sharply. The National Archives announced on January 24, 2024 that it had eliminated a pandemic-related backlog of more than 600,000 veteran records requests at NPRC, and that it can now respond to most routine requests for separation documents in less than a week and to other types of requests within 20 days. That release put NPRC's workload at around 1.1 million requests a year, more than 4,000 per workday. (A separate NARA page states over 1.4 million requests annually; the agency's own published figures differ, so treat any volume number as approximate.) Treat the timing figures as targets, not guarantees — volume, request type, and the condition of an old file all change the answer.

There is a mismatch in the published follow-up guidance that confuses people. The National Archives asks you to "allow about 10 days for us to receive and process your request" before checking status, but its SF-180 page also asks that you "not send a follow-up request before 90 days have elapsed, as it may cause further delays." The safe reading: check status, but do not resubmit. You can check status at vetrecs.archives.gov with your request number, use the online status forms, or call the NPRC Customer Service Line at 314-801-0800, staffed from as early as 8:00 a.m. to as late as 4:00 p.m. Central, with the heaviest call volume between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Central. NPRC can also be reached at 1-866-272-6272.

One thing to expect: you may not get the whole file. The National Archives explains that it normally provides "only copies of key documents and extracts of vital information" rather than the complete record, to speed responses. The extract typically includes separation documents plus service dates, character of service, promotions, duty stations, training, awards, disciplinary actions and available medical information. NARA lists exceptions that do get complete copies, including files more than 62 years old, Marine Corps records, certified requests for legal cases, and requests from the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you need more, submit a follow-up request — NARA states that NPRC will then "automatically send copies of all the other documents in the file."

If your records were lost in the 1973 St. Louis fire

On July 12, 1973 a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed approximately 16 to 18 million Official Military Personnel Files. The losses were concentrated in two groups. About 80 percent of records for Army personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960 were lost. About 75 percent of records for Air Force personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964 were lost, for names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E. The National Archives states plainly that "no duplicate copies of these records were ever maintained, nor were microfilm copies produced."

That sounds final, but it is not the end of the process. NPRC reconstructs basic service information from alternate sources, including Veterans Administration claims files, individual state records, Multiple Name Pay Vouchers from the Adjutant General's Office, Selective Service registration records, pay records from the Government Accounting Office, military hospital medical records, entrance and separation x-rays, and organizational records. Many veterans in the affected groups can still get their service verified.

If you are filing a VA disability claim and your records were in the burned group, VA directs you to submit NA Form 13055, Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data, along with your claim. VA asks for as much information as you can give about your assignments during service, including unit, company, battalion, regiment, squadron, group and wing. The more precisely you name your unit and the dates, the better the odds that morning reports and organizational records can be searched for you.

Build the case with everything else you can find. VA suggests statements from service medical personnel; certified "buddy" statements or affidavits from fellow service members who witnessed your injury or illness; military accident and police reports; examination reports related to employment or insurance; letters or photographs from your time in the service; prescription records; and photocopies of service treatment records or medical reports from private hospitals, clinics or doctors who treated you during service or shortly after separation. This is exactly the kind of reconstruction work a County Veterans Service Officer or an accredited VSO representative does routinely, at no cost to you.

Errors, discharge upgrades, and storing your copy securely

If your DD-214 has a factual error — wrong dates, a missing award, an incorrect remark — the fix runs through your service branch, not the National Archives. The National Archives states that, following Department of Defense guidance, it "will no longer create a DD Form 215 to make corrections to the DD-214," and that corrections are handled by the military service branches. For non-archival records, that means the personnel command of the relevant branch; for archival records (62 or more years old), NARA directs applicants to the service's review board.

Two different applications cover two different problems. DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces, goes to a service Discharge Review Board (DRB) and applies when review is sought within 15 years of the date of separation. If more than 15 years have passed, you petition the service's Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR — Board for Correction of Naval Records in the sea services) using DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records. DD Form 149 is also the route for correcting records generally. The National Archives states that an applicant "generally must file a request for correction within three years after discovery of an alleged error or injustice," although the boards may excuse a late filing in the interest of justice. Deadlines here are real; if you are near one, get accredited help now rather than later.

Remember that a VA character of discharge determination and a military discharge upgrade are separate things. VA's determination affects VA benefits only. A board upgrade changes the military record itself. VA reported that over the ten years before the 2024 rule change, its eligibility determination rate for former service members in this category was 75 percent — more than 57,000 people — while the number who applied rose from approximately 1,700 in 2012 to more than 10,000 in 2023. A less-than-honorable discharge is a reason to apply carefully, not a reason to assume the door is closed.

Finally, protect the document. A DD-214 is a compact identity-theft kit: full legal name, date of birth, home of record and post-separation address, and on most forms the full Social Security number in Block 3. Older records are especially exposed, because the services used service numbers as the primary identifier until July 1, 1969 for the Army and Air Force, January 1, 1972 for the Navy and Marine Corps, and October 1, 1974 for the Coast Guard, after which the Social Security number became the identifier. The form's own header warns that it is not to be used for identification purposes. Do not post it on social media, do not email an unencrypted copy, and do not hand a full copy to a business for a discount when a short-form or redacted copy will do.

Store one original in a fireproof, waterproof place and keep an encrypted digital copy somewhere you control. Give a trusted family member or your executor instructions on where it is — survivors need it for burial benefits and survivor claims. Some veterans also record their DD-214 with a county recorder so a certified copy is obtainable locally; whether that is offered, and who may later view a recorded copy, varies by state and county, so ask your county recorder how access is restricted before you file. And be skeptical of paid retrieval services: for anyone who separated less than 62 years ago, the National Archives provides basic military personnel record information at no charge, and accredited help with the request is free.

Sources

Every figure above is drawn from these official sources. Benefit rates and thresholds change — check the current official page before you act.

• National Archives — DD Form 214 / Discharge Papers and Separation Documents
• National Archives — Request Military Service Records
• National Archives — Request Military Personnel Records Using Standard Form 180
• National Archives — Access to Official Military Personnel Files (Veterans and Next-of-Kin)
• National Archives — OMPF Archival Records Requests (fees)
• National Archives — Check the Status of a Request for Military Service Records
• National Archives — Special Notice Regarding Service Record Requests
• National Archives — NARA Eliminates Pandemic Backlog of Veteran Records Requests (NR24-10)
• National Archives — The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center
• National Archives — Correcting Military Service Records
• National Archives — Service Numbers and Social Security Numbers
• VA — Request your military service records (including DD214)
• VA — Reconstruct military records destroyed in the NPRC fire
• VA — Complete list of discharge documents
• VA — Applying for Benefits and Your Character of Discharge
• VA — Eligibility for VA health care (minimum duty requirement)
• VA News — VA expands access to care and benefits for some former service members
• VA — Get help from a VA-accredited representative
• U.S. Army (Fort Bragg) — DD-214 Information Sheet
• Commonwealth of Virginia DHRM — How to Read a DD Form 214 Block by Block
• milConnect — Requesting Personnel File Documents (DPRIS)