The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally
referred to as a "DD 214", is a document of the United States Department of
Defense, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation, or
discharge from active-duty military. History and usage
The first DD Form 214s were issued in 1950, after replacing the older "WD AGO"
Forms and the NAVPERS discharge documents. These documents, in turn, had
existed since 1941. In earlier versions of the form it was called a "Report of
Separation from Active Duty"; the current title dates from 1 July 1979.
DD Form 214 is the capstone military service document, as it represents the
complete, verified record of a service member's time in the military, awards
and medals, and other pertinent service information, such as promotions, combat
service or overseas service, Military Occupational Specialty identifiers and
record of training and schools completed. For Individuals who served in
Air National Guard or Army National Guard exclusively, don't receive DD Form
214, but will receive a form called NGB-22 from the National Guard Bureau.
DD Form 214 is commonly used by various government agencies, chief among them
the Department of Veterans Affairs, to secure veteran benefits, and may be
requested by employers should a person indicate he or she has served in the
military. This document also contains codes used
by the Armed Forces to describe a former servicemember's reason for discharge and
their reenlistment eligibility. These codes are known as Separation
Designator/Separation Justification Codes and Reenlistment Eligibility
Codes, respectively. DD Form 214 is also generally required
by funeral directors in order to immediately prove eligibility for
interment in VA cemetery and/or obtaining a grave marker and/or provide
military honors to a deceased veteran. On September 1, 2000, the National
Defense Authorization Act enabled, upon the family's request, every eligible
veteran to receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include the folding
and presentation of the United States burial flag and the sounding of Taps, at
no cost to the family. Copies of DD Form 214s are typically
maintained by the government as part of a service member's 201 file or OMPF. The
201 file generally contains additional personnel related forms.
Available versions There are two versions of the DD Form
214, usually referred to simply as "short" and "long" copies. The edited,
or "short" copy omits a great deal of information, chiefly the
characterization of service and reason for discharge, thus the unedited copy is
generally desired by veterans' organizations, employers, and law
enforcement agencies alike. Copies
Service members are given the option of accepting the edited, unedited or both
copies upon separation. The most important copy of the DD 214
for the individual is the "Member 4" copy. It is the standard form needed to
obtain benefits such as GI Bill or government employment priority.
The "Service 2" copy contains information as to the nature and type of
discharge, and the re-enlistment code. This code is used to determine whether
or not the service member can go back into the service. For unemployment
benefits, veterans affairs benefits, as well as for several other services, the
"Member's Copy 4" is usually needed. An identical copy to the "Service 2", the
"Member 4", is provided directly to the service member upon release from active
duty. The military will not provide a replacement "Member's Copy 4" and any
request for a replacement is always honored by providing a "Service 2" copy.
Other versions of the DD Form 214 include the "Member 1", "Service 7 & 8",
"Veterans Affairs 3", and "Department of Labor 5".
Electronic Cost-Free Copy of DD-214 eBenefits, a web portal managed jointly
by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States
Department of Defense provides Service members with free electronic copies of
their Official Military Personnel File, including their DD Form 214. Electronic
copies will be provided within 48 hours from the time of request. In order for a
Service member to request his/hers DD-214 in eBenefits, he/she must have an
eBenefits Premium Account. Paper Cost-Free Copy of DD-214
The National Personnel Records Center is the government agency tasked with
replacing lost and destroyed DD Form 214s upon request from a veteran.
Requested copies are mailed from the Military Personnel Records Center. Most
veterans who separated from their service generally pre-1992 can obtain
their DD 214 from the National Personnel Records Center,. The NPRC has two
distinct tracks available to obtain records for veterans. The first is for
the veteran to submit a Department of Defense Standard Form 180 to the
facility via mail or fax. The second is to appear in-person at the facility. The
National Archives also maintains a list of independent researchers who will
physically visit the St. Louis facility to request records in person.
Corrections The DD Form 215 is used to correct
errors or additions to a DD Form 214 discovered after the original had been
delivered and/or distribution had been made. It is distributed in the same
manner as the DD Form 214. Distribution
A DD Form 214/215 is prepared in eight copies and distributed as follows:
Copy 1 – Service Member Copy 2 – Service Personnel File
Copy 3 – United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Copy 4 – Member Copy 5 – United States Department of
Labor Copy 6 – State Director of Veteran
Affairs Copy 7 & 8 – Distributed in accordance
with Military Service Department directions
See also US Military discharge
References History, Usage and Acquisition of DD214s
External links How to obtain an eBenefits Premium
Account How to obtain your free electronic
DD-214 in eBenefits eBenefits Homepage
SPN and Separation Codes Reenlistment Codes
National Personnel Records Center How to get copies of Military Service
Records - National Archives Separation Program Designator Codes
Army Regulation 635-5 Separation Documents