How to Find a Family Members Service Number
Figuring out how to check another individual'southward Official Armed services Personnel File is relatively straightforward and open to the public.
At that place are various reasons why someone may demand access to military files—that is, anyone who does not place as the service member on file or the next of kin. Nigh requests are used to check for eligibility, legal, or financial transactions.
It commonly helps to know what blazon of information you need and your relationship to the service member. Hither are a few ways to check the war machine service records of someone else.
FOIA and the Privacy Act
Near documents are kept at the National Personnel Records Heart, a drove of over 70 million files in St. Louis, Missouri. NPRC stores service records from the Section of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
Every bit outlined on the NPRC website, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) typically grants anyone with the statutory correct to view general information from executive branch agency records. These files do not require the veteran'south or side by side-of-kin's permission.
The FOIA's purpose is to provide transparency to the public while too protecting the service member'south privacy through the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act limits the type of information attainable to the public and how they are used.
Whatever documents needed beyond public information are express to the next-of-kin are permitted by the service member.
Information that may exist viewed by the public:
- Name
- Service Number
- Dates of Service
- Branch of Service
- Final Duty Status
- Final Rank
- Assignments and Geographical Locations
- Military Pedagogy Level
- Awards and decorations (eligibility only, not actual medals)
- Photo
- Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials
- Place of entrance and separation
Items such every bit salary, source of commission, and promotion sequence number are rarely on file. Typically, deceased veterans have the place of birth, appointment, and location of expiry, and identify of burial on public file.
Notation: OFMPs, separation documents (DD214), replacement records, and medical records are not open to the public and must become through a verification process to obtain these items.
Obtaining Service Records using SF-180
Armed forces personnel records are requested using the SF-180 form. SF-180 is used by the NPRC to obtain public files from a service member and outlines several means to ship in your request:
- Download and mail it in.
- The PDF is available online for download. Fill out the form with accurate data to the best of your ability.
- NPRC explains how to render the certificate: "Review the tables on folio 3 of SF-180 to place the correct location of the tape you need (based on branch of service, dates of separation, and type of record) and send the completed form to the address identified on the tabular array."
- Fill out an inquiry form on NPRC to have the SF-180 mailed to y'all directly.
- Return the documents to:
National Personnel Records Center
i Athenaeum Bulldoze
St. Louis, Missouri 63138
- Visit a Veterans Assistants office, VA organization, or Federal Data Eye.
The SF-180 can be mailed directly or faxed to (314) 801-9195. NPRC responds in the order in which the asking was received. Separation documents typically accept almost ten business organisation days, whereas older records may take upwards to vi months to retrieve.
Next-of-kin of deceased veterans may fill out a SF-180 form or have the option of filling out an online guild form.
Write a Letter
If for some reason you cannot obtain an SF-180, NPRC does accept letters of asking. Provide every bit much data in the letter to locate the service member's file, such as:
- The veteran'south consummate name used while in service
- Service number or social security number
- Co-operative of service
- Dates of service
- Appointment and identify of nativity may also exist helpful, specially if the service number is non known
- Farther data may be needed
Mail-in your letter with contact data to:
National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63138
Troubleshooting Certificate Locations at the NPRC
Be sure to provide the individual'south date of service, service number, or social security if applicable. In 1969, armed services switched from service number to social security, so files before '69 may be filed nether the service number.
A fire destroyed the Section of Army and Air Force files between the years 1947 and 1963. If you are looking for personnel files in between this year gap, provide every bit much information as y'all know. The Records Heart will attempt to slice together as much information from historical data.
National Archives Data
The National Archives office is a separate line from the NPRC and holds military personnel files 62 years past the end date of service. (Files nether 62 years are held by the Section of Defense.) Similar the NPRC, the National Athenaeum does place some documents in the public domain.
Y'all can choose either 3 options to gain access to archival records:
- Request records online (must mail-in signature page)
- Mail service in an SF-180 asking form or letter to:
National Personnel Records Center- 1 Archives Bulldoze
- St. Louis, MO 63138
Or fax documents to (314) 801-9195.
Cristina Van Orden is a literary author and active armed forces spouse. She holds an MFA from Antioch Academy and taught G-12 English before working in editorial. Cristina currently resides on base with her husband and children.
Source: https://militarybenefits.info/check-military-service-records/
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