Currently serving or recently separated
Start with the service branch, military personnel office, health system, or milConnect. Records may not yet have transferred to National Archives.
Visit milConnectPersonnel, medical & separation records
Request the military record you actually need.
A DD214, an Official Military Personnel File, a service treatment record, and a VA C-file answer different questions. Identify the document first, then send the request to the office that holds it.
Records comparison
Start with the document, purpose, and likely custodian.
Record locations change with branch, service dates, discharge status, and the type of treatment. Use the official routing instructions before mailing a form.
| Record | What it usually contains | Common use | Starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| DD214 or separation documentDates, character of service, occupation, awards, and separation details for a period of active duty. | Proof of service and discharge information. | VA or state benefits, employment, burial, and veteran status. | Use the DD214 request guide |
| Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)Assignments, evaluations, orders, training, qualifications, awards, and other personnel actions. | Reconstructing the service history or documenting events and locations. | Claims evidence, corrections, research, or personal history. | National Archives request page |
| Service Treatment Records (STRs)Outpatient medical and dental care documented during military service. | Showing an in-service diagnosis, symptom, injury, treatment, or change in health. | Disability claims, continuity of care, and personal medical history. | Medical records access guide |
| Inpatient clinical recordsHospital admission records that may be filed by treatment facility and year rather than inside the personnel file. | Documenting a specific hospitalization, surgery, or inpatient episode. | Claims evidence and medical-history reconstruction. | Clinical records instructions |
| Replacement medals and awardsService verification used by the branch to issue or replace authorized medals and decorations. | Replacing lost awards or confirming entitlement. | Personal, family, ceremonial, or display purposes. | Replacement medal process |
| Correction or discharge review recordApplication and supporting evidence considered by a service correction board or discharge review board. | Correcting an error or seeking review of discharge characterization. | Military record accuracy and potential eligibility consequences. | Correction routes by branch |
| VA claims file (C-file)Applications, decisions, examinations, correspondence, evidence, and records collected by VA. | Understanding what VA reviewed and how the claim history developed. | Preparing a new claim, supplemental evidence, or decision review. | Request your VA C-file |
Request workflow
Use one clear request for each veteran.
The National Archives accepts online requests through eVetRecs and written requests using Standard Form 180. The current SF-180 contains routing tables for different custodians.
Define the record and date range.
State whether you need a DD214, the full OMPF, medical records, or a specific hospitalization. A precise request is easier to route and search.
Collect complete identifying details.
Provide the name used in service, branch, service number, Social Security number, dates of service, and date and place of birth. Add unit and facility information when relevant.
Include consent or proof of death.
Sign and date requests for restricted federal records. Third parties need authorization, and eligible next of kin should provide proof of death when requesting a deceased veteran’s record.
Keep the request confirmation.
Save a copy and any tracking information. Use the National Archives status tool when the published follow-up interval has passed.
Information checklist
Give the archive enough detail to identify one service member.
Use the most complete information available. If you do not know an exact date, explain that instead of guessing.
- Full name used during military service, including prior names
- Branch of service and component, such as active duty, Reserve, or National Guard
- Service number and Social Security number, when available
- Entry and separation dates, date of birth, and place of birth
- Unit, duty location, hospital, and year for event-specific or clinical searches
- Signature, date, return address, and relationship or authorization
Who holds the record
Military records move between custodians.
The correct office can depend on whether the member is serving, recently separated, retired, or separated long ago.
Former service member
The National Personnel Records Center commonly holds older personnel and medical records after transfer from a service branch.
Open the NARA records hubVA health care or claim records
VA medical records and the VA claims file are separate from the OMPF. Request them through VA using the route for the specific record.
Get VA medical records1973 NPRC fire
A missing file may still be partly reconstructed.
The 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center damaged or destroyed millions of Army and Air Force personnel records, especially for certain veterans discharged between 1912 and 1964. Alternate sources may confirm parts of service even when the primary file did not survive.
Military records questions
Avoid mixing records from different systems.
Is my VA C-file the same as my military personnel file?
No. The C-file is maintained by VA for benefits claims. The OMPF belongs to the military personnel records system. Some military records may appear in the C-file because VA obtained them, but the two files are not interchangeable.
Are service treatment records always inside the OMPF?
No. Custody depends on branch, dates, and status. Inpatient clinical records may be filed separately under the treating facility and year, so identify the hospital and approximate dates when requesting them.
Can anyone request an old military personnel file?
Military personnel records become archival and open to the public 62 years after separation. Newer records remain restricted to the veteran, eligible next of kin, or an authorized requester, subject to applicable rules.
How do I correct a military record?
Archives can provide the existing record but does not decide most corrections. Use the service branch’s Board for Correction of Military Records or Discharge Review Board process for the issue involved.
Continue with the right document guide.
Retrieve a DD214, review VA forms, or trace the regulation connected to a claim issue.