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REQUEST PERTAINING TO MILITARY RECORDS INSTRUCTION
AND INFORMATION SHEET FOR SF 180 REQUEST PERTAINING TO MILITARY RECORDS

Online requests may be submitted to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) by a veteran or deceased veteran’s next of kin
using eVetRecs at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/.

1. General Information. The Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records (SF180) is used to request information from military records. Certain identifying information is necessary to determine the location of an individual's record of military service. Please try to answer each item on the SF 180. If you do not have and cannot obtain the information for an item, show "NA," meaning the information is "not available." Include as much of the requested information as you can. To determine where to mail this request see Page 2 of the SF180 for record locations and facility addresses.
Online requests may be submitted to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) by a veteran or deceased veteran’s next of kin using eVetRecs at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/.
2. Personnel records and Service Treatment Records (STR). Personnel records of military members who were discharged, retired, or died in service less than 62 years ago and STR’s are in the legal custody of the military service department and are administered in accordance with rules issued by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, Coast Guard). STR’s of persons on active duty are generally kept at the local servicing clinic, and usually are available from the Department of Veterans Affairs approximately 40 days after the last day of active duty. (See item 3, Archival Records, if the military member was discharged, retired or died in service over 62 years ago.)
a. Release of information: Release of information is subject to restrictions imposed by the military services consistent with Department of Defense regulations and the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act of 1974. The service member (either past or present) or the member's legal guardian has access to almost any information contained in that member's own record. An authorization signature, of the service member or the member's legal guardian, is needed in Section III of the SF180. Others requesting information from military personnel records and/or STR’s must have the release authorization in Section III of the SF 180 signed by the member or legal guardian. If the appropriate signature cannot be obtained, only limited types of information can be provided. If the former member is deceased, surviving next of kin may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to greater access to a deceased veteran's records than a member of the general public. The next of kin may be any of the following: unremarried surviving spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother. Requesters must provide proof of death, such as a copy of a death certificate, letter from funeral home or obituary.
b. Fees for records: There is no charge for most services provided to service members or next of kin of deceased veterans. A nominal fee is charged for certain types of service. In most instances service fees cannot be determined in advance. If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as that determination is made.
3. Archival Records. Personnel records of military members who were discharged, retired, or died in service 62 or more years ago have been transferred to the legal custody of NARA and are referred to as “archival” records.
a. Release of Information: Archival records are open to the public. The Privacy Act of 1974 does not apply to archival records, therefore, written authorization from the veteran or next of kin is not required. However, in order to protect the privacy of the veteran, his/her family, and third parties named in the records, the personal privacy exemption of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 (b) (6)) may still apply and preclude the release of some information.

Getting a Copy of Your Military Records
From Rod Powers,Your Guide to U.S. Military.
The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR), in St. Louis, MO, is the
repository of millions of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all
services during the 20th century. NPRC (MPR) also stores medical treatment records of retirees from all services,
as well as records for dependent and other persons treated at naval medical facilities. Copies of most military and
medical records on file at NPRC (MPR), including the DD Form 214, Report of Separation (or equivalent), can be
made available upon request.
Veterans and "Next of Kin": Veterans and next-of-kin of deceased veterans have the same rights to full access to
the record. Next-of-kin are the unremarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of
the deceased veteran.
Autorized Representatives: Authorized third party requesters, e.g., lawyers, doctors, historians, etc., may submit
requests for information from individual records with the veteran's (or next of kin's, for deceased veterans) signed
and dated authorization. If you use a signed authorization, it should include exactly what you are authorizing to be
released to the third party. Authorizations are valid one year from date of signature.
General Public: The general public can also request some parts of a veteran's military record without the
authorization of the veteran or next of kin. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act provide
balance between the right of the public to obtain information from military service records, and the right of the
former military service member to protect his/her privacy. In general, information available from military service
records which can be released without violation of the Privacy Act are: Name, Service Number (not Social Security
Number), Rank, Dates of Service, Awards and Decorations, and Place of Entrance and Separation. If the veteran is
deceased, the Place of Birth, Date of Death, Geographical Location of Death, and Place of Burial can also be
released.
Court Order: Access to military personnel and medical records on file at the National Personnel Records Center,
may also be gained pursuant "to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction." Subpoenas qualify as orders of a
court of competent jurisdiction only if they have been signed by a judge. To be valid, court orders must also be
signed by a judge. Authority for these requirements is 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) (11), as interpreted by Doe vs. DiGenova,
779 F. 2d 74 (D.C. Cir. 1985), and Stiles vs. Atlanta Gas and Light Company, 453 F. Supp. 798 (N.D. Ga.1978).
The records stored at the National Personnel Records Center cover military personnel who were discharged on or
after the below-listed dates:
Air Force Officers and Enlisted -- September 25, 1947
Army Officers separated July 1, 1917
Army Enlisted separated November 1, 1912
Navy Officers separated January 1, 1903
Navy Enlisted separated January 1, 1886
Marine Corps Officers and Enlisted separated January 1, 1905
Coast Guard Officers and Enlisted separated January 1, 1898
Military personnel records for individuals separated before these dates are on file at the National Archives and
Records Administration, Old Military and Civil Records Branch (NWCTB), Washington, DC 20408. E-mail address:
inquire@arch2.nara.gov.
Federal law (5 USC 552a(b)) requires that all requests for records and information be submitted in writing. The
easiest way to do this is by using Standard Form (SF) 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records.
Requesting Copies of Military Records (Including DD Form 214/215)
Requests must contain enough information to identify the record among the more than 70 million on file at the
National Personnel Records Center. The Center needs certain basic information in order to locate military service
records. This information includes the veteran's complete name used while in service, service number or social
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security number, branch of service, and dates of service. Date and place of birth may also be helpful, especially if
the service number is not known. If the request pertains to a record that may have been involved in the 1973 fire,
also include place of discharge, last unit of assignment, and place of entry into the service, if known.
The SF 180 is the recommended method to send a request for military service information. This form captures all
the necessary information to locate a record. Provide as much information on the form as possible and send copies
of any service documents that you may have.
1. Print or type your name, social security number, date of birth, and place of birth in section 1, blocks 1
through 4.
2. Print or type your service dates in the applicable spaces in section 1, block 5.
3. Indicate whether or not the individual is deceased in section 1, block 6.
4. ndicate whether or not the person retired from the military in section 1, block 7.
5. Indicate exactly what information you're requesting in section 2.
6. Enter your return address and signature in section 3. Only the servicemember, guardian, or next of kin
may sign the form. Next of Kin consists of unremarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or
mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran.
7. Mail the completed form to the address specified on the back side of the SF 180.
The General Mailing Address is:
The National Personnel Records Center
(Military Personnel Records)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Completing a Records Request On-line
Veterans and "Next-of-Kin" can now complete a records request on-line at http://vetrecs.archives.gov. One must
still print out and sign a sign a sigature verification, and mail or fax the verification, because Federal Law requires a
signature on all records request. However, completing the application online can be easier and faster than
completing the SF Form 180.
Those who are not veterans or next-of-kin, cannot use the on-line system. They must complete the SF 180.
Requesting Copies of Military Medical Records
Clinical and medical treatment records are filed at the National Personnel Records Center by the name of the
facility which last had responsibility for the records. Therefore, in order to request information from medical records,
you must provide the following information:
• NAME OF THE LAST FACILITY WHICH HAD RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TREATMENT RECORD.
Usually this is the last facility at which treatment was provided.
• The YEAR and the TYPE OF TREATMENT (inpatient, outpatient, dental, mental health, etc.) If you need
copies of specific records, please be sure to state the type of illness, injury, or treatment involved.
• The patient's FULL NAME used during treatment
• The patient's SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER and STATUS during treatment [military, retiree, dependent of
military, federal employee, dependent, or other (specify)].
• BRANCH OF SERVICE and SPONSOR'S SERVICE NUMBER or SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (if the
former patient is/was a dependent).
You should provide as much information as possible. It may not be possible to locate a record if important
identifying information is missing. For medical records of separated/retired military personnel and NAVY/Marine
Corps dependents, send your request to :
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
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9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
For medical records of Air Force, Coast Guard, or Army Dependents, send requests to:
National Personnel Records Center
Civilian Personnel Records
111 Winnebago Street
St. Louis, MO 63118-4126
Veterans who plan to file a claim for medical benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) do not need to
request a copy of their military health record from the National Personnel Records Center. When you file a VA
claim, the Department of Veterans Affairs will request the record automatically, as part of the claims process.
Generally there is no charge for military personnel and health record information provided to veterans, next-of-kin,
and authorized representatives. If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as that
determination is made.
How Long Does it Take?
It wasn't all that long ago when turnaround time for military records was miserable. It was not unusual for a simple
DD Form 214/215 request to take up to 180 days.
NPRC has transformed the way it responds to inquiries, to provide dramatically improved customer service. This
Business Process Reengineering project has changed structures and systems that in some cases have been in
place since the center was formed 40 years ago. As a test, I requested a copy of my DD Form 214 in December
2003, using the on-line system. I was pleasantly surprised to receive my DD Form 214 copy in just 18 days from the
date of my request.
However, the folks at NPRC are still busy animals. They process nearly 20,000 requests per week. Turnaround
times for records requested from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) vary greatly depending on the
nature of the request. For example, requests that involve reconstruction efforts due to the 1973 fire may take much
longer.

Changing Your Military Records
Information Courtesy of US Air Force

Whether you are active duty, separated, or retired, you can apply to your service's Board for the Correction of
Military Records if you feel there is an error or an injustice in your military personnel records.
Your Right to Apply for Correction of Records
Any person with military records, or his or her heirs or legal representative, may apply to the appropriate service's
Board for the Correction of Military Records. The Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard have separate boards. The
Navy operates the board for both Navy personnel and members of the United States Marine Corps.
Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552, is the law governing correction of military records. This statute
authorizes the Secretary of the service concerned to correct any military record when "necessary to correct an error
or injustice." The purpose of this statute was to relieve the Congress from consideration of private bills to correct
errors or injustices in military records. The statute provides for the service secretaries to act through a board of
appointed civilians in considering applications for correction of military records. AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for
Correction of Military Records, implements the statute within the Air Force. Army Regulation 15-185 implements the
statute within the Army. The Code of Federal Regulations; Title 33, Part 52;2. implements the statute within the
Coast Guard. The Navy and Marine Corps implements the statute through The Navy, Code of Federal Regulations;
Title 32, Part 723.
When to Apply to for a Correction of your Records
You should exhaust other administrative remedies before appealing to your service's board. For example, you
should first submit a performance report appeal to the appropriate appeal agency before appealing to your service's
military records correction board.. An appeal requesting upgrade of discharge should normally be submitted to the
service's Discharge Review Board under Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 1332.28, Discharge Review
Board (DRB) Procedures and Standards. The board will return your application if you have not first sought relief
through the appropriate administrative process. You should submit your request within 3 years after you discover,
or reasonably could have discovered, the error or injustice. The boards review the merits of untimely applications. If
found to be meritorious, the timeliness is waived in the interest of justice. You should not assume, however, that a
waiver will be granted.
How To Apply
Application is a simple process. You should use a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record.
Section 1552. You should complete the form very carefully by typing or printing the requested information. Attach
copies of statements or records that are relevant to your case. Make sure you sign item 16 of the form. Mail the
completed form to the appropriate address on the back side of the form.
1. Complete the personal information in Section 1.
2. In Section 2, indicate the type of discharge you received.
3. In Section 3, indicate your current military status (active duty, reserve, retired, separated, etc.).
4. In Section 4, indicate your date of discharge, or release from active duty.
5. 6. In Section 5, enter the unit you were assigned to when the alleged error occured.
6. In Section 6, indicate whether or not you desire to appear personally before the board in Washington
D.C.
7. If you are being represented by an attorney, enter his/her information in Section 7.
8. In Section 8, explain exactly what you wish the board to correct.
9. In Section 9, explain why the record is in error, or why it is unjust.
10. List attached evidence and other documents in Section 10.
11. Enter the date the error was discovered in Section 11. If it's been more than 3 years, give justification
for the late application.
12. If you are making this application for someone else, complete Section 12.
13. Sign the form, and mail the completed application package to the address listed on the reverse side of
the DD Form 149.
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Supporting Your Request
The Board will correct your military records only if you can prove that you are the victim of error or injustice. You do
this by providing evidence, such as signed statements from you and other witnesses or copies of records that
support your case. It is not enough to provide the names of witnesses. The Board will not contact your witnesses to
obtain statements. You should contact your witnesses to get their signed statements with your request.
Your own statement is important. Begin in item 9 of the DD Form 149 and continue in item 17, if necessary. You
may also put your statement on plain paper and attach it to the form. Limit your statement to not more than 25
pages. Explain what happened and why it is an error or injustice in simple, direct terms.
Normally, the best evidence is statements from persons who have direct knowledge or involvement. For example,
statements from persons in your rating chain if you are contesting a performance report. Or a statement from the
person who counseled you if you are alleging miscounseling.
Character references from community leaders and others who know you are helpful if you are requesting clemency
based on post-service activities and accomplishments. This is only a general rule, however. You must decide what
evidence will best support your case.
It may take you some time to gather statements and records to support your request. You may wish to delay
submission of your application until information gathering is complete. You should, however, submit your request
within the 3-year time limit.
Getting Help
With few exceptions, all personnel records generated by the military may be corrected by the Board. The Board
cannot, however, change the verdict of a courts-martial imposed after May 4, 1950. In these cases, the Board’s
authority is limited to changing the sentence received on the basis of clemency. The Board will mail you a copy of
the applicable service regulation at your request.
Most applicants represent themselves. If your request is complex, you may want someone to represent you:
• Many veteran service organizations have staff members who will represent you in applying to the
Board. You may obtain a list of these organizations by writing to the Board (see addresses on reverse
side of DD Form 149)
• You may also hire a lawyer to represent you at your own expense
• You should name your representative on DD Form 149, item 7. The Executive Director of the Board
must approve any representative other than a veteran service organization staff member or a lawyer
• If you name a representative, the Board will normally deal with your representative rather than directly
with you
Advice and guidance are available from many sources. Military Personnel specialists can advise you on personnel
issues. Veteran service organizations will advise you even though you decide to represent yourself. You may
discuss your case with an Board staff member, or you may write to the Board, and a staff member will respond to
your questions.
Personal Appearances Before the Board
You may request a personal appearance before the Board by checking the appropriate box on DD Form 149, item
6. The Board will decide whether a personal appearance is necessary to decide your case. Travel expenses are
your responsibility. The Board grants very few personal appearances, so you should try to fully present your case in
writing. If your request for a personal appearance is granted, the Board will provide you with the necessary details.
Advisory Opinions
After your application is received, one or more offices within your military service (JAG, hospital, personnel, etc.) will
prepare an advisory opinion on your case. The advisory opinion will be sent to the Board with your case file. If the
advisory opinion recommends denial of your request, the Board will send it to you for comment:
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Remember that the advisory opinion is only a recommendation. The Board will make the decision on your case
The Board will ask for your comments on the advisory opinion within 30 days. You may request an additional 30
days if you need it. Reasonable requests are normally granted
It may be unnecessary for you to comment on the advisory opinion. If you have nothing further to say, don’t bother
to respond. Failure to comment on an advisory opinion does not mean you agree. Nor will it prevent a full and fair
consideration of your application.
Board Members
Each Service Secretary appoints high-level civilian employees who work for the military service concerned to serve
on the Board. Service is normally an additional duty for those appointed. Usually about 47 people serve on the
Board.
Members are randomly assigned to three-member panels for consideration of cases. Cases are randomly assigned
to panels.
Board staff members research issues and provide technical advice to the panel members. They do not take sides or
recommend a decision to the panel.
Panel members receive a copy of the case for study before they meet. They normally discuss your case in closed
session before voting. Their decision is based on the evidence in the case file.
The majority rules, but a dissenting member may submit a minority opinion for consideration by the Service
Secretary or his/her designee.
The Decision on Your Case
Following the vote on your case, the panel chairperson signs a record of proceedings. The record of proceedings
will explain the reasons for the decision on your case.
The Service Secretary concerned has the final authority to accept or reject a recommendation of the Board. In most
cases, it is accepted.
When the Board completes your case, the decision is mailed to you. If relief is granted, your records will be
corrected and finance personnel will review your case to see if you are due any monetary benefits.
The Board is the highest level of administrative appeal and provides the final military decision. If the Board denies
your case, your next step is to request reconsideration or file a suit in the court system.
Reconsideration of Your Case
You may request reconsideration of the decision on your case. The Board will reconsider your case only if you
provide newly discovered relevant evidence that was not reasonably available when you filed your original
application. The evidence may pertain to the timeliness of your application or to its merits.
You should submit your request for reconsideration within a reasonable time after you discover the new evidence.
Re-argument of the same evidence will not get your case reconsidered.