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How to Request Your DD-214: Three Methods, Timing, and What to Do If You're a Next of Kin

Updated: 7 days ago

If you've lost your DD-214 — or never received one when you separated — you have three reliable ways to request a replacement: eVetRecs (the online portal at the National Archives), the SF-180 paper form, or direct contact with your service branch's personnel records office. This guide walks through each method, timing expectations, what next-of-kin can request when the veteran is deceased, and what to do when records were destroyed in the 1973 NPRC fire.


Where DD-214s are stored


Most DD-214s are housed at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, which is part of the National Archives. Recent records (typically within the last few years for some services) may still be at the service branch's personnel records office before transferring to NPRC.


Pre-1973 Army and Air Force records may be incomplete due to the July 1973 NPRC fire that destroyed approximately 16–18 million official military personnel files (OMPFs). Records from before that fire often require alternative documentation paths.


Method 1: eVetRecs (fastest for most veterans)


eVetRecs is the National Archives' online request system. Available at archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, it works for:


  • Veterans requesting their own records

  • Next-of-kin (spouse, parent, child, sibling) of a deceased veteran

  • Third-party requesters with proper authorization


Steps:


  1. Go to the eVetRecs portal at archives.gov.

  2. Complete the online request form with: veteran's full name (and any other names used during service), date and place of birth, service number or SSN, branch, dates of service, type of discharge if known.

  3. Select what records you want (DD-214 only, full OMPF, medical records, etc.).

  4. Sign and submit. The system generates a signature page you print, sign, and mail or fax to NPRC.

  5. NPRC processes the request and mails the records to you.


Processing time in 2026 averages 10 working days for routine requests, longer for older records or full OMPFs. Emergency requests (for impending burial, medical emergency, homelessness) get expedited handling — clearly mark the request EMERGENCY.


Method 2: SF-180 (works for all eras)


Standard Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records) is the paper-form alternative to eVetRecs. SF-180 works for any era of service and is the standard method when eVetRecs isn't available or convenient.


Full SF-180 walkthrough: SF-180 Complete Guide.


Quick path: download SF-180 from archives.gov, complete sections I through III, sign, mail to the address in Section III that corresponds to your branch and era of service.


Method 3: Direct service branch contact


Some services maintain their own recent records before transferring to NPRC. If you separated within the last few years, the service branch may have your records:


  • Army: Army Human Resources Command (HRC)

  • Navy: Navy Personnel Command (NPC)

  • Marine Corps: Headquarters Marine Corps, Manpower Management Records and Performance Branch

  • Air Force / Space Force: Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC)

  • Coast Guard: Coast Guard Personnel Service Center

  • National Guard: State Adjutant General's office for state records; NGB for federal records


What next-of-kin can request


Next-of-kin of a deceased veteran (defined as surviving spouse who has not remarried, parent, child, sibling) can request the same records the veteran could — including the full OMPF. Documentation typically required:


  • Proof of veteran's death (death certificate)

  • Proof of relationship to veteran (marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate for child, etc.)

  • Your government ID


Third parties (researchers, attorneys, employers) can request only the limited public-release portion of records unless the veteran (or next-of-kin) has signed a release authorizing broader disclosure.


What if records were destroyed in the 1973 fire?


If your records were caught in the fire (primarily Army personnel discharged 1912–1959 and Air Force personnel with surnames Hubbard through Z discharged 1947–1963), NPRC works to reconstruct records using:


  • Backup sources held by the VA or other agencies

  • State adjutant general's records

  • Final pay vouchers

  • Unit rosters and morning reports

  • Mustering-out records


Reconstruction takes longer (often 6 months or more) but produces an NA Form 13038 (Certification of Military Service) or NA Form 13164 (Discharge Certificate) that serves the same functional purpose as a DD-214 for benefits purposes.


How long replacement takes


  • eVetRecs routine: 10 working days average

  • SF-180 routine: 4–6 weeks

  • Pre-1973 records (fire-affected): up to 6 months

  • Emergency requests: typically 1–3 business days

  • Full OMPF (not just DD-214): add 2–4 weeks to any path


Cost


Veteran and next-of-kin requests for the DD-214 alone are free. Full OMPF requests, certified copies, and certain expedited handling carry fees that NPRC will quote before processing.


Be cautious of third-party websites that charge fees to ‘help' you obtain your DD-214. The official process is free and accessible to anyone with internet access.


Related guides



Sources



This page is reviewed quarterly. Last reviewed: May 2026. Spotted an error or know the rules have changed? Email info@militarybenefitsassistant.com — we update fast.

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