DD Form 214 official records routes
Find the official owner for your situation
This independent public reference explains where official agencies direct four common records situations. mos.directory is not a DoD or VA system, cannot receive CUI or personal records, and does not predict eligibility, forum, timing, correction, reissue, upgrade, benefits, or any other outcome. The official destination determines its current procedure and any result.
Independent public reference. Do not enter names, ID numbers, dates, or document text. mos.directory is not a DoD system of record and is not authorized to receive CUI or personal records.
Situation 1 of 4
Request a copy Official owner: VA records guidance, National Archives military service records, and milConnect DPRIS where the official eligibility conditions apply
Find how to request a copy of a DD Form 214 or other military service records from the official keeper of the record: the National Archives for service record requests, VA guidance when a VA benefits application needs the DD Form 214, and milConnect DPRIS where its published eligibility conditions apply.
Boundary: The official destination decides identity proof, repository, availability, and timing.
Official resources
Official destination · Reviewed
Request your military service records (including DD214) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA guidance for requesting military service records, including what a request can return, the online, mail, and fax National Archives request options, and when VA requests the DD Form 214 itself for a benefits application.
Official URL:https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
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Official destination · Reviewed
Request Military Service Records (opens in a new tab)The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives veterans service records surface, including the eVetRecs online request path and the other official methods to obtain service records.
Official URL:https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
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Official destination · Reviewed
Requesting Personnel File Documents (opens in a new tab)Defense Manpower Data Center milConnect
How to request documents from the Official Military Personnel File through the DPRIS request path in milConnect, where the published per-service eligibility conditions apply and a milConnect account is required.
Official URL:https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/help/topics/requesting_personnel_file_documents.htm
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Situation 2 of 4
Draft or not yet certified Official owner: The separation activity preparing the form
For a draft or a form that has not been certified, contact the separation activity preparing it. Each Service sets its own correction procedure.
Boundary: This site cannot receive the form or personal records.
Official resource
Policy source · Reviewed
DoD Instruction 1336.01, Certificate of Uniformed Service (DD Form 214/5 Series) (opens in a new tab)Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
The governing policy for preparing and correcting the DD Form 214/5 Series before certification, at Paragraphs 2.4.e-f, 3.2.a(3)-(4), and 3.2.b(3)-(4).
Official URL:https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/133601p.pdf
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Situation 3 of 4
Correct or reissue an issued record Official owner: The applicable uniformed service, routed through National Archives correction guidance
Route a correction or reissue of an issued DD Form 214 to the applicable service: the service personnel command for a non-archival record, or the service review board for an archival record. This is record correction, separate from a character-of-service review.
Boundary: The National Archives and Records Administration no longer creates a DD Form 215 to correct a DD Form 214, following DoDI 1336.01 electronic creation and transmission guidance, so the older non-electronic DD Form 215 practice no longer applies there. Whether a service corrects, reissues, or issues a DD Form 215 is decided by the official process.
Official resources
Official destination · Reviewed
Correcting Military Service Records (opens in a new tab)The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives correction guide: it states that NARA no longer creates a DD Form 215, routes archival records to the service review board and non-archival records to the service personnel command, and lists the DD Form 293 and DD Form 149 submissions for each service branch.
Official URL:https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/correct-service-records.html
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Official destination · Reviewed
NPRC Veterans Service Officer (VSO)- Record Corrections (opens in a new tab)The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center
The National Personnel Records Center contact router for record corrections, listing the review board agencies and correction boards for each service.
Official URL:https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/vso/record-corrections
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Policy source · Reviewed
DoD Instruction 1336.01, Certificate of Uniformed Service (DD Form 214/5 Series) (opens in a new tab)Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
The current correction or reissue rule for issued DD Form 214 remarks, at Paragraph 3.2.c.
Official URL:https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/133601p.pdf
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Situation 4 of 4
Review character of service or discharge Official owner: VA discharge upgrade guidance and the service discharge review boards and boards for correction of military records
Find the official path to seek a discharge upgrade or a correction of discharge paperwork: a discharge review board can change, correct, or modify discharges or dismissals not issued by a sentence of a general court-martial, and a board for correction of military records can change a military record to correct an error or remove an injustice.
Boundary: Discharge Review Board and Board for Correction scopes stay separate. The official process determines forum, timeliness, evidence, and outcome.
Forms: Applications use DD Form 293 for a discharge or dismissal review and DD Form 149 for a correction of military records, submitted to the relevant service branch as listed by the National Archives correction guide.
Official resources
Official destination · Reviewed
How To Apply For A Discharge Upgrade (opens in a new tab)U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The official VA instructions router for discharge upgrade and correction applications: it explains how to apply based on the situation and does not start the application.
Official URL:https://www.va.gov/discharge-upgrade-instructions/
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Official form · Reviewed
DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States (opens in a new tab)Washington Headquarters Services
The current official blank application for a Discharge Review Board to review a discharge or dismissal within the form's stated scope. The form directs completed applications to the appropriate service board.
Official URL:https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0293.pdf
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Official form · Reviewed
DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552 (opens in a new tab)Washington Headquarters Services
The current official blank application for a Board for Correction of Military or Naval Records to request correction of a military record under 10 U.S.C. 1552. The form directs completed applications to the appropriate service board.
Official URL:https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0149.pdf
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