Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • How to Get a Copy of Your DD Form 214 (And What’s On the Document) Veterans should treat their DD Form 214 like any other important document – birth and marriage certificates, wills, vehicle titles, land deeds, insurance policies, etc. Note: there are other official military and DoD forms that or serve as discharge papers, including the, which is common for members of the Guard or Reserves. Those forms are important, but may not be accepted in place of a DD Form 214. In most cases, the DD Form 214 is the required form for veterans benefits. This guide covers how to get a copy of your DD-214 from either your branch of service, or from the National Archives. First, The Information Found on Your DD Form 214 Your DD Form 214 is labeled your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Everyone who served on active duty should have been issued a copy of their DD From 214.
If not, we’ll cover how to get a copy later in this article. We’ll also cover how to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged DD Form 214.
The DD Form 214 contains the following information (numbers designate which item on the form; note: this is the FEB 2000 version – other versions may differ): • Complete name used while in the service • Branch of service • Social Security Number (Service Number may be used in other versions) • a) Grade, Rate, or Rank, b) Pay Grade • Date of Birth • Reserve Obligation Termination Date (for those who transfer into the Regular Reserves or Inactive Ready Reserve upon transition from active duty). • a) Place of Entry into Military Service b) Home of Record • a) Last Duty Assignment and Major Command, b) Station Where You Separated from Active Duty • Command to Which Transferred • SGLI Coverage Amount (if any) • Primary Duty Specialty (MOS, AFSC, Rating, etc.). This can include multiple duties and the number of years and months served in this capacity. Download lagu shaggy dog full album sinkronis. • Record of Service – Dates entered and separated from active duty; total active duty time if you have served on active duty more than once (common with members of the Guard or Reserves); Foreign Service, Sea Service, and more. • Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized (this section is small; this may be continued in the remarks section if you have a large number of authorized ribbons, medals, and decorations).
• Military Education (to include course title, course duration, and month and year completed) • a) VEAP Participation (yes or no); b) High school graduate or equivalent (yes or no) • Amount of Leave Sold Back • Member received dental exam within 90 days before separation (yes or no) • Remarks (continuation of decorations and awards or other remarks). • a) Mailing address after separation, b) Nearest Relative and address • Request copy to be sent to Direct of Veterans Affairs for State of Residence • Member Signature • Signature of Official Authorizing Separation from Active Duty • Type of Separation (Release from Active Duty, etc.) • Character of Service (). • Separation Authority (my DD Form 214 shows AFI 36-3208, which is an Air Force Instruction; most DD Form 214s probably show a branch specific reference). • Separation Code • Reentry Code (also known as RE Code) – this determines whether or not you are eligible to join the military again. 
• Narrative Reason for Separation (mine lists Completion of Active Service; yours may vary depending on the reason for your separation). • Dates of Time Lost During This Period (mine lists None; yours may vary depending on unique circumstances) • Member Initials Requesting a Copy of DD Form 214.