How To Find If Someone Was In The Army

Figuring out how to bank check another individual's Official Armed services Personnel File is relatively straightforward and open to the public.

There are various reasons why someone may demand access to military files—that is, anyone who does non identify equally the service member on file or the next of kin. Most requests are used to check for eligibility, legal, or financial transactions.

It usually helps to know what type of information you need and your human relationship to the service member. Here are a few means to check the military service records of someone else.

FOIA and the Privacy Act

Most documents are kept at the National Personnel Records Eye, a collection of over seventy meg files in St. Louis, Missouri. NPRC stores service records from the Department of Regular army, Navy, Air Strength, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

As outlined on the NPRC website, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) typically grants anyone with the statutory right to view general data from executive co-operative agency records. These files practise not require the veteran'south or next-of-kin's permission.

The FOIA's purpose is to provide transparency to the public while besides protecting the service fellow member'south privacy through the Privacy Human activity. The Privacy Act limits the type of information accessible to the public and how they are used.

Any documents needed across public information are limited to the next-of-kin are permitted by the service member.

Data that may exist viewed by the public:

Name
Service Number
Dates of Service
Branch of Service
Final Duty Status
Final Rank
Assignments and Geographical Locations
War machine Education Level
Awards and decorations (eligibility only, non bodily medals)
Photograph
Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials
Identify of archway and separation

Items such equally bacon, source of commission, and promotion sequence number are rarely on file. Typically, deceased veterans accept the identify of nascence, date, and location of decease, and place of burial on public file.

Note: OFMPs, separation documents (DD214), replacement records, and medical records are not open to the public and must get through a verification process to obtain these items.

Obtaining Service Records using SF-180

Military personnel records are requested using the SF-180 grade. SF-180 is used by the NPRC to obtain public files from a service fellow member and outlines several ways to send in your asking:

Download and mail service it in.
1. The PDF is available online for download. Fill out the form with authentic data to the best of your ability.
2. NPRC explains how to return the document: "Review the tables on page 3 of SF-180 to identify the correct location of the tape y'all demand (based on branch of service, dates of separation, and type of record) and send the completed form to the accost identified on the table."
Fill out an research form on NPRC to have the SF-180 mailed to you directly.
1. Return the documents to:

National Personnel Records Center
ane Archives Bulldoze
St. Louis, Missouri 63138

Visit a Veterans Assistants office, VA arrangement, or Federal Information Center.

The SF-180 can be mailed directly or faxed to (314) 801-9195. NPRC responds in the gild in which the request was received. Separation documents typically take about 10 concern days, whereas older records may accept up to half-dozen months to retrieve.

Next-of-kin of deceased veterans may fill out a SF-180 form or have the selection of filling out an online gild grade.

Write a Letter

If for some reason you cannot obtain an SF-180, NPRC does accept letters of asking. Provide as much data in the alphabetic character to locate the service member'south file, such equally:

The veteran'southward complete name used while in service
Service number or social security number
Branch of service
Dates of service
Date and place of birth may also be helpful, especially if the service number is non known
Further information may be needed

Mail-in your letter of the alphabet with contact information to:

National Personnel Records Centre
1 Archives Bulldoze
St. Louis, Missouri 63138

Troubleshooting Document Locations at the NPRC

Be sure to provide the private'due south date of service, service number, or social security if applicable. In 1969, war machine switched from service number to social security, so files before '69 may be filed under the service number.

A fire destroyed the Department of Army and Air Strength files between the years 1947 and 1963. If you are looking for personnel files in between this twelvemonth gap, provide as much information every bit you know. The Records Center will endeavour to piece together as much information from historical information.

National Archives Data

The National Archives office is a split line from the NPRC and holds military personnel files 62 years past the cease date of service. (Files under 62 years are held by the Department of Defense.) Like the NPRC, the National Archives does place some documents in the public domain.

You can choose either three options to proceeds access to archival records:

Request records online (must mail-in signature page)
Mail in an SF-180 asking form or alphabetic character to:
National Personnel Records Centre

Or fax documents to (314) 801-9195.

Cristina Van Orden is a literary writer and active military spouse. She holds an MFA from Antioch University and taught K-12 English earlier working in editorial. Cristina currently resides on base with her husband and children.