Almost everyone that leaves military service has issues with their records once they’re out. The most important document you’ll get when you out-process is the Department of Defense Form 214 (DD214).
And that’s a fact, Jack.
As a former service member, I can’t stress the importance of making sure this document is accurate when you leave the service.
So if I can give you one tip before you take those boots off for the last time it would be to MAKE DANG SURE YOUR DD214 IS 100% CORRECT BEFORE YOU GET OUT.
Because as we’ll see in just a moment, it’s not a simple cakewalk to get it corrected.
I Lost It…My Dog Ate It…My House Burned Down…
I let you in on a little secret. I’m probably the most unorganized person on the planet. It’s not like I’m lazy or anything, I’m just so busy with a bazillion projects that organizing things is not my forte.
However, I’ve always been able to keep copies of my DD214 where I can easily find them.
Tip: Get a quality safe and put your DD214 in it. If your house catches fire, you can easily get it out of the safe. Plus you’ll always know where you can find them.
If for some reason you’ve lost them, you can get another copy by going to this site:
The National Archives – Veteran’s Service Records
Once you click the blue “Start Form Online” button, you’ll be taken to a form page you’ll have to fill out. Of course, you’ll be asked:
- Your Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Marriage Status While Serving
- Current Address
- Address of Home of Record
- Dates of Service
The page, of this date, looks like this:
Once you’ve submitted this form, it usually takes about 10 days before they’ll be able to process your response. As you well know, the government is not going to set any speed records for getting your paperwork processed.
So, be patient.
How to Fix Bogus Errors on Your DD214
Let’s say you want to go down to VA and get your bowels cleaned out, or whatever. So you pull out your DD214 to go down to the medical center to begin the “process” but you notice a problem.
They got your name wrong. It says:
And you have no more of an idea than a hound dog how that happened.
What you’ll need is a DD215 to fix the errors on your DD214. ( I guess the “15” is an upgrade of “14”? You go figure.)
Note: This next part is really important because it’ll save you a lot of frustration and time.
I started a search online for “DD215” and I got a lot of bogus sites trying to get me to use their form generators. Trust me, these will not work for the government.
Here’s what you’ll need to look for:
As you can see, the best place to go to find the DD215’s are at the VA.gov site. ( https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/ )
Once you’re on the VA service records page, you’ll want to make sure you’re on the right page. You should see a menu that says, “Request Military Records – Reconstruct Military Records”.
Once you’re on that site, you’ll need to sign up for a DS Logon. In case you don’t know, DS stands for Department of Defense Self-Service Logon.
Going through the process of getting this logon is important because it will give you access to several different Department of Defense sites. So you’ll want to keep your password in a file or Rolodex where you can find it.
To begin the process, click the blue button on the Veteran’s Affairs Military Service Records Page that says, “Go to milConnect”.
Once you’ve logged in using your DS Logon password and profile, all you have to do is follow the steps above to get to your personnel files.
Once you’re in those files you can also request or change:
- DD214
- DD215
- Report of Separation
- Other release papers
- Orders and endorsements
- Performance reports
- Awards and decorations (commendatory items)
- Qualifications, licenses, and certificates
- Security clearance
How Do I Fix My DD214 Without the Internet?
Ahh, I knew you’d ask that.
If you’re living in an area where you have to do recon just to get home, you can always use the postal system. (Of Course, this begs the question of how you’re reading this webpage in the first place, doesn’t it?)
Well, trooper, I have 2 hacks for that.
First, you can go to your local VA and beg them to either let them use a computer with Internet access or ask them to assist you with this process.
The second way would be to send a regular letter through the Postal Service to the National Personnel Records Center. Here’s the address you’ll need.
National Personnel Records Center
Address: 1 Archives Dr, St. Louis, MO 63138
Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 4 PM
Phone: (314) 801-0800
You can also use the link above to get directions on how to drive there.
Final Thoughts on Fixing Your 214DD
Remember, you’re dealing with the government. They are processing millions of records each year.
I’ve got to hand it to them, they’ve gotten a lot better at getting things done in the last few years, especially when it comes to Veterans.
Just remember, if you do experience difficulties getting your DD214 in order, be patient. Do not call someone on the phone and start ranting. It will only make things worse.
It has been my experience, that the people who work for the VA are the nicest people in the world and they really do care about you and your needs. So give them a chance to help you.
I hope this set of instructions on how to fix your DD214 helped you out. If you have any helpful comments or need more information, please leave a comment in the space below.
11 Comments
Maria
Just wanted to say thanks for posting this information. Most people don’t know that you can make changes at all to your DD214. Thanks so much for sharing!
Mark Ellis
Thanks so much, Maria, I am so very happy that you could use this information on how to fix your DD214. God Bless!
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Vaughn Beahm
I’ve been surfing online more than 2 hours today looking for an answer for getting my DD214 fixed. Right before I was about to give up, I came across your wonderful site. Thank you so much for your outstanding post, it really helped get me on the path to getting mine adjusted. God bless you all.
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Levi Armstrong
I like that you said that veterans trying to get their DD214 should practice utmost patience because the government is processing millions of records a year. My dad has been trying to get his DD214 for months but he’s been having difficulties getting it, which is why he’s been really irate about the matter. He wants to get it done quickly so he could apply for a VA loan to have our home renovated. Perhaps I should suggest that he hires the help of a DD214 application assistance company to fasten the process. Thanks for this!
Megan Alder
My husband realized that he lost his military service document DD214, and he needs it for a process he’s applying to. I found it very interesting to know that nowadays you can apply for it through the internet, and I love how you explained it step to step. I will definitely follow your step-to-step guide once my husband is ready to do it.
Mark Ellis
Megan,
I’m so glad this helped you out. I hope your husband gets everything he needs for the process he is applying to. God Bless!
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