How to request military service records for family history

A grandfather's service in World War II or Korea is one of the most common reasons people start researching their family. The record that tells that story best is the Official Military Personnel File, and anyone can ask for it. What you get back depends on when the person left the military, who you are, and whether a fire in 1973 reached the file first.

This note covers US records. Other countries keep their own service files with different rules.

Where are US military personnel files kept?

Personnel files for 20th-century veterans of all branches are kept at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, part of the National Archives.

The file, often called the OMPF, can include enlistment papers, assignments, training, awards, evaluations, discipline and the discharge document. For people who left service after the early 1950s, the discharge document is usually the DD-214, which summarizes the whole career on one or two pages.

Service from before World War I sits elsewhere. Civil War and earlier records are held by the National Archives in Washington, DC, and are ordered through a different process. Our where-to-look page lists the main places for military records by period.

What is the 62-year rule?

A personnel file becomes archival and open to the public 62 years after the service member left the military.

To work out whether a file is archival, take the current year and subtract 62. In 2026, that means files of people discharged in about 1964 or earlier, depending on the exact date. Anyone can order a copy of an archival file. You don't need to prove you're related.

Files newer than that are restricted. The veteran can get the whole file, and so can next of kin of a deceased veteran, such as a surviving spouse, parent, child or sibling. Other people can still receive limited information, such as name, service number, dates of service, rank and assignments, without anyone's consent.

How do you put in a request?

Use the National Archives' online request system, or mail or fax Standard Form 180 if you can't use the online form.

1. Gather the details: full name used in service, branch, approximate dates, date and place of birth, and the service number if you have it.
2. Find proof of death if the person is deceased and the file isn't archival yet. A death certificate copy or obituary often works.
3. Submit the request online or on SF-180. The form includes instructions and the mailing address.
4. Note the date you sent it, then wait. The National Archives asks people to allow about ten days before checking on a request.
5. If the file is archival, you will be told the copying fee before the copies are made.

Look in the house first. Many families already have a DD-214 or a discharge certificate in a drawer, a frame or an old wallet. Our guide to getting started with family history has a list of places to check.

What if the file burned in 1973?

If the file was destroyed in the 1973 fire, the NPRC can often rebuild basic service facts from other records, and you can search those records yourself.

On July 12, 1973, a fire at the St. Louis building destroyed an estimated 16 to 18 million files. The National Archives says it hit two groups hardest:

• Army personnel discharged between November 1, 1912 and January 1, 1960, with about 80 percent lost.
• Air Force personnel discharged between September 25, 1947 and January 1, 1964, with surnames after "Hubbard, James E.," with about 75 percent lost.

The National Archives lists only these Army and Air Force groups as affected. About 6.5 million damaged files were recovered, and some arrive with scorch or water marks.

If a file is gone, the NPRC uses other sources to reconstruct the basics. These include Veterans Administration claim files, state records, pay vouchers, Selective Service registrations, hospital records and unit records.

Which other records fill the gaps?

Draft registrations, unit histories, veterans' claim files, discharge papers filed at the county courthouse and local newspapers can all document service when the main file is missing.

Many returning veterans recorded their discharge at the county recorder's office, partly so they would have a certified copy if the original was lost. Ask the county where the person lived after the war.

Hometown newspapers often reported enlistments, promotions, leave visits and homecomings. Our guide to finding historical newspapers explains how to search them.

Unit records, such as morning reports and after-action reports, show where a unit was on a given day. They won't always name your relative, but once you know the unit, they can show where the person most likely served.

Keep track of each request in your research log, including the ones that come back empty. A "no record found" letter is still useful evidence.

FAQ

Do I need the service number to request a file?

It helps but is not required. Give the full name used in service, the branch, approximate dates of service, and date and place of birth. A service number or Social Security number makes the search faster.

Is there a fee?

Veterans and next of kin can get many records free. Archival files ordered for genealogy carry a copying fee; check the National Archives' order page for the current amount.

Where are records from before World War I?

Records for service before the early 20th century, such as the Civil War, are held by the National Archives in Washington, DC, and are requested separately from the St. Louis files.

Should I pay a private company to get a DD-214?

There is no need. The National Archives provides the DD-214 to veterans and next of kin as a free service, and private services only submit the same request for you.

Sources

• National Archives: Veterans' Service Records
• National Personnel Records Center: Military Personnel Records
• National Personnel Records Center: The 1973 Fire
• National Archives: About Official Military Personnel Files