How to Get Military Records Quickly
A veteran's personnel files and military records are kept at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in St. Louis, Missouri, after discharge from military service. According to NARA, "we are the official repository for records of military personnel who have been discharged from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. A request to receive military records quickly from NARA can be done one of two ways.
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Instructions
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Visit eVetRecs and click on Request Military Records to submit a request for military records. According to the National Archives, "a user of eVetRecs must be either a military veteran or the next of kin of a deceased, former member of the military." The next of kin can be any of the following: surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister or brother.
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Enter all necessary information to complete the four steps of the eVetRecs request. Drop-down menus will appear at Step 2 to specify which military records the request pertains to. Step 3 displays a Comments section that you must complete with as much detail as possible in order for the military records be delivered quickly. State the purpose and reason why the military records are needed quickly.
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Print the signature verification page of the eVetRecs online request once you have completed all four steps.
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Sign and date the signature verification form. An online request must be signed and dated by the veteran or next of kin. According to The National Archives, "the next of kin of a deceased veteran must provide proof of death of the veteran, such as a copy of death certificate, letter from funeral home or published obituary."
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Mail or fax the signature verification form to:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Fax: 314-801-9195
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Complete a Form SF-180 to request military records in place of eVetRecs. Form SF-180 can be printed via The National Archives website. You also can attain a Form SF-180 from federal information centers, any local Veterans Administration offices or veterans service organizations. In addition, you can write to the National Personnel Records Center to request a Form SF-180 be sent to you. In the Purpose section of the form, include that you need the military records as quickly as possible and explain why. Send the request to: National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132.
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