How to Verify an Honorable Discharge
For many employment and educational opportunities, military service provides a leg up for applicants. The skills gained during military service are invaluable, but the conditions of discharge also play a role. An honorable discharge means that an enlisted person performed his duties and met or exceeded performance expectations. There are several other types of discharge or military separation, and some are indicative of a poor service record. To verify your honorable discharge, you must fill out the proper paperwork.
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Instructions
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Obtain a copy of Standard Form (SF) 180 from the National Archives website or a nearby Veterans Administration office.
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Fill out Section I of SF 180. This section of the form requires the discharged person's social security number, date of birth and dates of military service. In most cases, you won't already know this information, and you'll need to request the details from the individual in question.
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Check the boxes labeled "DD214 Form" and "Undeleted" in Section II, and check the appropriate box for the purpose of your request. The DD214 form provides a general record of a person's military service, but only an undeleted record indicates the type of discharge following service.
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Complete Section III of SF 180, and ask the individual to sign the document. Military records are only released to third parties with the discharged person's permission, or in the event of legal guardianship or death. If the person doesn't sign the document directly, check the "other" box and supply a notarized letter from the discharged person granting you access to her records.
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Mail the form to the appropriate address, as found on the bottom of SF 180. The form is mailed to different locations depending on the branch of service. You should receive a DD214 form in the mail in one to two weeks, indicating the person's service record and discharge details.
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