Records

MILITARY DISCHARGE RECORDS- FORMS 
(Known as: Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, WG xx, DD-214 or equivalent)

• The Veterans Report of Separation from Active Duty or Discharge form (DD 214) is the most important document a veteran will receive when discharged from Active Duty. 

• Keep the Original copies in a Safe and Secured placed.  NEVER send the original to the VA or other organizations.  Send only Certified Copies of the original.

• This document should be filed at the County Record of Deeds or County Record of Vital Statistics within the county that you live in after you are separated from active duty.  If you later move to another state or county this document should be re-filed in the new county.  This is a free service in the state of South Dakota.

• DD 214s that are lost or destroyed can be requested from the National Personnel Records Centers either on-line or by mailing a Standard Form (SF) 180.  This process delays the veterans or dependents ability to apply for VA benefits up to 4-6 weeks.  The Standard Form 180 can be completed and/or printed by clicking here. You can also complete this form on line in which you must send a signature page by clicking here

• Certified Copies of the DD 214 are required for most initial Claims, Benefits, and Bonus programs.  In most cases a veteran or dependent may not require the use of the form for 30 or more years.  The form may be required for reopening a claim or verifying burial or social security benefits.  Once discharge forms are filed in South Dakota, Veterans can obtain as many certified copies of their discharge forms as needed at any time at no cost.

MILITARY AWARDS 

• Directions for requesting Replacement Awards / Medals

• National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) Homepage

• Frequently Requested Records Which Are NOT at the National Personnel Records Center - Military Personnel Records 

• The 1973 Fire at the National Personnel Records Center (St. Louis, MO)

• United States Armed Forces Awards, Decorations, Campaign & Service Medals – All branches 

MILITARY MEDICAL RECORDS

Military Medical Records can sometimes be very difficult to find.  In most cases the medical records are stored with the military treatment facility the service member was treated at.  During the time of demobilization or force restructuring in which military facilities were closed some serious research will need to be completed.  It is very important that the service member or veteran recalls specific information to help track the information.  The following information is required to assist in locating medical records:

• Full Name
• Service Number
• Rank
• Branch of Service
• Unit of Assignment at time of treatment
• Date of Treatment
• Type of treatment received
• Name of Medical Facility
• Location of Medical Facility
• Branch of service of Medical Facility