Chapter Eleven
Retrieving Military Records
You will want to get all the military records which go back to the date you first joined or were drafted into the service. This is not difficult to do. The form to be used is “Request Pertaining to Military Records”, better know as the Form SF 180. We have included a copy of this form which you can print from this CD. The SF 180 can be found in Chapter 23 “Blank Forms”. The “SF” stand for “Standard Form”. There is also an example of a SF 180 filled out. This may help you understand how better to complete the form. You will find the completed example in Chapter 21 “Example Forms Completed”.
The addresses of where to mail the completed Form is on the back side of the SF 180. This Form is used for all Branches of the Military. The basic completion of the Form is simple, however there are a few places you will want to write specific information. The information contain in the remainder of this Chapter will help explain how to fill out a SF 180.
Section I - INFORMATION NEEDED TO LOCATE RECORDS
This area deals
with your name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth and Place of Birth.
Questions 5, 6, & 7 deal with your past and or present military
service. Some Veterans served on Active Duty for a few years and the
joined the National Guard or Reserve. If you did not serve in the Reserves
(Item #6) check the box marked “NONE”. If you served in a National Guard
Unit (Item #7) complete the information in that section. Complete Item
Item #8.
Section II - REQUEST
This area deals with what information you want
and why you want it. In Item #2 be certain not to say you want this
information for a VA Claim. Be certain to include the statement “You are
aware of everything in your file”. Item #4 asks why you want this
information. Again, do not state you want the information for a VA Claim.
Simply state you want this information for your personal records or use.
Item #6a wants to know who is requesting the information. Check the first
box “Same person identified in Section I” and Item #6b requires your
signature. Item #5 is a Release Authorization. Sign Item #5. Complete Item
#7 which is where you want the information sent.
On the back side of Form SF 180 you will see instructions about how to determine where to mail the Form. You will need to read and follow those instructions to determine were to mail your completed Form. As you read the following paragraph refer to the example Form SR 180 in chapter 21 “Example Forms Completed”.
For example, assume you were in the Army and have been discharged. Look to the left side (on the back of the Form) under “SERVICE”. You will find a block which says “ARMY (USA)” (labeled Block #1) ... it is about two thirds of the way down the page. To the right of this Block you see “Army records are transferred to NPRC as soon as processed (about 30 days after separation) (labeled block #2). To the right of that Block you see a list of eight possibilities of what your status is (labeled Status Possibilities 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8). Number 6 “Discharged and deceased members (see next item) is the possibility that most likely fits your situation. You are Discharged..... not deceased! The (see next item) means if you were deceased the person filling out the Form would go to the next line to determine whether you were an Officer separated before 1917 or enlisted separated before 1912. If you were, then they would look to the far right of the page on the line and see a number 6. The number 6 refers to the number 6 at the bottom of the page where the addresses are located.
However, because you are not deceased you look to the far right of the page on line number six of status possibilities. Yo will see a number 14 (marked with an X). This number 14 corresponds to the address below next to the number 14 (marked with an X) which is:
14 (Military Personnel Records)
9700 page Boulevard
St. Louis, Mo 63132
This is where yo would mail the completed Form. This example should help give you an idea of how to determine where you will want to mail your completed SF 180. If you where in more than one Branch of the Service you may have more than one SF 180 to fill out and mail to different addresses.
