National Archives: Requesting a Servicemembers Military Records

[@01AudioVideo01]

I retired after 27 yrs in the Army and my mother recently (today!) told me my grandfather was in WW I so I just requested his records using your video!

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

So glad to hear that this video helped you begin the process on getting your grandfather's WWI records. Thank you to your granddad and your sacrifices!

[@hjartland]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

You're welcome, hjartland. It's a little dated in terms of cost (potentially), but I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope it will help you!

[@CMC333]

🤩🤩🤩Thank you!!! This helped me greatly!!!

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

You're very welcome, Christie. Glad the video helped, and good luck!

[@-Cece]

Getting my loved one's service record wasn't something I had thought about until this video. I will have to see if my other family members have already requested a copy.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for watching and your support as always, Cece. I hope you can locate what you're looking for.

[@kainarafalu799]

I asked for my father's military certificate in digital format, I already received the email that the document is ready and I only have 30 days to download the document, I've been trying to access it for 3 days and I can't paste the request number his name is all correct but the document does not open, can anyone help me?

[@kelcritcarroll]

This was great! Thank you!

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Awesome! Thanks for watching, Kelly! I know it can be difficult maze to maneuver through, so for you and others, I'm glad it was helpful! Appreciate your comment, and for you viewing!

[@muxxor9492]

Where is the option to select ‘official military personnel file’ I see it listed at 3:40 in the video? It seems when you click start request it’s just for a DD-214.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for reaching out. Hope this helps! I think those links you mention at 3:40, each is an "overview" of the information. Using the "Start Request Online" button will probably get you everything you're looking for, typcially they will send you everything they have about that servicemember. To request specifically the OMPF, try this link: www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/military-personnel/ompf-archival-requests

[@rhymereason3449]

You didn't describe one of the most important parts of the process.. how do you know what your charge is going to be? And are you committed to payment at that point if the charge is more than you wanted to spend? I would think that they pull the file and estimate the cost, notify you for payment and only copy records after recieveing payment... but it's the government... so who knows... but it would have been helpful to explain that part of the process!

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for your question. This video is from two years ago, so I haven't viewed it lately, but it is based on how large the file it. I believe I covered if the service members records are 5 pages or longer it's a certain price, if it's less than 5 pages, it's a certain price. My understanding is they notify you when they pull the record.

[@rhymereason3449]

@@BuffaloNavalPark Thanks, they are so vague on describing when you are committed to the charges... that is my major concern and it's just not spelled out very well iMHO.l

[@rhymereason3449]

I think it would have been helpful instead of using an absolute year like 1959 to have mentioned that it's apparently 62 years after discharge year when records go to the National Archives and you are charged - so you take the current year and subtract 62 from it and any discharge year less than or equal to that year would be in the National Archives and chargeable.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks again. That is certainly correct. It definitely would have been helpful...

[@Mike-z3r8p]

Thanks Shane! Very informative. Quick question...as next of kin and executor of my deceased brother's Will who served in Marine Corp 1954 - 1957 will a medical record request result in ALL VA Medical information up through and including the most recent treatment?

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

That's a great question, and appreciate your support. I would "think" that would be true. I don't cover requests from the VA in this video, and don't know the process as well as for the National Archives, but I would think that a request, especially from you as next of kin and executor would be allowed access - just don't know enough about HIPAA laws though to give you a full answer. Good Luck!

[@cinwi6064]

Hi, I was wondering about the billing info. If NARA didn’t ask you to fill in billing info while filling out the form, then when and how do they request the $25 or $70?

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Hi, and thanks for watching. It is based on the amount of records that are located for your family member, and the amount of staff time. So, the bill comes after they've collated all of the records to send to you. Hope that helps!

[@marioedwin311]

Thanks .... How long does it take to get the records in the mail

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for watching. That is hit or miss for sure, based on number of requests. I've heard anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months! Good luck!

[@Matakui2011]

Hopefully someone can answer my question. I was a reservist and got activated. If I want to request my medical records while I was activated, do I still request as a reservist or active since I want my medical records while I was activated. I ask because I've asked before and as a reservist and when I got my records it was only my reserve records. Help please if you know or point me at the right direction. Thanks.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for your comment. Best I can recommend is: National Personnel Records Center: 314-801-0800 or the Department of Veteran Affairs: 1-800-827-1000. Both of these resources are from the National Archives Website I show in the video. Hope this helps...good luck!

[@spacecatboy2962]

what if you dont have the ss number

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for watching. The SS number is not a "required" field...so, you don't need it to complete filling out the form! Good luck, and hope this video helped!

[@stevenreid6054]

Will the National Archives have service photos archived from the 1960's

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

That's a great question, Steve. They are always digitizing photographs, and you can see those when you do a search. I don't know their plan for specific time periods, but for example here's what they have online for the Vietnam Era: www.archives.gov/research/vietnam-war

[@pelenaka]

Searching for a Great-Uncle don't have day & month of birth just year 1904. Last Duty record I have for him is 1947 Phil Naval Shipyard age 43. I don't have an offical document stating he's my Great-Uncle nor do I know if he had children. Can I just request the 5 pages one of which would include awards/medals ? Retired amateur Genealogist on a budget. Great video thank you.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for watching and for your comment! I think maybe instead of filling out the online form (or fill it out as best you can), maybe give the National Archives a call. I'm sure they speak to genealogists like yourself all day every day! Good Luck!

[@Sir.VicsMasher]

Great Uncle would be your Great Grandparent's sibling, many people un-knowingly call their Grand Uncle's (grandparents sibling) their Great Uncle for unknown reasons.

[@AnakinVoss1030]

Greetings ! I’m I able to find out the status of a Request from VA to National Personnel Record Center? It was sent in December 2022 when I filled my Va claim. No response apparently from NPRC. The curious thing , is that myself request my STR to NPRC, and they reponded to me in 3 days .. how can they respond to my request in 3 day and to the VA it has been 8 months .🤔

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

A good question that I don't have a good answer for. The NPRC is much better equipped to handle requests and it gets bogged down elsewhere! Continued good luck!

[@culvercitycharlie]

Go bills!

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Yes, Go Buffalo Bills, Go.

[@GhidoraKidora]

My step dad was in vietnam, how do I get his service records. Or would it be a problem bc he's my step dad. He raised me from like 11...I use to ask him about the war and he never would answer. He wouldn't talk at all... My real dad was in the air force he was in Germany. I still never met him he's still alive but my step dad died... I don't know their socials. I just want it for myself...

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Maybe the best place to look is here: www.archives.gov/veterans/faq.html#20 You also can locate the phone number and give them a call! Hope this helps and good luck!

[@donohall]

i’ve been very keen on learning about my ancestors past military careers, and i’ve only gotten luck on 1/2, the first one they said i couldn’t receive, my father’s because i couldn’t get a signature because he isn’t currently in my life, and my great grandfather has been received for 3-4 weeks with no contact, do you have any clue on how long it should take to receive, and to ship records for a extensively long military career?

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Dono Hall...working with the National Archives usually takes quite a long time. As you can imagine there are hundreds of thousands of requests from across the country! It may take a couple of months. I would continue to reach out to them...use the screens I show in the video to contact them. I wish you luck, but expect delays, definitely.

[@BRIENB31]

What's the best way to get a photo or yearbook ??

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

For photographs or cruise books, you can go to the National Archives site and go to the catalog. You can then type in the search item. Anything that comes up digitally from that search is free to download. When you look at the digital image, in the lower left corner it will say "download". Thanks for watching and hope that helps! Also many ships have associations attached to them, and they may have websites with resources.

[@Angus8835]

How do I just get my regular medical records, from the day I joined active duty till the day my contract was up?

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for watching. I would think the VA health department may have those records. I also would think that these records could be part of your larger service record file from the records at the National Archives. That's the best I can offer.

[@Angus8835]

@@BuffaloNavalPark thank you

[@nickdesanto6119]

What document are included in the request? Only separation from service documentation? And if I want to request any medical or personnel records would I include that in the additional comments or is there a separate form for those records?

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

My understanding, Nick is that whatever service records are on file is what they would send you! That's why there's a discrepancy with the pricing and amount of paper. Some records may only be three pages, while someone else may have nine or 10. Once you put in the request with his information, you'd get access to everything they have on file! Hope that helps and good luck!

[@nickdesanto6119]

@@BuffaloNavalPark thank you

[@othowayne1963]

If i did this and only got dd214. How would i ask for all of the records? See, there were 2 dd214. He reenlisted. There were other forms mentioned that I don't know how to get. Thanks ​@BuffaloNavalPark

[@darlenedugan9144]

I was wondering if you would know the answer to this....I tried to call the National Archive and they are not accepting calls and you cannot leave a message. I checked the status of my request and the message says it was sent on 8/17/22 and that I should give it 3-5 days to arrive. It's now September 1, 2022 and I have not received it. How long does it typically take to receive? I am unable to contact the archives at all

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Darlene - I would trust that the National Archives keeps concise records, and if they say it should be arriving, I would definitely trust that it will! There's a lot of infrastructure issues out there as you know...so, give it some time. COVID really decimated the National Archives and I'm sure there's staffing issues! Hope it gets sorted out soon for you!

[@misses4439]

A lot of people wouldn’t just have like their grandfather’s social security number.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

That's true Misses, but it's not a required text field, so it doesn't have to be filled out! Hope the video was helpful to you! Thanks for watching.

[@misses4439]

@@BuffaloNavalPark ohh ok thanks

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

@@misses4439 Best thing to have would be their full name and other information (besides the SSN)! Good Luck!

[@misses4439]

@@BuffaloNavalPark yes I have it. I appreciate you

[@ColbyHiggs]

Thank you!

[@GhidoraKidora]

🪖

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for watching!