The easiest way to find out if someone is in the military is to use a trusted third-party service such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Centralized Verification Service. While it is theoretically possible to obtain the information on your own by searching military service records, it can be onerous and time-consuming. I would like to get a copy of his service records. It is provided to every service member of the U.S. Military upon discharge. It all depends on when the service member served. The “short” version, or redacted copy, provides basic information like the nature and type of discharge, as well as a re-enlistment code. Verify Military Service You may be able to verify a person's active duty status on a given date . DFAS is an agency of the Department of Defense that was originally established in 1991 with the sole purpose of managing the DOD’s finances. The Marine Corps Community Services program (MCCS) can help you find Marines who are retired, deployed, or in service. The U.S. Military only provides one copy of this form, and offers no replacement copies. Staff is available for phone inquires M-F from 7 am to 5 pm, CST. This will let you know if they in fact were in the military and if they were, where they honorably or dishonorably discharged. This United States federal law provides protection to active-duty servicemembers from certain court actions. Since Iâm not ânext of kinâ for my deceased uncles, Iâm going to have to find someone in the family to help me out. Figuring out how to check another individualâs Official Military Personnel File is relatively straightforward and open to the public. These exemptions are in place to protect things like personal privacy, law enforcement, and national security. Most public records r⦠The addresses are listed below. The Member Copy 4, or “long” version of a DD-214 contains far more information that details the type of service as well as reason for separation. Compliance for Landlords & Property Managers, Compliance for Tow & Repossession Operators, protection to active-duty servicemembers from certain court actions, Military Status Check — What You Should Know. Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public with the opportunity to request access to records for any federal agency, including the U.S. Military. The National Personnel Records Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, CST. 7701 Telegraph Road, Room 150 Military.com Buddy Finder: Do a military records search by name (only last name or email is required). The question about how to verify military service comes up quite a bit. The question of how to verify active duty military status comes up quite a bit. Military.com searches over 20 million military records and lets you filter by service, age, school, state, employer, military job code, and more. Although a background check may reveal service history details, you may also petition the Department of Defense to release an individualâs military record so ⦠For authentication purposes, a legitimate DD-214 can prove that someone did in fact serve in the U.S. Military. Here are your answers to some other questions frequently asked about free military background check and military lookup by name services: Unfortunately, there is no specific database that exists on the web as a people search only for members of the military. Although we have discussed this in previous posts, here is a guide to help walk you through the process. There are many different ways that you can prove your military service to potential employers as well as to receive government benefits. And what if you don't know how to get in touch with your fellow unit members? How To Check If Someone Was In The Military. I have been talking to veterans about a few particular people that were allowed to live in the community. To confirm past AF service or find out if an applicant was honorably discharged, you must go to the veteran to get a copy of the DD214 form containing the information. You will need their Social Security number and/or date of ⦠For starters, unless you know the social security number AND / OR the birth date of the person whose military status you’re trying to verify, the search won’t work. If you don’t have it, your results will be invalid. Furthermore, there are people who investigate fraudulent claims. You may also contact the NPRC directly through a toll free phone number: 1-866-272-6272. The exclusion protects the existence of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international terrorism records that are classified. This is a very nice apartment facility located near the VA. If someone is telling you war stories that sound farfetched, hereâs what you need to know: You can indeed find out if someone served in the U.S. military. Below is a simple step-by-step process for obtaining a valid FOIA request: There is no official government form that you need to fill out to make a FOIA request. PeopleFinder.com is another online people search that can get you access to military records that are available for public use. I’ve presented both options below for each branch of the military: JoAnne Collins – FOIA Contact Military Personnel Locator Services Locating a Veteran through the Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs can forward a message to a veteran, providing the veteran has filed a claim with VA, and their current address is on record. It takes time for the NPRC to receive and process your request given their workload. The document is provided by the United States Department of Defense and is presented to the service member when he or she retirees, gets separated, or discharged from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. No military records were found. There Are Many Ways to Prove Military Service. Ironically, if someone claims to have been in Special Operations (Rangers, Delta Force, SEALs, Air Force Parajumpers, etc. The locator service is free to immediate family members and government officials. Their only obligation is to provide the public records already available to them, and you. Get military service records for the army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or RAF from 1920 - who can apply, how long it takes, cost, how to apply It is also a good idea to find out where the service memberâs duty station is located. ), itâs easier to rat them out. A DD-214 is available in two different versions for review. Follow the link to the National Personnel Records Center to begin your quest. Recently I was talking to a romance scammer, a fraud, a person who stole the identity of a real military Soldier. If someone is trying to impress you with tales of heroism, there is a good chance he or she is lying and is a military fraud. Your email address will not be published. The NPRC asks individuals that make a request to the archives wait at least 10 days before following up with the center. If youâre looking for the casualties of a specific war or want to find out if a specific person served in the military, you can likely find this information online. Once you have determined that an individual served in the military, there are a variety of military records which can help to document their service, and provide useful information about your military ⦠One of the most accurate ways to check proof of military service is via a FOIA request. There are two ways to verify military service, depending on whether the person is an active member of the military or a veteran. For the purposes of this article, we’ll just use the “Single Record Request”. The question about how to verify military service comes up quite a bit. If you do not have personal knowledge about the defendantâs military service: If you have the defendantâs social security number or birth date: The Department of Defense has a website to help you find out whether the defendant is on active duty in the military service. When the base operator comes on the line, ask to be connected to the ⦠It maintains a database of more than 20 million military records and offers a free "Buddy Locator" service to help you find ex-service members. Requests must be in writing. It lists things like the date they entered service, what their ultimate rank was, schools they attended, and awards received. All of these options are discussed in thorough detail above. Military.com is the largest online military community. The best online background checks cost a fee and could help recover military records, if any show up in public record searches. The good news about online military background check services is that they provide very detailed, quick, and accurate information. The mailing address for written request letters or form SF-180 is: National Personnel Records Center While he never actually served in the US Military, he has a passion for writing about military related topics. 1 Determine the full name Determine the full name of the person you are seeking. This search is for site content ONLY, not a person search. (202) 462-0600. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It takes 62 years after a military discharge before a vet's service records join the National Archives and become available to the public. It will take you to another page where you can type in the first name, last name, or nickname of the person you are looking for. (The Vietnam Service Award was given to all who were honorably discharged, so you wonât find related specific details.) I've met someone who said he was in the RAF, "where were you stationed and when I asked" hoping to make some conversation "oh, only RAF Swinderby, I left after 5 weeks because I didn't like basic training" To him though, he had served in the RAF. Try to include as much of the following info as possible: Then, you need to sign and date the letter. These files can include the Report of Separation (DD Form 214) and show a veteranâs service ⦠Get military service records for the army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or RAF from 1920 - who can apply, how long it takes, cost, how to apply The longer your tenant doesn’t pay rent, the longer your client doesn’t make car payments, the more money you lose. SE Your email address will not be published. The letter does not need to be long, just simply outline as many specifics about the request you are seeking. Alecia Bolling – FOIA Contact You can search the database by name, age, location, branch, rank and more. Terms of discharge from the military, including dishonorable discharge, are outlined in enlisted soldiersâ or warrant officersâ military service personnel records. It also checks for public records. Related Article: 15 Best States For Military Retirees and Veterans. Another highly reputable online background service to consider, BeenVerified.com also charges a fee for its services. In order to begin a search, create a new account and sign up for a subscription. You can search the database by name, age, location, branch, rank and more. The Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which has been hotly contested in the top US courts, makes it a federal crime to claim certain military awards, commendations, or medals, in return for personal or financial gain. Sometimes they didn't train where they say they trained because they were doing something else that they are never going to tell you about, however, if they ⦠Most public records request require no personal information or explanation on your part. For this reason checking a DD-214 is usually not your best option for doing a free military background check. To contact the base locator, call long distance information, and ask them to connect you to the base operator for the military base where the member is stationed. You should get something like â36th Rescue Flightâ). Why wouldnât the veteran be able to obtain their service DD Form 214 or any other record? Despite stories of âcovert missionsâ and âclassified information,â you can indeed verify military service claims. This will provide you with that person's rank and current location. Military personnel records, units and military jobs are not classified. Your response will receive the quickest possible response if directed to the appropriate agency or FOIA office. After 10 days file an, Veterans complete name while he / she served, Branch of the military he / she claimed to serve in, Date of birth of the person whose information you’re requesting, Place of birth of the person whose information you’re requesting. However, you cannot access the military records of anyone prior to that. How To Find Someone's Military Service Record However, as of recent, they now require you to create an account to run any type of search. easiest way is to ask them. Each federal agency handles its own public records differently. TruthFinder.com is one of the most well known background checks on the web. Thus, the response time may vary. If you're a historian or just fascinated with the details of your parent's military service, requesting this information for your veteran is highly recommended. Required fields are marked *. Even one mistake can cost thousands. There are a number of different ways to do a military lookup by name, or even address or phone number. Furthermore, there are people who investigate fraudulent claims. Any businessperson knows that recouping losses takes time, and the losses grow during this time. Thanks to the 2005 Stolen Valor Act, it has become a federal offense to wear military medals or a military uniform as a fashion statement (or even to make false claim to the right to wear them). 1. Also FOIA the DOD and request service records as well, but that takes a while. This is critical because the sheer number of people who serve in the United States military means that hundreds of similar names are in the archive system. FOIA and the Privacy Act Most documents are kept at the National Personnel Records Center, a collection of over 70 million files in St. Louis, Missouri. One such way of putting your mind at ease is to have the applicant undergo a military background check. If the mission he was on truly was classified, he shouldnât be talking about it in the first place. However, if you are simply looking to verify the identity of someone that claims they served in the U.S. Military, this information is made readily available to the public. Washington, D.C. 20593-7710, Email your request to the following address: EFOIA@uscg.mil. Each branch of the military has their own FOIA department, whereby you can either send it via Snail mail (IE a handwritten or typed letter), or via email. Unfortunately, it is also existent in the world of the U.S. Military. The site is provided to anyone that would like more information regarding military personnel, medical, or health records. St. Louis, Missouri Everyone else must pay a $3.50 nonrefundable - After filling out and printing your FOIA request, you will then simply send it to the appropriate agency. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. However, it does take some time to do a military lookup by name which makes FOIA requests not the fastest means for proof of military service online. The Department of Defense Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) website provides information relating to active duty active duty status for military members.. To answer the OP, you need his service number to be sure of anything. 1 Archives Drive They may also provide a tracking number for the public records military request. Awards are noted on the DD 214. How to verify military service. For others, they may need more detailed information like what the person actually did in the military, what schools they attended, awards, etc. The repository contains millions of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged as well as deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century. This is where the service is a bit lacking, in my opinion. If you want to file suit against a client for nonpayment and they are active-duty military, you must first obtain a court order. For this reason it is sometimes necessary to verify someone is in fact in active-duty, or served in the U.S. Military in the past. Thus, diligent lenders and merchants check military status before proceeding with any claims against clients defaulting on payments. Though you are very likely to find the military background you are seeking through TruthFinder.com, you will need to pay a fee for its services. Copyright © 2020 by SCRA, LLC. Certain military records are available to the public under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. But contrary to popular belief, this is not the only way you can check whether someone is genuine about his involvement with the armed forces. Step 2: Submit for a Single or Multiple record request. In training, they would have chanted their class number over and over again. Having proper and official military records--known as a DD214 document--is often necessary to apply for benefits or for a job. After submitting a request, the FOIA will traditionally send you a letter acknowledging they received the request. Determine the Custodian of Record Select the soldierâs service branch in Column 1 of the first table on page 3 of SF-180, choosing from Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard. Usually these questions will do unless you have someone who has access to the global Marine directory. Freedom of Information Act Office Suite 144 SCRACVS is quick and thorough. The situation above is tricky, and sometimes there are no ⦠I do believe he was in the Army I just don't believe he was the rank he claims to have been. Where did you go to bootcamp? There are many ways to check to see if someone was in the military. However, you need to ask the individual directly for this documentation. Here’s a snapshot of what the report looks like: As you can see, all it shows is the Active duty start and end dates for the individual, and the military branch they served in. I contacted an email that was monitored by the US Army. ⦠If youâre looking for the casualties of a specific war or want to find out if a specific person served in the military, you can likely find this information online. Depend on SCRACVS whenever you need an accurate, affordable military service verification. Military Records Online Free . Additionally, you will need to know the date(s) that the person was serving in an active duty role. You may request additional documentation by contacting the National Archives. All military records are kept at the National Personnel Records Center (or NPRC), which is located in St. Louis, Missouri. Use an online site to find general information. Do an online search for military records to find applicable websites. The military won't outright just say it. In order to contact the NPRC for more information, please call 314-801-0800. According to the website, records that were prior to WWI are located in Washington, D.C. NPRC also hosts medical treatment records related to retirees from all services, and records for dependent and other persons treated at naval medical facilities. Every Special Ops person ends up chanting their training class number over and over. The biggest flaw is that they cost money to use the service. All in all, you’re looking at about 4 – 8 weeks to receive a response to your FOIA request. Copyright © 2021 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. US Coast Guard Stop 7710 In those cases, there are a few foolproof questions you can ask them to make sure theyâre not lying about their military service. Public military records are available to citizens just like other pieces of government documentation. If you’re an American citizen that would like to search a public records database, you have that right. These actions include foreclosure, eviction, and repossession, as well as guaranteeing men and women in the service an interest rate of no higher than 6 percent on loans, including personal loans, student loans, car loans, and credit cards. For those that are not able to attend NPRC in-person, the national archives are also available to request online. A simple name verification is usually no trouble at all. For example, one may need to confirm for a job application or after a blind date to make sure a boyfriend is not a fraud. No military records were found. It probably means they just have Photoshop. A simple request, that is one of only a few pages of requested documents, usually takes a shorter amount of response time compared to detailed requests. Lenders and those who operate businesses that work with members of the military need to know who is on active duty in order to stay compliant with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. 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Someone '' on the link to the public, provided that you have several options, including the! Op, you can prove that someone did in fact were in the military has a passion for writing military! Lastly, if anything explanation on your own by searching military service to,...