The DD-214 Explained

By Gerald Whitcombe, military records archivist · Updated 4 June 2026

A DD 214 is the official Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty issued to U.S. service members when they separate, retire, or are discharged from active duty. This single document summarizes a service member's military career and is often the most important paper a veteran will ever need. Understanding what a dd 214 contains and how to request one is essential for accessing benefits, employment verification, and other official purposes. See also our guide to military records.

What Is a DD 214?

The DD 214, formally titled Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is issued by the Department of Defense to every service member upon separation from active duty. It is not issued to those still serving, and members of the Reserve or National Guard who never activated to federal active duty typically do not receive one.

So what is a dd214 used for in practice? It serves as the primary proof of military service, and most federal, state, and private institutions will ask to see it before granting veteran-specific benefits or privileges.

What Information Does It Contain

A DD 214 summarizes key facts about a service member's military career in a standardized format. Typical fields include:

• Full name, service number, and branch of service
• Dates of entry and separation from active duty
• Character of service (type of discharge)
• Military occupational specialty and rank at separation
• Awards, decorations, and campaign or expeditionary medals
• Time lost, if any, and reenlistment eligibility code

Because these dd214 discharge papers document character of service and dates, they are the first thing benefits offices, employers, and licensing boards typically review.

Who Can Request a DD 214

The veteran named on the document has the right to request their own DD 214 at any time. Next of kin of a deceased veteran can also generally request a copy, as can certain authorized representatives with proper documentation, such as a power of attorney.

Other parties, including employers or genealogical researchers, generally cannot obtain a full, unrestricted copy without the veteran's or next of kin's consent, since portions of the record are considered protected personal information.

How to Get a DD 214

Veterans and authorized requesters asking how to get dd214 copies have several official channels available. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is the primary repository for military personnel records of discharged and deceased veterans.

• Online through the milConnect portal or the National Archives eVetRecs system
• By mail using Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records
• In person at a National Archives facility that handles military records
• Through a Veservice Officer or accredited representative at a state or county veterans affairs office

Processing times vary depending on the era of service and how records are stored, so requesting well before a document is needed is advisable.

Replacing a Lost DD 214

Losing this document is common, and there is a clear process to replace lost dd214 records. Because the NPRC retains the official record on file, veterans do not need to keep their only copy safe forever; a certified replacement can be requested at any time using the same channels described above.

One important historical note: a 1973 fire at the NPRC in St. Louis destroyed a significant number of Army and Air Force personnel records from that era. When original files were lost, NARA works to reconstruct service information using alternate sources such as pay records and unit rosters, though replacement documents in these cases may look different from a standard DD 214.

See our main guide to military records, or read about researching military ancestors and military medals and awards.

Frequently asked questions