Link to Request Form

FOIA Requests

This office processes requests for records in the possession and control of the Joint Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), and the Business Transformation Agency (BTA), as well as the following field activities, American Forces Information Service, Armed Forces Radiology Research Institute, Defense Acquisition University, Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Persons Office, Defense Systems Management College, Defense Technology Security Administration, DoD Counterintelligence Field Activity, DoD Human Resources Activity, Joint Professional Military Education Colleges, National Defense University, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Washington Headquarters Services, and the White House Military Office. If you are seeking records from or about one of the DoD components, one of the Combatant Commands, or the Military Services, you should contact them directly (See DoD Service Centers at the right menu bar)

Please be specific and clearly identify the records you desire. If possible, please identify the originator (e.g., OSD Health Affairs) of the document(s), as well as the date the record was created. For example, OSD Health Affairs Memo, Subject: Deployment Health Support, May 13, 2005. Note: If you are seeking a fee waiver, you should refer to link to 32 C.F.R. § 286.28(d) et seq for qualifying factors. Note: For older records, 25 years or older, please direct your request to the National Archives and Records Administration.

How to Submit a FOIA Request

1. Requesters should provide complete contact information (Full Name, Mailing Address, Telephone Number, and e-mail address, if available). If alternate contact information is available (e.g., other e-mail or telephone numbers), please provide that information as well.
2. Thoroughly identify the records desired, being as specific as possible as to when and by whom the record was created (e.g., September 24, 1993 Memorandum from the Secretary of Defense to the Defense Agencies, subject: Fiscal Year 1994 Budget). The key here is to provide enough information to allow an experienced employee to locate the record with a reasonable amount of effort. Try to keep your request simple and to the point. Highly complex requests that cover many years and a large number of subjects take more time to process. Complex requests typically require extensive coordination and often consultation with other agencies.
3. Indicate or include a statement of your willingness to pay for the cost the processing the request. This figure should identify the maximum fee (a dollar amount) you are willing to pay.
4. Requesters may submit FOIA requests electronically (preferred), via facsimile, or via mail or courier as follows:

Fax: 703-696-4506

Mail/Courier:

OSD/JS FOIA Requester Service Center
Office of Freedom of Information
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1155

Note #1: You need only submit your request using one of the above methods of delivery. We prefer that you submit your request electronically because of the quality of copy and its compatibility with our document management system.

Note #2: If you are seeking records on yourself, this is a Privacy Act request and you will need to provide proof of identity. Also, if you are seeking records of a personal nature on another living individual, you must provide a release from that party to obtain these records. This type of request is not appropriate for submission via electronic or facsimile transmission.

Note #3: Vaughn Index - There is no requirement for the government to prepare a Vaughn index for requesters during the administrative stage of processing (requests and appeals). The Vaughn Index is a record that agencies prepare during litigation only to justify FOIA withholdings. (See: Vaughn v. Rosen, 484 F.2d 820 (D.C. Cir. 1973)).

Note #4: DoD Names Policy - In consideration of the President's declaration of a National Emergency as a result of the terrorist attacks on the United States, DoD no longer routinely releases lists of names of Department of Defense personnel. This includes active duty military, civilian employees, contractors, members of the National Guard and Reserves, military dependents, and Coast Guard personnel when the Coast Guard is operating as a service in the Navy. Please see Director of Administration and Management Memorandum, Subject: Withholding of Personally Identifying Information Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), November 9, 2001 for further information pertaining to this policy.

 

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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT FOIA Request Form
If you are requesting personal information about or for another individual, you must furnish a signed authorization from that individual granting you the third-party access to this information. Since this form does not accept attachments, such requests must be mailed.
Name (first, last e.g. John Doe)
Phone No.
E-mail Address
Organization
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City	State   AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY	Zip Code
Province / Region / Territory
Post Code
Country
Requester Control No. (if applicable)
YOUR REQUEST
Should it be necessary, upon evaluating your request, that complex research and extensive consultation efforts will result, please indicate the fees you would be willing to pay for below:
You are required to select at least one of the choices below.
Willing to Pay $25	Willing to Pay $50	Willing to Pay $100
Other Amount $		Fee Waiver Guidance
Privacy Act Request INSTRUCTIONS: If you are seeking records on yourself or your minor child(ren) (under 18), you must select the following declaration attesting to your identity:
"I declare under penalty of perjury that I am and that the statements contained in this document are true and correct."
Executed on this date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009