Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act (FOIA)
The public has access to certain military service information without the veteran's authorization (or that of the next-of-kin of deceased veterans). Examples of information which may be available from Official Military Personnel Files without an unwarranted invasion of privacy include:
- Name
- Service Number
- Dates of Service
- Branch of Service
- Rank and Date of Rank
- Salary *
- Assignments and Geographical Locations
- Source of Commission *
- Military Education
- Promotion Sequence Number *
- Awards and decorations (Eligibility only, not actual medals)
- Duty Status
- Photograph
- Transcript of Court-Martial Trial
- Place of entrance and separation
If the veteran is deceased:
- Place of birth
- Date and geographical location of death
- Place of burial
Items marked with an asterisk are rarely available in the records we maintain.
Provisions of the Freedom of Information Act
Provisions of the Privacy Act
The basic provisions of the Privacy Act, as it applies to military and civilian records at NPRC (MPR), are to provide safeguards for an individual against an invasion of personal privacy by:
- permitting the subject to find out what records pertaining to him/her are maintained;
- permitting the subject to prevent records that pertain to him/her from being used or made available for purposes other than the purpose for which they were created; and
- permitting the subject to gain access to the records, or to have photocopies made of all or any portion thereof, and to correct or amend such records.
The Privacy Act places great emphasis on the privacy of the individual named in the record, and carries provisions for civil action against Federal agencies for violations of an individual's rights under the Act.
"NARA ensures, for the Citizen and the Public Servant, for the President and the Congress and the Courts, ready access to essential evidence."
