You should keep your performance ratings; service-issued licenses or certifications; DD Form 2586, "Verification of Military Experience and Training" ; and other service documents (such as your security clearance) in a safe and permanent file. Never give away the original copy of any of these documents. 

DD Form 214,"Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" : This form is one of the most important documents the service will ever give you. It is your key to participation in all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs as well as several state and federal programs. Keep your original in a safe, fireproof place and have certified photocopies available for reference. You can replace this record, but that takes a long time – time that you may not have. Be safe. In most states, the DD Form 214 can be registered/recorded just like a land deed or other significant document. So, immediately after you separate, register your DD Form 214 with your county recorder or town hall. If you register your documents, they can later be retrieved quickly for a nominal fee. You should check whether state or local law permits public access to the recorded document. If public access is authorized and you register the DD Form 214, others could obtain a copy for an unlawful purpose (e.g., to obtain a credit card in your name). If public access is permitted and you choose not to register your DD Form 214, you still should take steps to protect it as you would any other sensitive document (wills, marriage and birth certificates, insurance policies). You may wish to store it in a safe deposit box or at some other secure location. 

In addition your local Vet Center can certify your DD214 and have a copy placed on file. Find your nearest Vet Center online at http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter.asp. 

Other military service papers: Documents associated with any military service should be kept in your permanent file at home. This includes those documents mentioned above. 

VA papers: All VA forms and correspondence also should be kept in your file, including certificates of eligibility for loans, VA file number records, and other VA papers. 

Family records: Documents such as marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and divorce and adoption papers are permanent records you will need on a recurring basis. Keep these in your permanent file as well.

Health records: You and your family members should know the location of your health records, including medical history and individual immunization records. Keep a copy in a file at home, and know where the original is kept (usually in a military medical facility or doctor’s office).Don’t forget to keep your family current with shots and immunizations as you transition.

Insurance documents: Insurance policies and premium payment records should be kept in your permanent file at home. 

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Hot Tip: Where Are You?

When you leave the military, you are likely to have a change of address. During this time of transition, people – including prospective employers – will be trying to contract you. Tracking you down will be a slow or impossible task unless you provide the service with a forwarding address indicating where you can be reached up to 120 days following your separation. If you do not have a reliable forwarding address, provide the permanent address of a parent or trusted friend.

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Wills: All service members and their spouses should have a will. Once prepared by your local legal services office or through your own private attorney, it should be placed in a safe location with your other important documents. 

Need to Correct Your Military Record?

Each branch of military has its own procedures for correcting the military records of its members and former members. Correction of a military record may result in eligibility for VA and other benefits – such as back pay and military retirement – that the veteran (or survivors) could not otherwise get. Generally, a request for correction must be filed within three years after the discovery of the alleged error or injustice. 

If you believe there is an error in your military record, apply in writing to the appropriate Service using DD Form 149, "Application for Correction of Military or Naval Record." The form can be submitted by the veteran, survivor, or a legal representative. Get a copy from any VA office listed in the local telephone directory or download the form from http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/correct-service-records.html.