Keep Important Documents in a Safe Place
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.
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.
Date Last Reviewed: September 6, 2011