U. S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center
Frequently Asked Questions -- FAQs
Click the links below to find the answers to the questions we receive most often
When is payday?
When are contributions sent from the Coast Guard to the TSP?
How can I get a copy of my DD-214
Why do I just see an "X" when I try to open my Payslip, tax document, or other filed in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file format in Direct Access?
Advancement Certificates
Enlisted Employee Reviews (EERs)
How can I get copies of my records?
Information for Survivors of USCG, USCGR, and NOAA Retirees 
Military Pay Accounts
Montgomery G.I. Bill (MGIB)
Reserve Points Statement - How do I obtain a copy?
Retired Pay
Self Procured/DITY Move
Servicewide Exam (SWE)
Thrift Savings Plan
Travel (General)
TRICARE Information
VEAP to MGIB Conversion
W2 Form - How do I get a replacement?
WWII Merchant Mariner Veterans benefits
How do I retrieve a copy of my DD-214 or other service records?
- If you are a current active duty or reserve member, contact your Servicing Personnel Office for assistance.
- If you separated or retired from the Coast Guard prior to 01 October 2006, make requests to obtain copies of DD-214's, Personnel Records, Medical & Dental Records, and Service Medals, etc. to the National Personnel Records Center. Requests may be made online by the veteran or next of kin of a deceased, former member of the military. If you are not the veteran or next of kin, complete Standard Form 180 (SF 180) and send the completed form to:
National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138 Commercial: (314) 801-0800 -
If you separated or retired from the Coast Guard on or after 01 October 2006, please fax a completed and signed Standard Form 180 (SF 180) to 202-372-8440.
Or
Mail to:
Commander (BOPS-C-MR)
PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER
US COAST GUARD STOP 7200
2703 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE
WASHINGTON DC 20593-7200The Standard Form 180 (SF 180) is required for all document copy requests. Send the completed form to the address above.
- If you separated from the service and plan on filing a claim for medical benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you do not need to request a copy of your military records from the NPRC. The VA regional office handling your case will petition both NPRC and the VA Records Management Center for needed service and medical records to adjudicate your claim.
Adobe Acrobat PDF Files Do Not Open (Payslips, Tax Statements, etc.) in Direct Access
Sometimes, when you attempt to open a link from Direct Access to a file in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file format a window will open with just a letter "X". This can be caused by the internet browser's security settings. Here's a workaround which will allow you to open the file directly in Adobe Acrobat reader. This bypasses the browser's security settings and should only be used on trusted sites. Follow these steps to open a file in Adobe Acrobat reader:
1. Once you are signed into DA, go to open a pay slip or any other document that need to open as a PDF. When the new window opens showing the "X" block in the corner of the screen,
2. Go to the browser address block and copy the address
3. Open Adobe Acrobat (from the shortcut on the desktop or the start menu link)
4. From within Adobe Acrobat, go to File and chose Open.
5. A new window will appear, paste the address that you copied into the File Name block on the bottom.
6. Click the Open button. The file will open in Adobe Acrobat.
Military Accounts Support (MAS)
- When is payday?
- When are contributions sent from the Coast Guard to the TSP?
- Who do I contact to have my TOPTS/JUMPS access reset?
- How do I request to receive a duplicate copy of my W-2?
- Where do I mail my TSP Election form?
- Where do I go to download TSP forms, find rates of return, current loan interest, etc?
- How do I change the way my TSP contributions are invested?
- When does the MGIB Additional program expire?
- Who is entitled?
- Do members who elected VEAP to MGIB conversion qualify?
- What form is required to elect MGIB Additional?
- How does a member elect the MGIB Additional?
- How is the allotment started?
- How does a member make a lump sum payment?
- What if the member changes his/her mind?
- Do the MGIB Additional contributions reduce taxable wages?
- What if the member contributed $1200 to basic MGIB while prior service?
Q: Who do I contact to have my TOPTS/JUMPS access reset?
A: Fill out the Pay & Personnel Center Customer Care online trouble ticket. Enter "JUMPS/BlueZone Access" in the Category and "Password for JUMPS/BlueZone" in Type boxes and enter your TOPTS user ID "K1xxxx" in the Description of the problem field.
Q: Where do I mail my TSP Election form?
A: Mail the completed form to the following address:
Commanding Officer (MAS-TSP)
US Coast Guard
Pay & Personnel Center
444 S. E. Quincy Street
Topeka, KS 66683-3591
Direct Access Technology Refresh - Thrift Savings Plan
Coast Guard Military personnel, using DA Self Service, now have the ability to enroll in the Thrift Savings Plan and manage "Catch-Up" contributions. Prior to this update, TSP enrollments and Catch Up contribution elections required mailing or faxing a form to PPC. Now members can fully manage their TSP elections in DA Self Service as well as make changes to contribution amounts as they could in the old version. Refer to the Thrift Savings Plan Overview topic in the Direct Access Online Help for more information. A video, demonstrating the new features is also available.
Q: When is Payday?
A: The official military paydays are the 1st (end-month) and the 15th (mid-month) of each month, or the business day preceding the 1st or the 15th if either should fall on a federal holiday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Each month is divided into two pay periods. The first period, called “mid-month” covers the 1st through 15th day of the month. The second period, called “end-month”, covers the 16th through the last day of the month. In Direct Access, each pay period has a corresponding “Payroll Calendar”.
- The official military payday. This is the “settlement date” for the Automated Clearing House (ACH), an electronic funds-transfer system run the by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). This payment system deals with payroll, direct deposit, tax refunds, consumer bills, tax payments and many more payment services.
- Some financial institutions make funds available prior to the official military payday. However, payments are not to be reported as non-received until the official military payday. Members should not set up automated payments or assume funds will be available prior to published paydays.
Q: Where do I go to download TSP forms, find rates of return, current loan interest, etc?
A: The TSP web site https://www.tsp.gov/ is the best source of information. You can also contact Pay & Personnel Center at 785-339-2200 for assistance.
Q: How do I change the way my TSP contributions are invested?
A: To specify the way you want your contributions to be invested, use the TSP Web Site https://www.tsp.gov/ or the call the Thriftline at 1-877-968-3778.
Q: When does the MGIB Additional Program expire?
A: The MGIB Additional Program does not expire. It is a law and must be cancelled by law.
Q: Who is entitled?
A: Members who elected MGIB upon entering the active duty AFTER June 30, 1985 are eligible.
Q: Do members who elected VEAP to MGIB conversion qualify?
A: No, members who converted from VEAP entered active duty prior to 1 July 1985.
Q: What form is required to elect MGIB Additional??
A: The form DD 2366 can be used, but must be altered to include the statement contained in the ALCOAST 176/01, and care is needed as the block numbering system does not correspond with the ALCOAST any longer. It is recommended that the DD 2366-1 be used as it was designed for the MGIB Additional and already has the required statement..
Q: How does a member elect the MGIB Additional?
A: Complete form DD 2366 or DD 2366-1. Both can be found at the Pay & Personnel Center website: The DD 2366-1 was specifically designed to be used for the MGIB Additional entitlement.
Q: How is the allotment started?
A: Forward the DD 2366 or DD 2366-1 to the SPO along with Form CG-2040. (Allotment Worksheet).
Q: How does a member make a lump sum payment?
A: Members can call (785) 339-3615 and charge to Visa/MasterCard, A copy of the DD-2366 or DD 2366-1 must be faxed to (785) 339-3767. Members may also send a check/money order (made payable to USCG) along with a copy of the DD 2366 or DD 2366-1 to:
Attn: Collection Clerk
Commanding Officer (FAR)
US Coast Guard
Pay & Personnel Center
444 SE Quincy Street
Topeka, KS 66683-3591
Q: What if the member changes his/her mind?
A: Contributions to both MGIB and MGIB Additional are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Q: Do the MGIB Additional contributions reduce taxable wages?
A: No, where the basic MGIB contributions do reduce taxable wages, the MGIB Additional is considered after-tax contributions.
Q: What if the member contributed $1200 to basic MGIB while prior service?
A: JUMPS will not let an SPO start MGIB additional on a member who does not have a segment 63 showing the $1200 contribution.
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