How Much Does It Cost to Get a DD214?

If your DD214 has been lost or you need another copy, one of the first questions you may have is how much the request will cost.

The answer is straightforward for most Veterans: the National Archives generally does not charge Veterans, qualifying next of kin, or authorized representatives for basic military personnel and medical record information from federal non-archival records.

In other words, you do not normally have to pay a private company just to obtain a basic DD214.

Private services such as GetMyDD214.com charge for records-request assistance—such as preparing the request, identifying where it should be routed, reviewing the information supplied, and assisting with submission—not for ownership of the military record itself.

Is It Free to Get a DD214 From the Government?

In most common situations, yes.

The National Archives states that there is generally no charge for basic military personnel and medical record information provided to Veterans, qualifying next of kin, and authorized representatives from federal non-archival records.

That includes many ordinary requests for a DD214 or other separation documentation.

If a government fee applies to a particular request, NARA states that the requester will be notified before the records are provided.

When Does the National Archives Charge for Military Records?

The primary distinction is whether the military personnel record is considered federal non-archival or archival.

Military personnel records generally become archival 62 years after the service member separates from military service.

Once the record becomes archival, it is generally open to the public and is subject to the National Archives public copying fee schedule.

For routine archival Official Military Personnel Files, or OMPFs, NARA currently lists the following fees:

OMPF of 5 pages or fewer: $25
OMPF of 6 pages or more: $70

NARA notes that most routine OMPFs contain six pages or more.

These fees apply to complete archival personnel files and should not be confused with the generally free basic records requests available to Veterans and qualifying family members for newer non-archival records.

Why Do Private Companies Charge for DD214 Requests?

Private military-records assistance companies are not charging for the government-owned DD214 itself.

They charge for a separate service designed to help prepare, organize, and route the records request.

That distinction is important because Veterans have the option to request eligible records directly from the appropriate government agency without using a private service.

Someone may choose private assistance because they do not want to determine which records custodian holds the file, are unsure how to complete the request, are helping a family member, or want assistance checking that the request contains the information needed before it is submitted.

How Much Does GetMyDD214.com Cost?

GetMyDD214.com currently charges $99.95 for its DD214 request-assistance service.

That fee is for the assistance service—not a government fee for the DD214.

The service currently includes preparation of the DD214 request packet, a checklist based on the service information provided, routing to the appropriate records center, submission guidance, and assistance throughout the request process.

Veterans who prefer to handle the process themselves can instead request qualifying records directly through the appropriate government records system.

What Are You Paying GetMyDD214.com For?

The service is designed for people who want assistance preparing and routing their military records request rather than handling the process entirely on their own.

Based on the information provided by the Veteran or family member, GetMyDD214.com helps prepare the request packet, organize the relevant service details, identify the appropriate records destination, and assist with submitting the request.

The fee does not mean GetMyDD214.com owns, sells, or independently issues the DD214. Military service records remain government records and are released by the appropriate records custodian.

The service also cannot control the government's processing time or guarantee when a records center will release a requested document.

Does Paying for Assistance Make the Government Process Faster?

Not automatically.

Government processing times are determined by the records center handling the request. Factors can include the location and availability of the file, the complexity of the request, workload, and whether additional research or record reconstruction is necessary.

A properly prepared request may help avoid preventable issues caused by missing or inaccurate information, but a private company cannot guarantee that a government records center will process a request within a particular timeframe.

If timing is important, read How Long Does It Take to Get a DD214? .

What Can Cause Problems With a DD214 Request?

Military records requests can become more complicated when the records custodian cannot easily identify the correct Veteran or locate the requested file.

Problems may involve incomplete identifying information, incorrect service dates, uncertainty about which branch holds the record, missing authorization, insufficient proof of death for a deceased Veteran request, or a request being sent to the wrong records custodian.

Some older records may also require additional research because of historical record loss, including files affected by the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.

Providing accurate information from the beginning can make it easier for the appropriate records agency to identify and process the request.

Is Paying for DD214 Assistance Worth It?

That depends on what kind of help you want.

A Veteran who is comfortable using the National Archives, milConnect, Standard Form 180, or the appropriate military personnel system may decide to complete the request directly and pay nothing for a basic non-archival record.

Someone who wants assistance preparing the request may decide that a private service is worth the additional cost.

Neither option changes who owns or releases the military record.

Veterans should understand what a paid service provides, how much it costs, and what the free government alternative is before deciding which approach makes sense for them.

Can You Request Your DD214 Yourself Online?

Yes.

Veterans and qualifying next of kin can submit eligible requests directly through government systems.

The correct system depends on the Veteran's branch, separation date, and where the military record is maintained.

Some more recently separated Veterans may have access through DoD's milConnect system, while many other Veterans can submit a request through the National Archives' eVetRecs system.

Read Can I Download My DD214 Online? and How to Get a DD214 Online for more information about those options.

What If Your DD214 Was Lost?

Losing your personal copy generally does not mean you need to purchase another DD214 from the government.

The government copy may still be maintained as part of your military personnel record or within another service records system.

If you previously had the document and can no longer find it, read How to Replace a Lost DD214 .

If you are unsure whether you ever received one at all, see What Happens If I Never Received My DD214? .

Do Family Members Have to Pay for a Deceased Veteran's DD214?

Qualifying next of kin can generally request basic non-archival military records without a government fee.

For National Archives purposes, qualifying next of kin of a deceased former service member include an un-remarried surviving spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother.

Proof of the Veteran's death is generally required for next-of-kin access to non-archival records.

Families can learn more in How to Get a DD214 for a Deceased Veteran and Who Can Legally Request a Veteran's Military Records? .

What If the Military Record Is More Than 62 Years Old?

This is the major exception to the general rule that basic government DD214 requests are free.

Military personnel records become archival 62 years after separation from military service. At that point, the records are open to the public and NARA's archival copying fees apply.

That means a family-history researcher, descendant, historian, or other member of the public requesting an older archival personnel file may have to pay the National Archives even though a more recent Veteran's basic non-archival DD214 request would generally be free.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a DD214?

For an eligible Veteran or qualifying family member seeking a basic non-archival record, the least expensive option is generally to request the record directly from the appropriate government agency.

That government request is generally free.

A paid assistance service becomes an optional additional cost for someone who wants help preparing and routing the request.

Before paying anyone for DD214 assistance, make sure you understand that the underlying government record can often be requested directly at no charge.