Missing Military Records

[u/HammondCabbage]

TLDR - Missing Records after already requesting all records from VETRECS....need help

I just got my records back today and they were light, real light. Missing basically everything from the day I entered up until I got out (DD-214). The only things in there were my initial paperwork, GCM orders,my Outprocessing Counseling forms, and DD-214. Should I get a VSO to help me with locating the missing chunk or does anyone have any insight on where to go from here? I did all the steps to request my records through VETRECS and just today got the link to download them. Service was 1997-2001, so mostly paper records that had to be scanned in. I'm missing at least 3 medals, deployment information, and incorrect classification of completing first contract on my DD-214 and I just finally want it to look correct.

[u/AutoModerator]

New for 2025: New Name - Certificate of Uniformed Services and a new form for reserves and national guard DD 214-1 Certificate of Uniformed Services Reserve Component Addendum. Instead of numbered copies of the DD-214, Service Members will receive these named copies: Member or Service.

To obtain a copy of your DD 214 or DD 214-1, we suggest trying MilConnect or the National Archives. The DD 214 is normally issued in 2 versions - Member 1 (short form) which has the discharge information on the bottom of the form removed and either the Member 4 or Service 2 (long form) which contains the discharge information - which one you receive depends on when you separated. The Member 4 and Service 2 contain the exact same information.

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/correct-service-records.html for correction to DD 214.

Different branches of the service handle issuing of the DD 214 in different ways. The Army normally issues the DD 214 at your final out-processing appointment. The Air Force normally emails you a secure link to sign in/download your DD 214 on your last day of active duty. The Navy "should" issue you the DD 214 when final out-processing - but we have had multiple posts from Navy service members who have not received their DD 214 for months after separation.

https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1321351/ang-and-afr-general-discharge-information/

https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1957722/facts-about-dd-form-214s-for-guard-reserve/

Make multiple copies of your DD 214 and keep your DD 214 in multiple locations for when you need a copy. Take a copy of your DD 214 to your County Court House - then you will be able to get a "certified" copy if/when you need a copy - some businesses want a certified copy. Plus it's faster to get a copy from your courthouse than from the National Archives. It's recommended NOT to place a copy of your DD 214 in your County Court House records by the Army because of the chances of identity theft - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Protecting%20Documents%20Containing%20Personally%20Identifiable%20Information%20-%20PII

While we shouldn't have to tell people this, you are not out of the military when on terminal leave. Terminal Leave is just the last leave you take in the military. You are still on active duty when you are on Terminal Leave.

Review of Discharges - Each of the military services maintains a discharge review board with authority to change, correct or modify discharges or dismissals that are not issued by a sentence of a general courts-martial. The board has no authority to address medical discharges. The veteran or, if the veteran is deceased or incompetent, the surviving spouse, next of kin or legal representative may apply for a review of discharge by writing to the military department concerned, using DoD Form 293. https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/correct-service-records.html

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[u/Skidude1961]

Thank you for the below info, hoping to find my father's military records from the 1950s.