DD Form 214, or Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is a Department of Defense document issued to a military service member who retires, leaves, or is discharged from active duty.
Fill out DD Form 214 online and send it to the service member in question, so that they can use it for benefits, retirement, and employment.
DD Form 214, or Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is a Department of Defense document issued to a military service member who retires, leaves, or is discharged from active duty.
Fill out DD Form 214 online and send it to the service member in question, so that they can use it for benefits, retirement, and employment.
DD Form 214 is used for verification of military service. It’s issued when a military member retires, leaves, or is discharged from active duty. Essentially, the holder of this form should supply it when requesting benefits or membership in veterans’ organizations.
Former military service members should use DD Form 214 as a certificate of release or discharge from active duty. However, this form is actually filled out and issued by military personnel.
There is no single due date for DD Form 214; rather, it needs to be issued on the actual date of separation. Usually, this happens at the final out-processing appointment before retirement or discharge.
If you don’t receive a DD Form 214, you won’t be able to access all the veteran benefits and services, as you won’t have proof of your military service. This includes disability compensation, VA home loans, federal employment, and more. That’s why it’s important to contact your Veterans Service Officer (VSO) as soon as possible or request the form through the National Archives.
You don’t file your DD Form 214; instead, you keep it in a secure place and use it as proof of military service when necessary. It’s recommended that you put it in a safe deposit box and make a few copies for your family members.
1
2
3
You can get a blank DD Form 214 from pdf.net, which allows you to open it in a PDF editor with a single click. Then, you just need to fill out the necessary information.
Access to your DD Form 214 is limited to you, authorized family members (such as next of kin), and specific government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs. Employers or third parties can only view it if you provide consent or submit a copy.
If your DD Form 214 is missing information, you should correct it by submitting DD Form 149, the Application for Correction of Military Records. Gather the necessary documentation to provide proof of error and send it along with the application. Always make sure to cross-check the document you receive with a DD Form 214 example to make sure everything is in order.
Not every soldier receives a DD214. It is issued to service members who complete active duty or are discharged under qualifying conditions. Those in reserve components or with limited service may receive different discharge documents instead, depending on their duty status and length of service.
This form is free to view and edit, but you can’t download it unless you have a subscription. You’ll find more information on our pricing page.
You can correct mistakes on DD Form 214 by submitting DD Form 149 and requesting changes. If the corrections are small, you can also use DD Form 215; for instance, for spellings, typos, dates, or award names.
DD Form 214 should be ready and issued to you upon your discharge, but sometimes this doesn’t happen due to administrative mistakes. In this case, you can request a copy, but the issuing process might take between 65 and 90 days.