MNG-031 · PROBLEMS, CLAIMS & CORRECTIONS
Obtaining Missing Military Records
Find missing military records by identifying the custodian, OMPF or record series, SF-180/eVetRecs route, date range, privacy rules, and reconstruction options.
Define the missing record
- DD-214 or earlier separation document
- OMPF/personnel record
- Medical or clinical record
- Orders or assignment record
- Award/order/citation
- Unit roster, morning report, deck log or operational record
- Flight or mission record
- Pay or retirement record
Different record series can be held by different custodians. An SF-180 request for a personnel file is not a universal request for unit histories, deck logs, finance systems or every medical record.
SF-180 and eVetRecs
NARA permits qualifying requesters to use eVetRecs or Standard Form 180 for military personnel records. The SF-180 routing table uses branch, dates of service/separation and record type to identify the correct destination. Do not send original supporting documents.
Archival status changes access
NARA treats military personnel records as archival and generally open to the public 62 years after separation. More recent federal records remain subject to access restrictions and requester-status rules.
When the record may have been destroyed
The 1973 NPRC fire damaged or destroyed millions of Army and Air Force personnel files covering portions of 1912–1964 service. NARA may use alternate records to reconstruct service. In those cases, provide unit, dates, place of entry/discharge and every surviving document that narrows the search.
Official sources
Source status: SRC-078; SRC-079 verified October 4, 2026. Use the current decision notice and service-specific procedure when it is more specific than this navigation guide.
