Fillable Form Standard Form 180 or Request Pertaining to Military Records

What is SF-180?

Standard Form 180, SF-180, or Request Pertaining to Military Records, is a one-page form, with additional two pages of instructions, that veterans of the U.S. military or next-of-kin of deceased veterans use to obtain military records, such as DD-214 Separation Records, or request a one-time replacement of medals earned in service. The military records obtained using the form may be used to prove service in the military and validate medical and legal status.

The next-of-kin of a deceased veteran may be his or her father, mother, son, daughter, sister, and brother. For individuals who are neither veterans nor next-of-kin and want to access military records, military personnel records are only available to the public 62 years after a veteran leaves the military.

The National Archives maintains the records of veterans. A person may request military records by sending SF-180 to its National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The NPRC is the central repository of personnel-related records for the military and civil services of the United States Government. Submit the form to the following:

• NPRC Fax Number:

314-801-9195

• NPRC Mailing Address:

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138
314-801-0800

Requests from veterans or a deceased veteran’s next-of-kin may be filed online on the National Archives official website.

The response time for records requested varies, depending on the complexity of the request and the availability of records. According to the center, a follow-up request should not be made before 90 days have elapsed.

According to the National Archives, there are no fees for basic military personnel and medical record information provided to veterans, next-of-kin, and authorized representatives from Federal records. However, there are fees for records that are considered “Archival.” Archival records, or the records of service members who were separated from the military 62 years ago, are open to the public and subject to the public fee schedule. Archival requests require the purchase of the complete photocopy of the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). The fees are as follows:

• A routine OMPFs of 5 pages or less: $25
• A routine OMPF of 6 pages or more: $70
• Persons of Exceptional Prominence (PEP) OMPF: $0.80 cents per page, $20 minimum.

For requests that involve fees, the applicant will be notified as soon as a determination is made.

How to Fill Out SF-180?

SF-180 is a one-page form with an additional two pages of instructions. It contains three sections that applicants need to complete. There are identifying information required to locate the records properly and accurately; thus, the applicant must provide as many details as possible. If there is no way to obtain the information for an item, one can write “NA,” meaning the information is “not available.”

Section I — Information Needed to Locate Records

Box 1 asks for the veteran’s full legal name during his or her service.

Box 2 asks for the veteran’s Social Security Number (SSN).

Box 3 asks for the veteran’s date of birth.

Box 4 asks for the veteran’s place of birth.

Box 5 asks for the veteran’s service in the military, including the branch of service, the dates of admission to and release from service, if an officer or enlisted, and service number.

Box 6 asks if the veteran is living or deceased. If deceased, provide the date of death.

Box 7 asks if the veteran has retired from military service.

Section II — Information and/or Documents Requested

Item 1 asks for the items that the applicant is requesting.

Item 2 asks for the purpose of the request.

Section III — Return Address and Signature

Item 1 asks for the name of the applicant.

Item 2 asks for the applicant’s relationship with the veteran.

Item 3 asks for the address the information or documents will be mailed to.

Items 4 asks for the authorization signature, date, and contact information of the applicant.