A Report of Separation is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of active duty training. The Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veterans' organizations. Information shown on the Report of Separation may include the service member's:

The branches of the military in the United States include the U.S. Army, the U.S Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Why is the Blank DD214 Form PDF used for? The DD214 is used by the government in order to ensure that veterans are fully able to receive their benefits. Download Printable Dd Form 214 In Pdf - The Latest Version Applicable For 2021. Fill Out The Certificate Of Release Or Discharge From Active Duty Online And Print It Out For Free. Dd Form 214 Is Often Used In Dd Forms, U.s. Department Of Defense, Legal, United States Federal Legal Forms And United States Legal Forms. The DD Form 214 is an official document issued by all the U.S. Military service branches when military personnel separate, discharge or retire from military service. The DD214 shows your status as a separated or retired military member and the nature of your service including dates, awards and decorations, and other important details.
- Date and place of entry into active duty
- Home address at time of entry
- Date and place of release from active duty
- Home address after separation
- Last duty assignment and rank
- Military job specialty
- Military education
- Decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign awards received
- Total creditable service
- Foreign service credited
- Separation information (date and type of separation, character of service, authority and reason for separation and separation and reenlistment eligibility codes)

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The report of separation form issued in most recent years is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and the NAVCG 553.
If you'd like to learn everything possible about DD Form 214, commonly referred to as just DD214, you've come to the right place. But, before we get into the minutia, the DD214's history, importance and many uses, most people who visit this site simply want to know the best method to acquire a certified copy of their (or their close relative's) DD214. In order to save you some time, we've placed a link to The Best Method to Acquire Your DD214 (Click HERE) first.
What is a DD214?
The Defense Department issues to each veteran a DD-214, identifying the veteran's condition of discharge - honorable, general, other than honorable, dishonorable or bad conduct. You can find a sample DD-214 which can help you determine if a veteran served in armed combat HERE. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and the NAVCG 553.
Want to know the legal nitty gritty? We've provided the complete DoD Instruction NUMBER 1336.1 concernng Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214/5 Series) HERE (4.5 mb). We've also provided:
- Air Force Regulation 36-3202 Guidance Memorandum for the Preparatuion of Separation Documents HERE (494 k)
- Army Regulation 635-8 concerning the preparation and distribution of separation documents HERE (449 k)
- the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, MARCORSEPMANHERE (1.54 mb)
- the Naval Military Personnel Manual NAVPERS 15560DHERE (19.79 mb)
- and you can access the National Guard's process for their issuance of their discharge certificates (NGB Form 22) HERE (874 k).
Why is a DD214 important?
The Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans' organizations. Information shown on the Report of Separation may include the service member's:
Blank Dd214 Usmc Flag
- Date and place of entry into active duty
- Home address at time of entry
- Date and place of release from active duty
- Home address after separation
- Last duty assignment and rank
- Military job specialty
- Military education
- Decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign awards
- Total creditable service
- Foreign service credited
- Separation information (type of separation, character of service, authority and reason for separation, separation and reenlistment eligibility codes)