How To Obtain
Your Military Records

Veterans who wish to launch a claim with the Veterans Administration will need to obtain their Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). Others who do not need them for claim purposes may also want a copy, and they are also entitled to them. The department responsible for maintaining these records is the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), based in St. Louis, Mo.

There are several ways to obtain your OMPF. All of them require that you fill out, date, and sign Standard Form 180, entitled Request Pertaing to Military Records. And there are several ways to obtain this form:

1 The first method is to download the 180 form from this web site and print it out using your ink jet or laser printer. This is a two-page form, so you will need to download both files, print them out, fill in the blanks, to the best of your ability, and send them to NPRC (address below). To download the Standard Form 180, click HERE. Use the BACK key to return to this page.

2 If for any reason you find it impossible to download and print out the 180 form, you can have it faxed to you (you have to have access to a fax machine). Using this method, from your fax machine, call 301-713-6905 and follow the voice prompts. The 180 form is also referred to as Form 2255 by the Veteran Administration.

3 You can have the 180 form sent to you via the U.S. Postal Service. To do this, you must call the NPRC telephone information lines and leave your name and address. The two-part form will then be sent to you. For a list of voice and fax numbers, click HERE.

4 You can also request your OMPF in a letter. When you do it in this manner, you need to provide the following information:

• Complete Name (as used in service)
• Service Number
• Social Security Number
• Branch of Service
• Dates of Service
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth

5 If your date of service spans the WWII era, and you were in the Army or Air Force, your OMPF may have been destroyed in a fire that took place some years ago at NPRC in St. Louis. If you're a Vietnam veteran, your OMPF should not have been affected at all. Personnel records from the 1970's were stored in other undamged locations.

If you suspect your records may have been involved in the St. Louis fire, in addition to the above information, you should also provide:

• Place of discharge
• Last unit you were assigned to
• Place of entry into service

6You must date and sign your letter of request. Otherwise, your request will not be processed and executed!

7 Then you must send the 180 form or letter of request to:
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
ATTN: U.S. Army Liaison
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132

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