What Makes the DD-214 So Important?

The DD-214 provides veterans with an accurate and complete summary of their active military service, including dates of service, commendations, medals received, reason for separation, and type of discharge. This document serves multiple critical functions including benefit verification, employment documentation, burial rights, and financial services.

What are the different types of DD-214 copies?

There are eight original DD214 copies, with all but Member 1 containing information about the nature and type of discharge and re-enlistment code. The Member 4 copy (Long Form) is most important as it contains essential discharge information not found on the short form.

What information is contained in Block 3 of the DD-214?

Block 3 contains the Grade, Rate or Rank - the final military rank achieved during service. Examples include Army ranks like SGT (Sergeant), Navy ranks like PO1 (Petty Officer First Class), Air Force ranks like SSGT (Staff Sergeant), and officer designations like O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant).

DD-214 Guide: Read Military Discharge Papers Block-by-Block

Personal Information Section

Block 1: Full Legal Name

Purpose: Official identification matching military records Example: "SMITH, JOHN MICHAEL JR" Key Points: Must exactly match legal documents; middle names written in full

Block 2: Army Serial Number

Purpose: Primary identifier for government records.

Block 3: Grade, Rate or Rank

Purpose: Final military rank achieved during service Examples: • Army: "SGT" (Sergeant), "SFC" (Sergeant First Class) • Navy: "PO1" (Petty Officer First Class), "CPO" (Chief Petty Officer) • Air Force: "SSGT" (Staff Sergeant), "TSGT" (Technical Sergeant), E-5 (Enlisted, fifth level - typically Sergeant/Petty Officer Second Class) • O-3 (Officer, third level - Captain/Lieutenant) • W-2 (Warrant Officer, second level)

Block 4: Arm or Service

Purpose:The branch of service. Examples: Air Corps, Signal Corps, etc.

Block 5: Component

Purpose: Examples: AUS (Army U.S.)

Block 6: Organization

Purpose: The last assigned unit upon discharge. This can sometimes confuse the reader. i.e. sometimes an AAF AFBU.. a World War II Air Forces Base Unit is shown, this is not the organization under which the veteran served in combat. Sometimes a stateside posting is shown as the veteran may have become an instructor or other stateside after overseas combat. Sometimes you will see the actual combat unit to which they were assigned. These are some of the options seen especially on WWII veterans. Examples: 301st Bomber Group, 32nd Bomber Sqdn, SCU 1449, 582nd Sign Air Warning Bn,, Hq @ Hq Det 1852 SCU WDPC. There are hundreds of possible information answers in this box.

Block 7: Date of Separation

Purpose: last day on a military roll. Examples: 4 Oct 1945

Block 8: Place of Separation

Purpose: Location of separation Examples: Separation Center, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri

Block 9: Home of Record at Time of Entry

Purpose: Legal residence when joining military Examples: "1234 Cherry Lane, DENVER CO", Impact: Determines state benefits eligibility and legal residence for tax purposes

Block 10: Date of Birth

Format: YYYY/MM/DD, DD Month YY Example: "1985/03/15" (March 15, 1985), 27 Oct 1921.

Block 11: Place of Birth

Format: City, State

Block 12: Place from Which Employment Sought

Examples: "See Box 9", "Another Street, City State, Zip"

Block 13: Color Eyes (Blue, Hazel, Brown ...)

Block 14: Color Hair (Brown, Red, Black, ...)

Block 15: Height (feet & inches)

Block 16: Weight (lbs).

Block 17: Number of Dependents

Block 18: Race

Block 19: Marital Status

Block 20: US Citizen

Block 21: Civilian Occuption. Examples: Last civilian job, student (grade level).

Military History

Blocks: Selective Service Data:

Block: Date of Entry into Active Duty

Block: Military Occuptional Specialty and Number

Purpose: Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or equivalent career field Branch-Specific Examples: • Army: "11B" (Infantryman), "25B" (Information Technology Specialist) • Navy: "FC" (Fire Controlman), "IT" (Information Systems Technician)
• Air Force: "3E5X1" (Engineering Assistant), "1N0X1" (All Source Intelligence Analyst) • Marines: "0311" (Rifleman), "6483" (Aircraft Communications/Navigation Systems Technician) . Only showing MOS numbers? List of MOS Codes.

Block: Military Qualification and Date. Examples: "Expert (Carbine), "Sharpshooter (Pistol)"

Block: Battles and Campaigns

Purpose, if assigned to a unit and that was in combat during specific campaign periods. This does not mean the veteran was in direct combat per se. but was in a unit of which some members or components were in combat. If this box is not blank, additional material may be addressed in block 29. Examples: Tunisia, Normandy, Air Offensive Europe (A.O.E), Guadalcanal, Tet Counteroffensive. ..Complete List and History of U.S. Military Campaigns

Block: Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations

Purpose: Complete record of military awards and recognitions Examples: • "ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL (2OLC), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL" • "NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL, SEA SERVICE DEPLOYMENT RIBBON" • "AIR FORCE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL, GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL" "Presidential Unit Citation", "European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with X number of bronze stars". Note. These bronze 'campaign stars' total the number of campaigns in box 28. , Medal of Honor, Army Service Cross, Navy Cross, Siliver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star - BSM.

Interpretation Guide: • (2OLC) = Second Oak Leaf Cluster (multiple awards) • (V) = Valor device for combat heroism • Numbers indicate multiple awards: "ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL (3)"

Block: Wounds Received in Actdion.

Block: Military Education/Service Schools Attended

Purpose: Professional military education and specialized training Examples: • "ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING, WARRIOR LEADER COURSE, HAZMAT CERTIFICATION" • "BOOT CAMP, 'A' SCHOOL, ADVANCED TECHNICAL TRAINING" • "BASIC MILITARY TRAINING, TECHNICAL SCHOOL, AIRMAN LEADERSHIP SCHOOL"

Blocks: Latest Immunization Dates

Blocks: Service Outside Continental US and Return. The dates leaving US, the destination and arrival date. then dates leaving overseas and return to US. Example: "Departure: 13 Mar 44, Destination Noumea, Arrival: 16 Apr 44" then Departure: 27 Oct 44, Destination USA, Arrival: 23 Nov 44

Blocks: Total Length of Service.

Purpose: Show both continental and overseas service in years months and days. This would be used to determine elgibility for wearing "service stripes" and "overseas bars" on their shirt and uniform.

Block: Reason and Authority for Separation.

Purpose: Plain English explanation of discharge reason Examples: • "EXPIRATION TERM OF SERVICE" • "PREGNANCY" • "DISABILITY, EXISTED PRIOR TO SERVICE" • "PARENTHOOD" • "COMPLETION OF REQUIRED ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE"

Block: Education. Grammar, High School, College (years).

Sections and Blocks for Pay Data and Insurance.

Contains values of amounts, longevity, insurance premium.

Block: Remarks Section

This often-overlooked section contains crucial details about your service: If there is not enough room in sections above they can be listed here as appropriate.

Common Entries: • "MEMBER QUALIFIED FOR VETERANS PREFERENCE" • "COMBAT VETERAN" (served in combat zone) • "MEMBER SERVED IN IMMINENT DANGER PAY AREA" • "SECURITY CLEARANCE: SECRET/TOP SECRET" • Language proficiency ratings • Special duty assignments • Deployment information.. ASR Score ("Points") for discharge. "Lapel Button Issued" - honorable discharge pin. Victory Medal WW2, Commendation Ribbon

Pro Tip: The Remarks section often contains information not found elsewhere.

Block: Character of Service - The Most Important Block

Purpose: Overall evaluation of military performance

Six Types of Discharge:

Honorable: Exemplary service meeting high standards
General Under Honorable Conditions: Good service with minor issues
Other Than Honorable (OTH): Significant misconduct but not criminal
Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD): Court-martial punishment
Dishonorable Discharge (DD): Most serious court-martial punishment
Entry Level Separation (ELS): Early separation, usually within 180 days

Critical Impact: Eligibility for many VA benefits, including disability compensation and pension, require separation from active service with an honorable discharge.

Copy Type	Contains Discharge Info	Primary Use
Member 1 (Short Form)	No	Limited civilian use
Member 4 (Long Form)	Yes	Veterans benefits, employment
Service 2	Yes	Replacement for Member 4
Service 7 & 8	Yes	Additional service copies

Complete Guide to Reading DD-214 Military Discharge Papers: Understanding Every Box and Code

Understanding DD-214 Basics: The Foundation of Veteran Benefits

Personal Information Section

Military History

Sections and Blocks for Pay Data and Insurance.

Block: Remarks Section

Block: Character of Service - The Most Important Block

Research

Conclusion: Maximizing Your DD-214's Value

References

Sources and References