This form is one of the most important documents you will ever receive during your military service. It is your key to participation in all VA programs as well as several state and federal programs. Keep your original in a safe, fireproof place, and have certified photocopies available for reference. Safe Deposit Boxes, the family attorney, home safes or vaults all provide some degree of security. However, ensure your next of kin knows where the keys/combinations are located. Documents registered/recorded with your local courthouse or town hall become public record. Your personal information may not be secure. Protect your DD-214 information. Avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

For more information on requesting your DD Form 214/military record, you can visit the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website.