Well, how do I get them? This is the question Veterans say to me every time I tell them to check their service record or medical records for evidence to support their claim. That is when I realized how so much changed between the generations of service members. Service members were given folders for both their service and medical records. And for some, the folders were thick. But now, everything is electronically stored now or will be soon. The military has gone to the Integrated Personnel Electronic Records Management System, known as iPERMS. According to the military services, personnel records will be stored up to 62 years after a service member is discharged, retired or deceased while in service. After the 62-year period, the records will be transferred to the National Personnel Records Center.
So, how do you get your records? You can contact your former service, but the DOD has set up a system called Defense Personnel Records Information, known as DPRIS. You access DPRIS via DOD’s Milconnect website. Information about DPRIS can be found here. With this program, you select the type of document you need. You will need a DS Log-In to access this program. To get a DS Log-In, you do that through the “New User? Start Here”
Another way to get your service record is through the National Personnel Records Center, known as NPRC of the National Archives Records Administration, known as NARA. The files stored at the NPRC are generally the old paper files, a service member’s records jacket. These are the one not electronically stored, filed, and accessed through data bases. You can order the records here. Remember that if the record has not been electronically stored, a human being has to find the file and copy all the pages in the records jacket.
Just remember, whatever is in your service record at the time you left the service, is what got sent to NARA and/or what was in your iPERMS.
Now, the other records Veterans truly need are the medical records. The only true way to ensure you get your medical records was to copy them before you left service. But no one can go back in time to do that if you didn’t. The best way is by following the guidance for ordering your medical records via NARA Veterans’ Medical and Health Records. At this website, you will be given information as to how to contact your service and order the medical records.