Posted on Jan 13, 2015
SGT Graduate Student
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I received 3 different DD214s in the course of my career. I am currently in the Reserve and can still access HRC but the only copies there are the "service-2" copies. What's the big deal about the member copy 4 anyway? A civilian employer is asking for it specifically.
Posted in these groups: Aa636cc5 DD214
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Responses: 24
SFC Aaron Finley
27
27
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Edited 10 y ago
All Veterans should get registered...

Go to https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal

You will need a Premium Account
After you log in.
Click on My Personal Dashboard. (Scroll to bottom of page)
Click on Request Official Military Personnel File (Left-hand Column)
The next page will be DPRIS
Click on (Request Your OMPF Information).
Click ACCEPT on next page. (A Consent Form)
Next page verify your information
Select DD214 and/or any other document you would like of yours.
Submit... Allow at-least 48hrs.
Then when you're ready to retrieve the document/s follow the same steps, but when you get to DPRIS this time you will select
Click on (View Your Retrieved OMPF Information). Here you can view & print.
The document/s will only stay there for 14 days then automatically purge themselves.

If you need help registering for a eBenefits account call ( [login to see] eBenefits Help Desk) and one of our agents will walk you through the process.


DD214 Differences
The Member4 copy has and extra box on the bottom front that is the "Special Edition Information" that states Type of Separation ie Retirement; Character of Service, ie Honorable; Narrative Reason for Separation, ie Sufficient Service for Retirement, a Separation Code, and other info.
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CW2 William Butryn
CW2 William Butryn
>1 y
Years ago, I tried to apply as Hotel Manager at The Hotel at Yongsan in Seoul, Korea and was turned down when I only submitted my DD214 Copy 2. At that time didn't even know that there was a DD214 Member 4. Did things change with the issuance of the DD214 since I got out in 1967?
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SGT Aaron Reed
SGT Aaron Reed
>1 y
SSgt Albert Williams - I am having the same issue as SSgt Williams - I retired from the Reserves on Dec 1st and the only DD214 I have both in paper form and indocuments in my Personnel File on the HRC website have the extra information but state "Service - 7" on the bottom. I am being told I need a Member 4 copy by USAA in order to execute on a VA Home loan that is supposed to close in the next 3 weeks...any help would be greatly appreciated? Not sure who I can possibly reach out to at this point?
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SGT Aaron Reed
SGT Aaron Reed
>1 y
Quick update, I requested a copy through the ebenefits portal which was quick and easy...HOWEVER...the DD214 that I received back from them was again a "Service - 7" copy??
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SPC Steven Murguia
SPC Steven Murguia
4 y
Has anyone figured out why the military hasn't fixed this? Seems like a funny way of hurting soldiers....
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LTC Yinon Weiss
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A member-4 copy is the original DD214 you received which includes your type of discharge (honorable, etc.) and re-enlistment code. This is what an employer usually asks for. A "member-1" copy does not have the type of discharge information, in case somebody just wants to validate service but not the details of the discharge.

A "service-2" DD214 is a copy, which as long as it has your full discharge info, it should be fine.

If you want to get a copy of your member-4 for some reason, you should be able to do so here:
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
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CPT Alex Lamb
CPT Alex Lamb
6 y
Yes. Sir the only thing I would change out of anything you said is, instead of using the phrase "Should be fine", the service-2 IS a legal replacement and employers/VA reps are obliged to accept it.
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SGT Bertrand L Roberson
SGT Bertrand L Roberson
>1 y
SFC Teresa Threatts I got the same information. I was just offered a position with the VA and they require the member 4 copy, which I do not have and will never be able to get, so we'll see how things progress from here.
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SGT Aaron Reed
SGT Aaron Reed
>1 y
Does anyone know how a "Service - 7" copy relates to a "Member - 4" or "Service - 2"? Is this still a legal copy that should be accepted? I have never heard of this before but it is putting me at risk of losing a deal on a current home purchase and potentially leaving me and my family in a very tough position. I never knew there were multiple DD214's, but this one includes all of the information described in the statements above for a Member - 4 or a Service - 2... I did request a copy through the ebenefits portal but I am guessing they are simply going to retrieve the copy that is on hand in my OMPF which IS the Service - 7 copy???
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Erin Whitney-Roscoe
Erin Whitney-Roscoe
>1 y
Can I get my husbands DD214? We are getting a divorce and I need it for education and work benefits. I'm entitled to all my benefits while we are still 'married'. He will not help me.
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Martin B.
2
2
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We get this all the time. There are eight (8) original DD214s. Member 1 (the short or deleted form) and Member 4 (the long or undeleted form) are offered to the service member at separation. Generally, once they are issued, they are gone forever.

If the service member requires another copy, then he/she can acquire a copy of only one of the other remaining originals, usually a copy of the original maintained by the service branch itself, usually a copy of Service 2, Service 7 or Service 8. Rarely will the service branch keep a Member 4 or Member 1 copy, since they have their own copies. If the service branch has kept that copy, that's the copy you'll get if you request another copy. The copy issued by the service branch will have the full legal force and effect as the original.

All of the eight original DD214s are identical, except for Member 1 - the "short" or "deleted" form. The remaining seven long forms includes another 1.5 inches at the bottom which provides information concerning the service member's characterization of service, narrative reason for separation, legal reference (authority) for separation, separation and re-entry codes. The short form does NOT contain this important information - hence employers want the long form (which are all identical original DD214s EXCEPT for Member 1).

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