What do you do when the Military had incorrect or no record of your service? I have been asked this multiple times.

Contact your last unit of assignment if you can.

Sometimes when servicemembers change from active to reserve or national guard to active, etc. their records are not automatically updated. They need to submit all proof of service documentation to their S-1 to process depending on their status; For example in my case, I deal with TPU's and AGR's and both processes are different. Once they submit the correct documentation, I can piece together their record and submit the appropriate documentation to higher (HRC) for corrections. This takes 6-8 weeks or more. This is for Soldiers currently in the military, mind you.

If you were active duty, you should have a DD-214. Before you do anything I would make copies and/or scan it into your computer and back it up (this actually saved me with a background check during a hiring process). If you were NG, you should have some kind of separation orders. I retired and have my orders tendering me to the retired reserve. With these you have proof of your service. Now, these are the most important forms, but if you have more...great, scan and back them up, too. Like you should know from training, the more ammo you have the better chance you have.

Now you should be able to work through the VA to find where to start looking. If it's medical records, they should've been sent to St. Louis upon separation/retirement. The AF sends all other records to Randolph AFB, so I'm sure the Army seems theirs to a central location. You should be able to find this on their website. Try looking for a proof of service link. That's how I found a address for my background check, even though they went with the DD-214.

Good luck and don't give up!

This is one good reason for you to keep copies of all your orders and other military records. I have 3 large 3 ring binders full of all my orders. Everything from my original enlistment contract to original choice of schools agreement, travel orders, promotion orders and more.

If anyone has ABCMR questions I'd be glad to share my experience. It is a slow process, but it has sweeping authority.

You email me at [login to see] and I will walk you through it. Too much to write here.

Submit a packet to the Army Board for Corrections of Military Records. Mine took about a year.

It is always an individuals responsibility to keep a copy of all documents just in case this should happen

They should have it, but there is one exception. There was a big fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis that destroyed a lot of records. They were primarily Army and from a certain period, as far as I can remember. If Information is incorrrect, you can fill out a DD 180 form and request a DD215. This is primarily fro awards I think.

Incorrect or no record of service or even missing records. You need to start with all your units.
People rotate out, PCS,ETS. So start there immediately, because I have seen documents of old unit members get trashed after years of just being filed. I learned in basic training back in 1992, always get a copy of any and everything with your name or social security number on it. Every military member should have their own file(Me Book). Start emailing and calling any admin personnel, HRC reps. If you have served, there are documents with your information.