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

SPC Melonnie Covington-Pryor Submit DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records to the relevant service branch.

The secretary of a military department, acting through a board for correction of military records, has authority to change any military record when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. A correction board may consider applications for correction of a military record, including a review of a discharge issued by courts martial.

The veteran, survivor or legal representative generally must file a request for correction within three years after discovery of an alleged error or injustice. The board may excuse failure to file within the prescribed time, however, if it finds it would be in the interest of justice to do so. It is an applicant’s responsibility to show why the filing of the application was delayed and why it would be in the interest of justice for the board to consider it despite the delay.

To justify any correction, it is necessary to show to the satisfaction of the board that the alleged entry or omission in the records was in error or unjust. Applications should include all available evidence, such as signed statements of witnesses or a brief of arguments supporting the requested correction. Application is made with DD Form 149, available at VA offices, from veterans organizations or from the Internet (http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/formsprogram.htm).

I would make sure you stay on top of this and get this corrected ASAP. While I was in I had a noncombat related injury which wasn't problem then. Years later and 3 surgeries later with another on the way the VA is telling me they can't locate my medical records to file for a disability claim which they are forcing me to do In order to continue to receive medical care thru the VA. I've learned you have to take charge of the situation and attack the situation as you would in the battlefield.

It's really too broad to get definitive. Is something missing from the record or is the DD-214 wrong? Depending on what it is, the local MIL HR office can fix some things while others require a Board of Correction. The HR office will have the correct process on hand.

Another idea to solving this question is: Contact DFAS and see if they can pull up all of his financial records. It may be a hassle to do that. But DFAS will maintain copies of what they've paid out.

Archives.gov has military records for all perosonnel retired and enlisted. Or you can comtact the human resources service center at : [login to see]

It's all about paper work your, contract and make your self a I LOVE ME BOOK, and never throw any paper work away.

I am dealing with that right now. My picture shows me at Bagram airfield . . I was clearly in Afghanistan in 2004 . . . but my DD214 fails to reflect this. Fortunately, I had saved all my orders and travel vouchers and have been able to prove to Uncle Sam that I WAS there, and deserve an amendment to my 214. If you had service after everything went computer you should be better off, because there should be a record there. I was there during the Paper only era, and only because I was paranoid at the time was I able to prove my service.
I am a bit loathe to say this has been resolved, because it has not yet . . but my threat to go to my Congressman and launch a Congressional inquiry has had a remarkable effect. If you can produce ANY proof of your service you should be able to get an amended 214. If not, then take your proof to your congressman.

The Army Board for Correction of Military Records

Mission Statement
The Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) is the highest level of administrative review within the Department of the Army with the mission to correct errors in or remove injustices from Army military records.

Overview
When applications are received requesting that an error be corrected or an injustice be removed from the record, multiple actions are taken.

The Soldier’s or Veteran’s records are obtained. If no records are available, it may not be possible to process the application further. In 1973, there was a fire in the National Archives’ National Personnel Records Center that destroyed many Veterans’ records from World War II. Other government agencies may also have records checked out if the applicant has multiple actions in progress. For this reason, applicants should provide with their application copies of as many military record documents that they have that are relevant to the application issue.

When necessary, advisory opinions are obtained from other Army staff elements. If an advisory opinion is obtained, it will be referred to the applicant for comment before the application is further considered.

In some cases, administrative corrections can be made based on the records and advisory opinions without the need for a Board decision.

If the application cannot be resolve administratively, the Board staff will prepare a brief for the Board’s consideration. The Board will render a decision which is final and binding on all Army officials and government organizations. When directed, corrections will be made to the record and related corrective actions will be taken by the responsible Army or government organization. Applicants may request reconsideration of a Board decision within one year of a decision if they can provide new relevant evidence that was not considered by the Board.

I would suggest getting in touch with a Live person from the National Archives. There are two huge warehouses where physical copies of records are stored. All these records are going to be scanned into digital format; a VERY long and tedious process. If any place should have copy of them, this place should. However, the states are zoned according to sections. The soldier should have kept up with triple copies of everything the military every gave him/her. With at least 22 million veterans things tend to get lost. As for corrections, I'm not sure. Either way, it will take some time to get things done.

One thing I learned growing up as an Army brat and stood me in good stead when I did my own time was you keep copies of EVERY order and official document ever issued; and you NEVER give away your last copy.

I've been out almost thirty years and still have the first LES I received at Ft Leonard Wood in 1975. My wife asks me why I still keep all this stuff and I tell her you never know when there might be another "fire" at the records office (cant remember what it was called) like in 1974 that destroyed my brother's records - he spent twenty years proving his case with VA because he lost a lot of his stuff in a nasty divorce.

My 201 file during my first hitch had the wrong name and SSN on it. For my first three years every order I received had to be amended. I thought I finally got it straight when I ETSed. About three years later when I re-entered Active duty they couldn't find my records even under the wrong data. No telling WHAT they had changed my SSN to. With COPIES of my orders and my original DD214 (which had to be corrected at the STP at Ft Dix in 78) I was able to rebuild my 201 file correctly.

I know this is long but hopefully the details will help someone avoid the same pitfalls.