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Department of Defense Form 214 |
By Art Gib
 The United States Department of Defense Form 214 is a document issued to service members either directly before or after the service member's separation from their branch of service. Service members must request reception of the form. Like all other Department of Defense forms there is a shorthand version; in this case it is DD 214.
DD 214 serves the purpose of detailing a military member's service while in the armed forces. It is to include a list of deployments or overseas service that was not considered a permanent change of station (a permanent change of station refers to being associated with a particular military base. A deployment refers to temporary duty where the member of the military leaves their family behind to serve whereas the military member would bring their family along for a permanent change of station.)
The form also details promotions, total time of service and training completed while in the military as an Active, Reserve or National Guard member. The form allows veterans to secure benefits as a valid form of proof when making
the claim of military service.
For example, as of 1 September 2000, a family member may request that a veteran's funeral include military honors (folding of and presenting the U.S. flag) without charge. However in order to take advantage of this right the family must prove the veteran's eligibility to the funeral director through DD 214.
Another example of potential benefits is the opportunity to secure a low APR home loan as a result of veteran status. Perhaps because of the many benefits associated with being a U.S. military veteran the DD 214 is often regarded as one of the most important military documents for an individual service member.
The documents were first issued beginning in 1950. However, two other types of discharge papers had been in use since 1941: the WD AGO or War Department Adjutant General and the NAVPERS which navy personnel were issued upon separation from the Navy. While all branches of the military will issue the DD 214 after separation only the Army will issue it before a service member goes on terminal leave (using final vacation time to interview for jobs). The DD 214 also comes in two variants.
Basically the two versions vary only in brevity. They are referred to as the edited and unedited copy. A service member can request wither one of the two, or both versions of the form upon retirement from the military. However, the reception of certain benefits requires that the member have the more detailed unedited version.
LowVARates.com (http://lowvarates.com) helps veterans secure VA home loans with low APR rates. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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