Articles & guides for veterans and families.
Honest, in-depth walkthroughs of the DD214 process. Whether you handle the paperwork yourself or have us do it, our goal is to make sure you know exactly what to expect.
8 articles
More guides coming soon-
DD214 retrieval 9 min read · Updated May 17, 2026
How to get a lost DD214
A complete guide for veterans and families — eligibility, the SF-180, common rejection reasons, special situations like the 1973 fire, and realistic timelines.
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Timelines 7 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
How long does it take to get a DD214?
The honest answer is 8 to 12 weeks for standard requests — but the real timeline depends on submission method, service era, and a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here's what to actually plan for.
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VA home loan 8 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
DD214 for a VA home loan
What lenders actually verify on your DD214, how the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) fits in, and what to do if your closing is sooner than your DD214 will arrive.
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Older records 9 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
The 1973 NPRC fire
A 1973 fire destroyed an estimated 16–18 million military records. Here's whose records were affected, how NPRC reconstructs DD214s from alternate documents, and what families can do to help.
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Documents 6 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
DD214 vs DD215: which one do you need?
Two documents that are easily confused. What each is, when you need which, and what to do if something on your DD214 is wrong and needs a correction.
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Troubleshooting 7 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
Why was my DD214 request rejected?
A complete walkthrough of the most common rejection reasons NPRC gives, what each one means in practice, and exactly how to fix and resubmit cleanly.
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For families 8 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
DD214 for funeral and burial benefits
Military funeral honors, burial in a national cemetery, headstones, and burial allowances — what families can access and how the DD214 fits in.
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Records management 7 min read · Updated May 23, 2026
How to store your DD214 safely
Paper DD214s get lost, damaged, and misplaced — often when you need them most. An honest look at storage options and why a cloud copy matters.
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