By Matt Scherer

Steve, a retired Navy chief, said recently he wished that some key details from his military career were documented on his DD Form 214. 

Had his military career archive shown a Navy deployment to a combat zone, he would qualify for a better leave option with his VA government position.   Navy professionals like Steve can update his DD Form 214, but that will take additional time. 

Every military member gets a DD Form 214 upon their separation or retirement from active duty.  Yet, Tyrone Hewitt, a retired Navy senior chief, said military professionals should carefully review their records before meeting with a personnel specialist to obtain their copy. 

“I would recommend that military members review their records, especially their deployments in combat zones,” said Hewitt, now a Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Readiness family life specialist. 

When Hewitt worked with his personnel counselor on his DD Form 214, he made some needed corrections on his form before approving its publication. 

Hewitt adds military members should bring copies of deployment orders and a timeline of duty stations and temporary duty posts to their meeting with the personnel specialist preparing their DD Form 214.   

In a November speech given to the Alamo AFCEA conference in San Antonio, Cheryl L. Mason, now a senior advisor to the Secretary of the VA, said the DD214 plays an important role for a veteran to qualify for benefits. 

“All veterans served our nation and as a result may be entitled to certain benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Mason said.  “These include VA readiness and employment, VA home loans, VA education, VA disability compensation and VA health care.” 

During her   AFCEA  talk, Mason said veterans should take a copy of their DD Form 214 to their county clerk’s office.   This gives them access to this form should they need to apply for VA benefits.   When veterans lose this DD Form 214, some veterans pay more than $100 to get a copy of this document.  

READ MORE:  https://miltrac.org/2024/04/08/dd214-dont-get-fooled-into-paying-for-your-copy/