Last week we listed four ways you can still get a copy of a Veteran’s DD-214.  One of which was to utilize paid websites.  There are many websites out there that claim they can get DD-214’s with in 48 hours, but how can they get access to a certified copy when we can’t? This week I got the answer.

THEY CAN’T!

This week our staff at AVAPP decided to see how fast the turn around is on the paid websites, so we ordered a DD-214.  Most of the paid websites are running specials right now with at least $20 off of their normal fee.

Fast forward two days later and we still did not have a copy of the DD-214 that we had ordered, although we did get a message stating that they were unable to fill this order in a timely manner due to the coronavirus.

Don’t waste your money on any of the paid sites!  The VA is accepting a copy of the order form for the DD-214.  On the order form you will write the date that you mailed it to The National Archives Records Management to show that you tried to get a certified copy.  You can also send a copy of the discharge papers with it if your client has them.

You client can still request a copy of their DD-214 if they filed their DD-214 with their county clerks office or by accessing their records online by any of the following:

by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)  eBenefits application at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage 

Department of Defense milConnect application at https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/. 

Modern military medical records may be accessed through the VA’s Blue Button application at https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-medical-records/.