The current address for the National Personnel Records Center is:
National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St Louis, MO 63138-1002 USA
The majority of personnel have moved to the new location and the military personnel records are in the process of moving. The entire move should be completed by the end of the Summer of 2012.
The preferred method of submitting a request to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is via the Internet. Please note that in some cases using a browser other than Internet Explorer may create problems with data entry.
The NPRC provides copies of documents from military personnel records to authorized persons. Our web-based application will provide better service on these requests by eliminating our mailroom processing time. Also, since the requester will be prompted to supply all information essential for us to process the request, delays that occur when we must go back for more information will be minimized. You may access this application at:
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
As a reminder, ALL retirees and Honorably Discharged veterans should ensure that their family knows the location of their military Separation Document (DD Form 214 from 1950 to present and WD (War Department) Form 53-55 and other variations prior to 1950). Note that registering a copy at the county court house may make that document a public record. Separation Documents issued after 1969 may contain a Social Security Number which could be used for identity theft.
Storage location options:
1-Safe deposit box
2-Fire safe in a secure location of the house (not in the bedroom as this is where most thieves search first). Be sure spouse/NOK knows the location and has key/combination.
3-In a watertight food container (Glad, Tupperware. etc.) in the refrigerator. Most refrigerators are fire resistant. Additionally, a refrigerator is heavy enough to fall through the floor of a building into the cooler part of the fire in the basement and better survive. Finally, a refrigerator is large enough to be easily located in the ash and ruble of a fire or other serious incident. (As a bonus, everyone has a refrigerator–not everyone has a fire resistant storage box).
Be sure to inform your spouse and relatives where to locate your Separation Document and any other important papers.
