Your DD214, officially known as a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is possibly the most important document you possess when it comes to documenting your time spent in the military and proving your honorable discharge.Īlthough the DD214 has evolved over time, the core information remains the same. While all that paperwork can seem like a nuisance, each form has a purpose, and each plays an important role in chronicling your military career-especially those that show proof of service.įor members of the Armed Forces (the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard), a DD Form 214 is issued upon separation or discharge from active duty, including when a service member retires. From recruitment to discharge, there are lengthy forms to fill out for just about everything, even taking vacation time. Those who have served in the military are no stranger to paperwork.
