DD214 form is an important tool for veterans

Photo By Adam Holguin | Valeria Serrano, right, transition clerk, assists a Reservist with his Department of Defense Form 214 as part of the demobilizing process with the Fort Bliss Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security, Mar. 6 at the transition office. For Reservists and Guardsmen, receiving the DD214 is the final action of their active duty time before returning home.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

03.12.2015

Story by Adam Holguin 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas — After completing their studies, a student attends a graduation and receives a rather important piece of paper, a diploma, the culmination of their hard work. In many ways the military equivalent to a diploma is the Department of Defense Form 214, one of the most important documents of a Soldier’s career. The DD214 is the official record of military service. It serves as proof of service and has a vast array of information that will be pertinent in a Soldier’s military and civilian careers.

There is no official ceremony when a Soldier receives a DD214. Like many aspects of military life, it is the responsibility of each Soldier to ensure the accuracy and recognize the importance of the DD214. Particularly for reserve component service members, the importance of the DD214 cannot be understated.

Unlike regular Army Soldiers who receive a single DD214 that covers back to back years’ worth of time, most reserve component Soldiers receive a DD214 after every set of orders/mobilization. This makes the attention to detail for Reservists and Guardsmen more vital to their military careers.

“The DD214 is very important because it reflects what happened on this mobilization/deployment, the active duty time, any training and schools, and any awards they received,” said Bertha B. Dennis, transition lead, Mobilization Branch, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.

The Transition office in the Mobilization Branch of DPTMS is responsible for producing DD214s for all National Guard and Reserve units that mobilize through Fort Bliss, as well as CONUS Replacement Center and Warrior Transition Battalion service members. Receiving a DD214 is the final step of the demobilization process before departing home.

“I understand that (Soldiers) just want to get home, but take the extra effort. When you retire at the end of your career or when you look back at the end of a year and say ‘what did we do then?’ No one is going to know unless you have a correct DD214,” said Lt. Col. Philip Dizon, commander, 2213th Mobilization Support Battalion. “A lot of Soldiers, including me, have not taken the time to look at their DD214, just signed off on it. I’ve noticed that a bunch of (Guard and Reserve) Soldiers struggle towards the end of their career trying to account for all their (active duty) time.”

“The Member Copy 4 is important because we only print it one time, when the Soldier is sitting in front of us,” said Dennis. “That’s what makes it so important for them to make copies, put it away in a safe location, some people take it to the courthouse and register it there. At transition is the only time that the service member will receive it.”

The Army’s Transition Point Processing System produces all DD214s. It is a processing system, not a database system, so all information must be uploaded onto the system each time a Soldier receives a DD214. The clerks in transition are responsible for uploading and verifying all source documents and supporting paperwork that may affect a DD214.

“It is our responsibility to verify the documentation that they are giving us to ensure that the awards they want to add on are correct and that they are following the regulations,” said Dennis.

In an effort to ensure that all documentation is correct, the transition process is a two-step process.

“Everyone goes through the same process, they come to our office and they have to have all their documentation. We try to preload everyone that comes through, so that it limits the time they sit with a processor. The processor is the one that verifies all the documentation. Once they finish with the processor they go to the signer,” said Dennis. “The signer is ultimately the one that puts their name and verifies the DD214 with the Soldier. The Soldier will sign first, then the signer; once they both sign, that makes it an official document.”

The importance of a correct and accurate DD214 can have numerous implications, particularly when trying to access your Veteran Administration benefits. There are numerous VA benefits available such as home loans, veteran’s preference for jobs, educational benefits and burial rights, to name a few. A complete list and information on VA benefits can be found at www.va.gov. The DD214 is the key to all these benefits.

“A Soldier’s DD214 will give us important information to determine his or her eligibility,” said Gilbert J. Moncada, health benefits advisor, El Paso Veteran’s Affairs. “The DD214 will contain this information and without it, it may be difficult to make a proper determination for eligibility of benefits and delay the process.”

One thing is certain, when getting a DD214, ensure the details are correct and above all things, pay attention to this important document.

“Pay attention to the details. If you do find a mistake while processing, we can correct it on the spot, if you find it later on, 10-15 years down the line, then it is much harder to correct,” said Dennis. “Getting a DD215 is a long process; sometimes it can take a month and I’ve seen some that take a year.”

If a currently discharged Veteran needs to amend his or her DD214, the individual must submit for a DD215. Any amendment requires all source documentation; contact your unit S-1 or go to the nearest transition center for assistance with a DD215.

“Service members who are preparing to obtain a DD214, I would advise them to look over their document before signing it. This will hopefully ensure that they do not have any important information left out, such as a disability discharge, medals and awards that could later cause an issue in their enrollment,” said Moncada.

“A lot of people don’t take the time because they always think they can take care of it in the future, but that is not going to happen,” said Dizon. “To this day, I am still trying to work my awards correctly, and I am a lieutenant colonel, so I know.”

• Date Taken: 03.12.2015
• Date Posted: 03.12.2015 11:53
• Story ID: 156758
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US