Officials: Don't pay to file your DD214
Filing your DD214 is free.
That's what Patricia Peifer, Somerset County Recorder of Deeds, and Ron Mash Jr., director of Somerset County Veterans Affairs, wants area veterans to know. They are concerned that veterans may be taken advantage of by other organizations that are charging for the same service.
A DD214 form is the certificate of release or discharge from active duty report for military veterans. The Report of Separation contains information veterans need to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veterans' organizations. Veterans can be required to have a DD214 to claim benefits. The applicant cannot be approved for a VA home loan or the GI Bill without showing proof of service — the DD214.All personal information is on those forms.
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How to file the DD214 form?
These forms are recorded in the Somerset County Recorder of Deeds office by the veteran who has to appear in person with the original. Copies of the form are not accepted. Military discharge information is not a public record. The individual with identification, or family member with a death certificate may obtain copies.
"It is not for public view. Only the computers in the Recorder of Deeds office can get access to the records," Peifer said.
So on Jan. 30, when the office received a copy of a DD214 sent from DD214Direct in Arizona, with a note saying the company was paid $100 to file it, the Recorder of Deeds office became suspicious. It included an envelope to return the information. The filer's name was John Smith and included a phone number.
"This looked kind of odd. We started looking into it," she said. "They are providing something to people they are charging for and it is a free service here."
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She talked to Mash, who then attempted to call Smith's number numerous times, but said nobody answered the phone and messages left were not returned. Mash looked at the company's employee list, and John Smith is not on the roster.
"The National Archives at St. Louis holds all military records there," Mash said. "I will get it for you by contacting the National Archives if you need help. If the person is still living, they have to come in. If they are deceased, the person requesting the file has to have a death certificate, pertinent information and a notarized letter to say they are allowed to receive the information. You will receive your DD214 from the Archives in about about three to four weeks."
The National Archives holds permanent records that include: Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs), Official Personnel Folders (OPF), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), enrollee records, Selective Service records, deceased veteran's claim files, individual deceased personnel files, and persons of exceptional prominence information.
"Veterans are trusting because they are used to following orders. That is the way it is," Mash said. "If you use Google for information, make sure you put in 'DD214 National Archives' to get the right link in St. Louis for information."
Questionable practices
Peifer said she had another concern that popped up recently. The Recorder of Deeds office uses the software Landex for the DD214 records. She said she got an email from a person at Landex saying somebody from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs wanted remote access to the DD214 files. Peifer responded that whoever is requesting the records needs to call and talk to her, because the Deeds office does not release the information outside of the office.
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"The person requesting the information has to physically come in to the Deeds office to see the forms," she said. "I never heard back from this man."
She called the name and number she'd been given to contact. She said she had several concerns with that conversation.
"When he answered, he just said 'hello' with no identification of what the office was," she said. She said also the man thought the National Guard Training Center Fort Indiantown Gap was in Somerset County.
Proof needed in person
Peifer said she just wants veterans to know that if they are asked to pay for these services, the Recorder of Deeds office will provide them for free.
"You shouldn't be charged. Veterans have to physically come in to the office to file the form. The government doesn't do it for them," she said. "This is a public office here to do the work for you. We don't want to see people being taken advantage of."Peifer and Mash said call either of their offices for those who have questions or need more information. The Recorder of Deeds is 814-445-1547 or the Somerset County Veterans Affairs number is 814-445-1551.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Recorder of Deeds office provides free DD214 service to veterans
