Are military records public? Who can see a veteran's service record?

The general rule

A veteran's Official Military Personnel File is not fully public while it is recent. Access opens in stages:

• Anyone can request the limited information that is releasable to the general public.
• Next of kin, meaning the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling, can request the fuller file.
• The full file opens to the public 62 years after the service member separated from service. At that point the record is archival and available to any researcher.

That 62-year line is why World War II and earlier records are broadly open today, while more recent files remain limited unless you are the veteran or the next of kin.

What is released to the general public

Even for a recent record, a set of basic facts is releasable to anyone without the veteran's consent. This generally includes:

• Name, service number, and branch of service
• Dates of service, rank, and assignments or duty stations
• Awards and decorations
• Place of entry and separation

What stays protected is the sensitive material: medical records, the reasons behind a discharge, Social Security numbers, and similar private details. Those require the veteran's authorization or next-of-kin status.

Getting access to a restricted file

If the record is not yet public, there are two normal paths, and both go to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

• If you are the veteran, or the next of kin of a deceased veteran, you can request the fuller file with proof of your relationship.
• If you only need the releasable basics, anyone can request those.

Our guide to requesting an Official Military Personnel File walks through the forms, and our guide to the records held in St. Louis explains what the archive holds.

Frequently asked questions

Are military service records public?

Partly. Basic releasable facts are available to anyone; next of kin can request the fuller file; and the complete record opens to the general public 62 years after the veteran separated from service.

What information is released to the general public?

Generally, the veteran's name, service number, branch, dates of service, rank, assignments, awards, and place of entry and separation. Medical records, discharge reasons, and Social Security numbers stay protected.

When do military records become fully public?

A personnel record becomes archival and open to any researcher 62 years after the service member's separation from service.

Can I get a living veteran's records?

The veteran can request their own file. Others can only receive the limited releasable information unless the veteran provides written authorization.

How do I access my own records after separation?

Request your Official Military Personnel File from the National Personnel Records Center through eVetRecs or Standard Form 180, by verifying your identity as the veteran.

How we help

Access rules are where many family research projects stall. We identify which path applies to your relative, prepare the request with the right authorization, and interpret what comes back. Everything we confirm carries a citation, and your family's information stays private. You can see how a project is scoped and priced on our pricing page, or start with a research project.