How to Request Military Records from the St. Louis, MO Record Center

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Table of Contents#

1. What Is the St. Louis Military Record Center?
2. Who Is Eligible to Request Records?
3. Required Information to Submit With Your Request
4. 4 Ways to Submit Your Record Request
5. Requesting Records Affected by the 1973 NPRC Fire
6. Common Issues & Tips to Speed Up Processing
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. References

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What Is the St. Louis Military Record Center?#

Located at 1 Archives Drive in St. Louis, Missouri, the NPRC Military Personnel Records division is the primary federal repository for U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force service records for personnel discharged before 1994.

Records held at the St. Louis center include:#

• Separation documents (DD214, DD256, NG Form 22)
• Enlistment and commissioning records
• Duty assignment and deployment history
• Award, decoration, and citation records
• Discharge status and character of service documentation
• Military pay records
• Medical records for personnel separated before 1994

Records not held at the St. Louis center include:#

• U.S. Coast Guard records (held by the U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Records Center)
• Records for personnel discharged after 1994 (held by the respective branch of service or the VA; some post-1994 records can also be requested through the DoD's milConnect portal)
• State National Guard records never transferred to federal custody
• Military dependent records

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Who Is Eligible to Request Records?#

Access to military records is restricted to protect veteran privacy, except for records older than 62 years, which are considered public records. Eligible requesters include:

1. The veteran themselves: Full, unrestricted access to all their records, regardless of discharge status.
2. Next of kin of a deceased veteran: Surviving unremarried spouse, adult child, parent, or full sibling. Next of kin must provide proof of relationship and proof of the veteran’s death.
3. Authorized third parties: Attorneys, funeral home staff, or VA representatives, who must submit a signed release form from the veteran or their next of kin.
4. Public requesters: Any member of the public can access records for veterans discharged more than 62 years prior, for a small administrative fee. These records are redacted to protect remaining private information.

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Required Information to Submit With Your Request#

The more identifying details you provide, the faster staff can locate your record, especially if it may have been affected by the 1973 NPRC fire. Gather the following before you submit: ✅ Full legal name of the veteran (including maiden name, if applicable) ✅ Date and place of birth ✅ Social Security Number (if available) ✅ Military Service Number (required for pre-1970 service, if available) ✅ Branch of service ✅ Exact start and end dates of active duty ✅ Place of discharge (if known) ✅ Type of discharge (if known) ✅ Purpose of your request (e.g., VA benefits, military burial, genealogy) ✅ Supporting documentation: Government-issued photo ID, proof of relationship (for next of kin), signed release form (for third parties), proof of veteran’s death (for deceased veterans)

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4 Ways to Submit Your Record Request#

You can submit requests via four official channels, each with different processing timelines and requirements:

1. Online via eVetRecs (Fastest Option)#

The NARA eVetRecs portal is the recommended method for most requesters, with standard processing times 3-5 days faster than mail or fax.

• Steps:
  1. Navigate to the official eVetRecs portal
  2. Verify your identity through ID.me (the portal requires an ID.me account; you may be asked to take a live selfie photo for verification)
  3. Select your requester type (veteran, next of kin, public, third party)
  4. Fill out all required fields and upload digital copies of supporting documentation
  5. Submit your request and save the confirmation number for status checks
• Pros: Instant submission, real-time status updates, fastest processing
• Cons: Requires internet access, digital copies of supporting documents, and an ID.me account

2. Fax#

Fax is a good option for requesters without reliable internet access who want faster delivery than mail.

• Steps:
  1. Download and fill out the SF 180 "Request Pertaining to Military Records" form
  2. Sign the form and attach copies of supporting documentation
  3. Fax to: 314-801-9195
• Pros: Faster than mail, no internet required, transmission confirmation available
• Cons: Risk of low-quality fax submissions delaying processing, no automatic status updates

3. Mail#

Mail is the slowest option, but suitable for requesters who prefer physical submissions.

• Steps:
  1. Fill out the SF 180 form and include copies of supporting documentation (never send original documents)
  2. Mail to: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138
• Pros: No digital access required, ideal for submitting large physical supporting materials
• Cons: Takes 3-5 days to arrive at the center, risk of lost mail, slowest processing time

4. In-Person#

In-person visits are available by appointment only, for requesters who need same-day access to records if available.

• Steps:
  1. Request an appointment via the NARA NPRC website at least 3 business days in advance
  2. Bring all required supporting documentation and a government-issued photo ID
  3. Visit the St. Louis location during operating hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm CST, excluding federal holidays)
• Pros: Same-day access to available records, direct support from NARA staff
• Cons: Requires travel, appointment mandatory, limited to 2 hours of research per visit

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Requesting Records Affected by the 1973 NPRC Fire#

On July 12, 1973, a massive fire at the NPRC destroyed 16-18 million military records, including:

• 80% of U.S. Army records for personnel discharged between November 1, 1912 and January 1, 1960
• 75% of U.S. Air Force records for personnel discharged between September 25, 1947 and January 1, 1964 (last names starting with Hubbard, James E. through Z)

There is no master list of destroyed records, so staff will attempt to reconstruct your record using alternate sources (pay rosters, unit histories, VA claims records, discharge notices) if no original record is found. To speed up reconstruction, submit as much additional supporting documentation (old pay stubs, photos in uniform, letters from service, unit citations) as possible with your initial request. Fire-related requests typically take 4-6 weeks to process.

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Common Issues & Tips to Speed Up Processing#

Standard Processing Timelines#

• Non-urgent standard requests: Processing times vary based on request complexity, record availability, and NPRC workload (NPRC receives approximately 4,000–5,000 requests per day). NARA advises waiting at least 90 days before sending a follow-up.
• Fire-affected record requests: 4-6 weeks
• Public genealogy requests for records 62+ years old: 8-12 weeks

How to Speed Up Your Request#

If you need records for a time-sensitive reason, you qualify for urgent processing:

• Qualifying urgent reasons: Imminent medical care for the veteran, pending VA claim deadline, upcoming military burial, emergency housing or benefit requirements
• How to request urgent processing: Mark "URGENT" in large text on the top of your SF 180 or in the special instructions field of eVetRecs, and attach supporting documentation (funeral home letter, VA claim deadline notice, doctor’s note)
• Urgent requests are typically processed within 2-3 business days, and burial requests are prioritized for 24-hour turnaround.

What to Do If You Get a "No Record Found" Response#

1. Double-check the identifying information you submitted (confirm correct name spelling, service dates, and branch of service)
2. Submit any additional supporting documentation you have to help staff locate or reconstruct the record
3. File a formal record reconstruction request with the NPRC, which may take 6-8 weeks to complete.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

1. How much does it cost to request records? Most requests for official separation documents (DD214, discharge papers) for veterans and next of kin are free. For public requesters seeking records 62+ years old (archival records), the National Archives charges a flat fee for a complete photocopy of the Official Military Personnel File: $25 for files of 5 pages or less, or$70 for files of 6 pages or more (most OMPFs fall into this category).
2. Can I check the status of my request? Yes, you can use the NPRC online status check tool or call 314-801-0800 (or toll-free at 1-866-272-6272). Wait at least 10 business days after submitting before checking status to avoid processing delays. Peak calling hours are weekdays 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. CT.
3. Can I request medical records from the St. Louis NPRC? Yes, if the veteran was separated from service before 1994. For personnel separated after 1994, medical records are held by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the respective branch of service.
4. What if the veteran is deceased? Next of kin must provide a copy of the veteran’s death certificate and proof of their relationship to the veteran to access full records. Public requesters can access redacted records 62+ years after discharge.

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References#

1. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (2026). National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records) Overview. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/military-personnel
2. NARA. (2026). Request Military Service Records. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
3. NARA. (2025). 1973 NPRC Fire Information. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973
4. General Services Administration. SF 180: Request Pertaining to Military Records. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/files/forms/sf-180.pdf
5. NARA. (2026). NPRC Request Status Check Tool. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/forms
6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2026). Request Your Military Service Records (including DD214). Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/