The military's reserve components now issue departing reservists a new standard service record that summarizes their periods of active and inactive service as well as their "points" earned toward retirement: Form DD214-1, the Certificate of Uniformed Service, Reserve Component Addendum.
Unlike active-duty members who may receive only a single DD Form 214 to verify aspects of a single active-duty commitment, reservists may amass a multitude of DD214's during their careers, up to one for each time they enter and then leave active service, including full-time National Guard duty or mobilization for an emergency or other contingency operation.
A Defense Department memo, published in 2022, gave the military services a deadline of this year to implement the new form. The services did so one by one, beginning in 2024 and culminating with the Coast Guard's implementation this July.
The implementation of the DD214-1 is in recognition that a veteran's service record "plays a critical role in the allocation of veterans benefits, reemployment rights, and unemployment insurance," according to the DoD memo. The Navy characterized the new form as better for documenting "total service" in its implementation guidance. The Air Reserve Personnel Center said in its guidance that it expects the "comprehensive record" to "make it easier for members to access the benefits and entitlements they deserve at separation or retirement."
Related: DD214: What You Need to Know
Reservists will still receive conventional DD214s according to their services' preexisting guidelines, but once they leave their component -- by separating or by changing services or certain reserve statuses -- they'll also receive the DD214-1 as an addendum. In fact, a reservist will only ever receive the new form as an accompanying addendum, along with a conventional DD214 under the current rules.
Here's what to know about the new form:
Who Issues Reserve DD214-1s?
The military services' respective reserve components issue DD214-1s. Here's the guidance each service provided at the time of the form's implementation:
- Air Reserve Personnel Center (Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard)
- Army Integrated Pay and Personnel System (Army Reserve, Army National Guard)
- Coast Guard Personnel Service Center (Coast Guard Reserve)
- Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs (Marine Corps Reserve)
- MyNavy HR (Navy Reserve)
Who Receives a Reserve DD214-1?
The intent behind the DD214-1 is to provide a final summary of a reservist's active and reserve service. The following members will receive a DD214-1:
- Reservists who separate or are released from their reserve component
- Reservists transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve or the inactive National Guard
- Reservists transferred to the Standby Reserve or Retired Reserve
- Recalled retirees reverting to retired status
- Certain service-specific circumstances
Who Doesn't Receive a Reserve DD214-1?
The new form accompanies qualifying separations and changes in status taking place after the date that the services implemented the DD214-1 program. Services don't issue them retroactively. It is also used if a veteran needs their original DD214 corrected. Just because a member receives a DD214 doesn't mean they'll also receive a DD214-1 at that time. The services don't have to supply a DD214-1 to the following:
- Reservists receiving a DD214 for ending a period of active service, if they're not separating from their component
- Veterans who already received a DD214, unless that form needs a correction
- National Guard members who transfer states
- Reservists whose service terminates by death
How Is the DD214-1 Different?
With the new DD214-1, reserve veterans will possess a single record of all their active and reserve service. Not only that, their reserve component will provide the information to the Defense Manpower Data Center, which will then distribute it to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Labor and state or territory of the individual's choice.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, for example, administers the Post-9/11 GI Bill, for which the combined length of reserve veterans' active service determines how much of their college costs the education benefit will cover.
Read Next: Post-9/11 GI Bill for Guard and Reserve
The DD214-1 might also include a reservist's activations for which their service never issued a conventional DD214, such as a short mobilization for an emergency. The services don't technically have to issue DD214s for contingency operations that are 30 days or shorter.
According to the White House's instructions, the new DD214-1 must "ensure all periods of active service served, regardless of duration, are reported along with their corresponding character of service and [Separation Program Designator] codes." It must include a "clear, concise summary of each discrete period of active service and Reserve Component service as applicable" and "relevant data regarding the member's service and the circumstances of termination."
Do Members Need to Do Anything Special to Receive a DD214-1?
The military services must provide a separating reservist's DD214 and accompanying DD214-1 "upon separation or the date authorized travel commences," according to DoD instructions. Follow your service's instructions for separation.
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