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How does the ordering process work?----The simplest way to order is to download the order form from our Expedited Service page, fill it out, and send it in to us via fax, email or mail. We will let you know that the form has been received, and contact you for a payment. Almost all requests are completed and shipped within 1-4 days. If a customer places an order through the automated process on our website they receive an email with a Military Records Order Form attached. Customers simply fill out the form and either email it to us, or fax it back to our office via our secure fax line. Alternately, during business hours customers can simply call us to place an order, and we can email them the Order Form directly. Once we receive the completed order forms, we order your personnel file, copy and certify your DD214's and get them out to you.
How do I pay with my credit/debit card? Your website only gives me the option of PayPal?----Since we do not ask our customers to pay up-front, simply fill out the form, send it in to us, and we will contact you for a credit card payment over the phone. For orders made through the automated checkout process on the website, we recently made the choice to process all credit card payments directly through our merchant account with PayPal, the largest and most reputable online credit card processing company in the world. You pay with a credit or debit card by entering your name and card number as you would any online purchase, and do not need to have a PayPal account, become a member, or join anything.
How Long does the Process Take?----Almost all requests are completed within 1-4 days. Since we are dealing with government agencies, and lots of variable factors, there are exceptions. Some National Guard records take longer than 1-4 days. If you have incomplete or inaccurate information, this can cause the process to slow down. If you served prior to 1970 and do not have the serial/service number, this can cause the process to slow down while we search for that number, and finally, if your records are fire-related--were burned in the 1973 fire at the National Archives, this can cause a considerable delay in the research process. We will always give you an honest assessment of how long the process will take, but again, well over 95% of all requests are completed within 1-4 days. About our Money Back Guarantee----we strive to provide our customers with a good experience. We have been in business for 5 years and are proud to have a 100% clean record with the BBB. We will communicate honestly with you throughout the process, and do what we say we are going to do. If you are not happy with our service please call us to let us know, give us a chance to make it right, and if you are still not satisfied we will provide you with a full refund.
I already ordered a copy of my records through the NPRC. Can you still help me? ----Maybe. You would need to call us with the specifics of your situation before we would know for sure. Ordinarily only one order can be processed at a time, but in some circumstances we can bypass that problem.
How do you ensure that my personal information is secure? ----Every decision we have made about the way our business operates has been made with customer security as a primary concern. Firstly, we do not ask our customers to enter any sensitive information on our website. We are protected by an automated firewall, and a suite of security software, but any site can be hacked. Credit card transactions are handled via PayPal, the largest, safest, and most reputable online credit card processing company in the world, and personal information is sent over an encrypted, secure fax-line, so that any information you fax to us is as safe as an on-line banking transaction. Secondly, we do not hire third-party, independant contractors to do research for us. This sets us apart from our competitors, who do hire contract researchers in St. Louis. Finally, we have been approved by the National Archives and Records Administration to provide research services at the National Archives. Your order forms are kept secured in our office, and are securely shredded every 6 months. Credit card payments made over the phone are always made on a secure, encrypted phone-line.
Can you fax or email us a copy of the DD214?----Yes. We obtain the paper copies directly from your personnel file, but we can bring them back to our office and scan and email, or fax them. Certified paper copies are always mailed via first class mail free of charge.
Will I get a Certified, Official copy of my DD214?----Yes. You will get 3 Certified long-form copies of your DD214. They are legal documents, and can be used for any official purpose. ABOUT THE MEMBER COPY 4--many customers contact us requesting the Member Copy 4 thinking that this is the only legitimate copy of the DD214. This is a common misperception. At discharge or ETS the service member is given the option of requesting a copy of their DD214. If they do request a copy the service sends them a copy marked as the "member" copy. The service then retires a copy to the personnel file, which is marked as the "service" copy. These are identical carbon copies of the same long-form DD214. Either version is equally valid, so long as it is the long-copy, which contains the narrative reason for separation, the character of service, and the re-entry code. If the service member doesn't request a copy of the DD214 at discharge then the member's copy may be retired to the personnel file. Otherwise, the official copy in the file is almost always the service copy 2, which again, is identical in every way to the "member" copy, and is a valid, legal document.
I was in the Navy, the Army Reserve and the National Guard--will you get all of my DD214's for the one price? ---In general, each branch of the military requires a separate search, and thus a separate payment. In some cases we can access multiple documents from a single personnel file, and in this case there is no additional charge. Call us to discuss the particular situation. We are an honest business and not in the practice of trying to extract every dime we can get from our customers. If we can access your National Guard Discharge and your DD214 from the same personnel file, we will not charge you an additional fee. If your records are in distinct locations, requiring distinct searches then we may. We handle these on a case by case basis and will let you know of the charges up front.
Feel free to explore our web site or Click here to contact us regarding your project or research needs.
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