So, if you are being asked to provide proof of service to determine your eligibility to receive veteran-aimed benefits, a Service 2 Copy will suffice.

While the military does not provide a replacement Member 4 Copy, it does, like we said, keep a Service 2 Copy on file in each former servicemember’s record, and this is the copy veterans are asking for when they request for a copy of their DD214. It happens, but it’s not the end of the world. And, like all other copies of the DD214 (with the exception of the shortened Member 1 Copy), the Service 2 Copy is an exact duplicate of the Member 4 Copy and equally acceptable when proof of service is required. Like the Member 4 Copy, the Service 2 Copy contains all of the necessary information to show proof of military service and honorable discharge. The Service 2 Copy is all you need to provide proof of service for post-discharge benefits and entitlements, and you can request your Service 2 Copy from , Here is what you need to know:Īn identical copy of the Member 4 Copy, called the Service 2 Copy, is kept by the government, and this is what is provided when veterans request a copy of their DD214. This is incorrect and often results in a lot of confusion and frustration on behalf of the servicemember. Department of Veterans Affairs has erroneously issued a statement saying that servicemembers need to provide a Member 4 Copy to show proof of service. It could be that the requesting party-for example, a VA mortgage lender-doesn’t have a clear understanding of the eight different copies of the DD Form 214 and what they can be used for.īut the more likely reason is that the U.S. Why am I being asked for a Member 4 Copy?

You will also hear a Member 4 Copy called the long-form, unedited, or undeleted copy, while the Member 1 Copy is sometimes referred to as the short-form, edited, or deleted copy because it lacks certain information found on the Member 4 Copy (most importantly, the type of separation or discharge and the individual’s re-enlistment code). The Member 4 Copy is what’s provided by the branch of service and given to the servicemember upon discharge-typically along with a Member 1 Copy, which is a shorter version of the Member 4 Copy. First things first, veterans do NOT need a Member 4 Copy to provide proof of service in any situation to acquire benefits.

Sample dd214 form