I am looking to get access to my naval service record

Not sure about the navy but I can't be too much different from the army. Anything you do have that's missing should be able to updated by your unit. If you are missing things you might be able to go back to past units and hope they have it on record.

The unfortunate lesson in this is make copies of everything and throw nothing away because you never know when you need to prove something happened. I have a school I cannot prove I went to because I didn't make a copy...

What years were you in the Naval service from, if you don't mind me asking? Here is a link for a site that offers access to navy service records online - http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/recordsmanagement/pages/electservrcd.aspx They also provided the email address [login to see] if you had any questions.

I too am having problems locating the military records of a parent of mine who served in the Marine corps between 1957 and 1963. I found a copy of some papers that look like military discharge papers of some sort in our family safe, but I can not verify if they are real or not. There is no stamp or official seal on them. I am wondering if there is a way to get a copy of his military records?