Is my dd214 not enough proof that I earned an award?

You need the orders number to put in emilpo

Your DD214 is not the end all for your list of awards. I got out in 1975 and the top award on my DD214 was the ARCOM. But, before I left my last duty assignment I was told by my 1SGT that I had been recommended for the MSM. Never heard another thing about the MSM until 30 years later when I requested a copy of my military records from MilPerCen. Then I learned that I had been awarded the MSM 3 months after I was discharged. I received a copy of the orders awarding the medal and later received the medal with my name engraved on the back of it. You can get your 214 amended with a DD215.

If the awards are not on your DD 214, and you do not have substantiating documents, then the awards cannot be listed on your ERB. What you can do is submit an SF 180 to the National Archives. If they have them, they will send them to you. Then....BAM.....they can then be added to your ERB

A good soldier keeps a file of all orders on which he/she is named. I still retain mine, and they can be invaluable when filing disability claims.... Side note: my ETS was 1966....

DD214's are not good source documents because they often contain mistakes therefore are not supposed to be used as proof. I've seen Soldiers get all kinds of things put on their 214 like Air Assault school, sniper school etc..... That they didn't do. Most Soldiers are honest and will correct it, but some won't. I had a SGT get reduced to SPC yet when he got his 214 a year later they still listed him as a SGT so he ran with it. He decided to reenlist some time later and did so as a SGT. His CSM from his new unit called me to ask if he was reduced and did he make his rank back. After I explained what happened and produced source documents for his reduction he was reduced again to SPC.

If you earned any recommendations, years in service with NG and or Reserve there are ribbons and medals. Go to CO going through the chain of command and or awards bureau for proper guidance. You don't want to become a PX warrior.

Ompf

Unless I'm reading this wrong, you said "as my dd214 does not have them" and that sort of means that no, there is no proof on your DD-214 for something that you might have earned.

Depends. I would check with the school, a previous headquarters, morning reports, or ask a colleague who might have been through the course or tour with you. They might have the proof.

I have two DD Form 215s from my last period of active duty just for that reason. I made sure that my two qualification badges were listed and that appropriate devices were correct.

In the Air Force, DD Form 214s are used to verify longevity service, accession training, PME, specialty qualification badges and overseas service. For everything else, you better have your orders or graduation certificates. There's even a printed roster for Good Conduct Medals, and I have a copy of the AF Form that verified the operation qualifying me for a Humanitarian Service Medal. I kept everything and only recently started shredding the duplicates.

As for decorations, remember that anything can be purchased on line and through E-bay these days, so I'm not much of a fan of people who show up with medals and certificates without the citations or orders. I would hedge on the side of a those being fake.

Therefore, if something's missing, make sure you have the orders or certificate, and then make sure it's updated in the system. Don't just wear something without proof. It's a disservice to your peers, your service, and the rest of us. It also short-changes you in the future when you go for replacements of awards, or some family member is doing the family history thing.

Finally, you never know where those records may be helpful to others. Records that I had stored 26 years ago in my footlocker actually helped correct an error about an aircraft on static display at the Air Force Museum.

I am having such an issue with my husbands DD214, he is not eligible per VA because his DD214 doesn’t show he was in Vietnam , it is ridiculous that I cannot get any help on this I have wrote Congress, and talked to so many people and nothing