DD214
DD214
Posted on Oct 29, 2020
Is my dd214 not enough proof that I earned an award?
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I was in the reserve years ago. Had a huge break in service and now I'm back in active duty. My s1 is currently telling me that I can't add my awards to my erb without the orders as my dd214 does not have them therefore it's not enough proof. I am currently moving heaven and earth trying to find papers nobody seem to have from 11 years ago. What can I do?
Prior Service
Awards
Human Resources
DD214
Posted 3 mo ago
Responses: 30
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As a former Company, Battalion and Brigade S1 and now in G1 yes they can use your DD214 especially in your case of over a decade separation. I had a 20 year separation and they had to use my 214 because iPerms did not exsist back in 85 (but I did have all my papers). Normally the 214 is used last by S1 because the 214 is compilation of everything and has to be manually imputed and can easily be fat fingered. I had a CPT that had a BSM on her 214 from a recent mobilization. She got the ribbon added to her rack and DA photo done for Major’s board. Well she had never been out of the country and her mob was to Ft Bliss and you don’t get a bronze star medal for conus mobilization. She had no award orders for BSM other then it was on her 214 but she did have award certificate for MSM from Ft Bliss. They typeoed her 214. That being said, what are your awards? normal awards like certificates of achievement, AAM, good conduct medal should not be an issue with 214. I would assume not very many as an E4. Again they can use it but not knowing your details or the awards I can’t say why they are having an issue.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you Sergeant. I actually downloaded the emilpo user manual when I got home. An found specific instructions on how to add awards. While it doesn't specifically say that a dd214 is a good source document for prior service members, it does say to add order number if available. It is not a requirement, in the picture there is no asterisk next to it as a required field. I feel like I may be able to fight this after all.
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SPC (Join to see)
While I'm home sergeant these are my awards: Army commendation medal (I have the 638 for it), Army good conduct medal, national defense service medal, global war on terrorism service medal, Iraq campaign medal with campaign star, army service ribbon, overseas service ribbon, armed forces reserve medal with m device, driver and mechanic badge
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SFC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) none of that should be an issue. Must don’t even have order numbers. Anyway order numbers at unit levels are not some magical # that can be traced they are only a Julian calander number with another # that they get from a log, if that. When I was mobilized as NCOI I did all the AFRMw/M, NDSM, GWOT for our soldiers. At the end I did all the Good Conduct medals and issued the order number. Once we de-mob that log ceased to exist as the unit was a detachment and the log only existed in the spreadsheet that I kept. HQDA order # are different. But your award orders are just numbers and not some unique identifying ID. Again you are up against some knucklehead who was told “you can’t update anything unless it’s in iPerms” but they are not applying reason and job expertise if they are not accepting your 214 for almost all memo awards. Again keep at it calmly telling them you no longer have those memos. And keep showing them your official 214 and say it’s all here let’s update my erb. But do not certify your erb is good in the system until someone fixs your stuff. Erb certifying shows up yearly on a red report at least in reserves so the command starts requiring soldiers to do it.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you so much sergeant, gonna get my stuff printed out and try again next week. Hopefully they listen to me this time.
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Use a combination of terms on the search function and you should come up with several prior (recent) conversations talking about using a DD 214 as a source document for ERB. There are also several suggestions in these threads about alternate means to obtain original documents.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-can-be-used-as-a-source-document-to-prove-deployment-time
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-can-be-used-as-a-source-document-to-prove-deployment-time
What can be used as a source document to prove deployment time? | RallyPoint
I’ve been deployed twice in the Marines, and it clearly states operation enduring freedom on my Dd214. However, a dd214 is no longer accepted as a source document. So according to the Army reserve I never deployed. I know I can use deployment orders, but It’s been about 8 years and I lost them. Any suggestions on where to start?
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SPC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) yes sir, I've read so many stories on here of their s1 using the dd214 to add prior service awards to their erb I'm wondering how they did it. Maybe my s1 doesn't know how to process that.
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CPT (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - When I was still enlisted last year, my ERB was updated using my DD214s as source documents. It's as simple as the S1 looking at the DD214 and then typing the appropriate codes into the system that updates the ERB, it's not like the DD214 has to actually be fed into the system. My guess is that somewhere in your chain, there is a policy letter stating that DD214s should not be used, so your S1 isn't "allowed" to verify accomplishments via a DD214 (I've never heard of this in the Guard). It's especially stupid for a deployment as a Reservist, since that is the whole reason the DD214 was generated... I've you've run out of other options, I would ask your S1 what reg or policy he is using to deny a DD214. I would work up your chain of command to try and get some help. If there is no official reg or policy in place and your CoC isn't helpful, you may be able to use the IG to inform your CoC that a DD214 is an appropriate source document.
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LTC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - I had awards added to my iPERMS in 2003 using a DD214 that I got from the Air Force in 1987.
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SPC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) thank you sir. Gonna try to ask to see if there is such policy. If there isn't and they refuse I may need to take it further to see if the IG can help out. I rather not do that though.
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Take a knee and drink water!
If they are not on your DD214 and you don’t have copy of your awards the you are out of luck. If your Reserve Unit was squared away, then any awards ought to be posted on your official files which you could get a copy of your OMPF (takes time) from: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records.
In the mean time, don’t irritate your S1, you’ll loose that fight!
Reset, refit, reorganize, get ready for the next fight!
If they are not on your DD214 and you don’t have copy of your awards the you are out of luck. If your Reserve Unit was squared away, then any awards ought to be posted on your official files which you could get a copy of your OMPF (takes time) from: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records.
In the mean time, don’t irritate your S1, you’ll loose that fight!
Reset, refit, reorganize, get ready for the next fight!
Request Military Service Records
Veterans and their next of kin can get FREE copies of their DD 214, and other military service records including Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), Replacement Medals, and Medical and Health Records.
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MAJ Javier Rivera
SPC (Join to see)
Well,
If it’s in the DD214, then put on your gloves; metaphorically speaking of course!
Well,
If it’s in the DD214, then put on your gloves; metaphorically speaking of course!
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SPC (Join to see)
MAJ Javier Rivera I am sir, I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible as to what I can do to fix it before I try anything else. I have exhausted many suggested resources already and I feel like I'm running out of options.
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