FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

 

 

 

BECOME A SOLDIER/JOIN THE ARMY

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Expand List item 1415Collapse List item 1415  Where can I get information about enlisting in the Army?
Expand List item 1416Collapse List item 1416  Can non-US citizens join the Army?
Enlistment into any branch of the U.S. military, by citizens of countries other than the United States is limited to those foreign nationals who are legally residing in the United States and possess a Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Alien Registration Card (INS Form I-151/551 - commonly known as a "Green Card"). 

Applicants must be between 17 and 35, meet the mental, moral, and physical standards for enlistment and must speak, read and write English fluently. 

The U.S. military branches cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United States.

Questions concerning immigration to the United States should be asked of the U.S. Embassy.

Only after immigration procedures are completed and an applicant is legally residing in the United States may an application for enlistment be accepted. 

The U.S. Government agency which is responsible for immigration and naturalization is the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security. Check out the Military section at: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/
Expand List item 1417Collapse List item 1417  How can I learn more about attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point?
Contact the U.S. Military Academy at West Point directly at admissions@usma.edu 

Or visit their website: http://www.usma.edu/admissions/

BENEFITS/ISSUES

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Expand List item 1425Collapse List item 1425  Can I find an online resource that shows current and historical Army Reserve duty military pay tables?
The Information you seek can be found at the following links:
www.militaryrates.com
www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/military-pay-charts.html

Expand List item 1426Collapse List item 1426  I have some questions regarding TRICARE. Where can I go online for answers?
The following link will provide for you information about contacting your regional TRICARE office by phone:

North-Health Net:(1-877-874-2273)
South-Humana Military:(1-800-444-5445)
West-UnitedHealthcare:(1-877-988-9378)
Overseas-International SOS

Website: http://www.tricare.mil
Expand List item 1427Collapse List item 1427  What educational benefits are available for Soldiers or Veterans?
Learn what educational benefits you are eligible for at:  http://www.gibill.va.gov

Or call Education (GI Bill): 1-888-442-4551

Expand List item 1428Collapse List item 1428  What are my Burial Benefits?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a Burial Benefits section on their website at: 
http://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/index.asp

MILITARY RECORDS

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Expand List item 1419Collapse List item 1419  How can I access my DD 214 online?

 

Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents from the National Military Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at the National Archives Center.

Veterans and next of kin may access this application at www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/ 

 

Expand List item 1418Collapse List item 1418  Where can I get copies of my personnel records?
Veterans: www.archives.gov/veterans/

Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site.

The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time.

Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized.

Former/retired Army Civilian employees:
Contact the National Personnel Records Center at:
Civilian Records Facility 111 Winnebago Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63118-4199 

At minimum, please include the service member's complete name, Social Security number and/or serial number, and the requester's return address. Website is: www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/Human Resource Service Center  
Expand List item 1421Collapse List item 1421  How do I correct errors in my military records?
In order to get your military service records upgraded/changes, you must contact the Army service Board for Correction of Military Records.

Contact information for board is below:
Army Board of Correction
Crystal Mall 4, Room 220
Arlington, VA 22202-4508
Phone: 703-607-1611
Expand List item 1422Collapse List item 1422  How can I find the address of a specific present or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces?
Requests for military addresses should be sent to the respective service of the individual whose address is being sought.

Military regulations and the Privacy Act of 1974 do not permit the military departments to provide email addresses, home addresses or telephone numbers of service personnel.

Moreover, regulations do not permit random dissemination of listings of names and addresses of service personnel.

These regulations have been established to protect individual service men and women from commercial exploitation and to respect their right of privacy.Because of the large volume of requests that each service locator receives, please allow four weeks processing time for written requests.

The following information is needed for all requests for locator services:

Give as much identifying information as possible about the person you wish to locate such as full name, rank, last duty assignment/last known military address, service number, and Social Security number.

The locator service is free to immediate family members and government officials.

Other family members, civilian friends, businesses and others must pay $3.50.

The check or money order must be made out to the U.S. Treasury.

It is not refundable.

The United States Army will help you locate individuals on active duty only, not retirees.

The Army World Wide Locator address is:
Commander U.S. Army Enlisted Records & Evaluation Center 
ATTN: Locator 8899 East 56th Street 
Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN 46249-5301
Expand List item 1423Collapse List item 1423  I was born overseas at a military installation. How do I obtain my birth certificate?
Department of State application for consular report of birth abroad of a citizen of the United States of America (PDF): www.state.gov/documents/organization/156216.pdf
Expand List item 1424Collapse List item 1424  

How do I replace my medals that were lost?

In order to obtain a replacement medal you will have to contact the following institution at:

National Personnel Records Center 
Attn: Army Reference Branch 
9700 Page Avenue 
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 
Phone (314) 538-4261

You may be charged for the replacement of the medals

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