The Procedure of Verifying Someone’s Military Status

There are various reasons as to why someone may need to verify someone else’s military status. Usually, checking someone’s military status is used for legal or financial transactions, as well as checking someone’s eligibility.

It is essential to identify and verify this kind of information, especially when you are looking to take any legal action against someone. This is due to military members that are still active during their service and are protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, created in 1957 by the enactment of the Civil Rights of 1957, which provides a wide range of protections to those in military service.

The five branches of the military are as follows: Marine Coast and Coast Guards, Air Force, Army, and the Navy. This also includes certain service members that are absent from duty, either from a lawful cause or because of the following: a leave, sickness and wounds.

This Act may protect service members from the following:

  • Civil court proceedings
  • Protections from default judgements
  • Protections from residential lease terminations
  • Protection from any evictions
  • Mortgage foreclosures
  • Installment contracts such as car loans
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This means that if you verify that someone is still actively serving their time in the military, it will be difficult to take any legal action against these public servants because this act is essentially a law designed to ease financial burdens on service members during their periods of military service. Failure to verify their status may result in fines, penalties, and jail time. Keep this in mind and be sure to get the information you need because ignorance of the law is not an acceptable defense.

It is important to do enough research about the person you are taking legal action against. One thing to do is to do regular check ups such as military status checks, especially for those who own properties or own businesses that may potentially be in business with a fellow military service member.

While it is fairly easy to search for someone on the internet nowadays, it is important to identify someone’s status legally, through the Department of Defense. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy, especially because to obtain someone’s military status, you need their social security number. People do not usually give out their social security number, so it might be difficult. Unfortunately, if you do not have their social security number, it definitely does not guarantee you a verified military status. It is important to know that certain information should be kept private, such as your social security number. Information that may be viewed by the public are the following:

  • Name
  • Service Number
  • Dates of Service
  • Branch of Service
  • Final Duty Status
  • Final Rank
  • Assignments and Geographical Locations
  • Military Educational Level
  • Awards and decoration
  • Photograph
  • Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials
  • Place of entrance and separation
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A Certificate of Military Status is fairly easy to obtain, but it is quite difficult when one does not have a social security number. Without this, it may become a hurdle in your process. Not only that, without their social security number, sometimes the information given to you will not give you the assurance that the information of military personal status is reliable. What you can do is to request for a certificate of military service from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Centralized Verification Service if you want to refrain from any mishaps that might hinder you from taking any legal action when the information you provide lacks reliable information.

If you want to check someone’s military status, you can do so here: http://www.servicememberscivilreliefact.com/about-us/military-status-verification/

This article is a guide to help you walk through the process of verifying someone’s military status. It is important to research the right military records because one misstep can result in thousands of fines. Here is a process that is absolutely free, but will take a little longer compared to getting help from companies:

  1. Obtain Service Records Using SF-180

Many Military records should be requested through an SF-180 form.There are a few ways to send in your request:

  • Download the form and mail it – The PDF is readily available online, fill it out with all the information you need.
  • Follow the instruction to return the document – identify the correct location of the record you need and send the completed form to the address identified.
  1. Write a Letter

If you find it difficult to obtain an SF-180, NPRC accepts letters of requests. Make sure you provide the following information:

  • Veteran’s complete name
  • Social Security Number
  • Branch of Service
  • Dates of Service
  • Date and place of birth
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Once you have all the information you may need, make sure to mail your letter to:

National Personnel Records Center

1 Archives Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63138

There are two types of military records you may obtain. There are military records from World War I to Present, which includes enlistment & appointment and separation dates, duty station and assignments, training and qualifications, awards, and disciplinary actions. Before World War I, which you can request if you are a veteran or next-of-kin which is free, and older military records before World War I which is available in copies of archival official military personnel files. If you want a faster route, it is highly recommended to ask help from companies that provide services that can help you obtain certain information. With SCRACVS, you are ensured to obtain whatever information you need.

What is SCRACVS?

SCRACVS, or the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Centralized Verification Service, is a company which offers verification services without obtaining a social security number. They are able to find the individual’s number through other means; date of birth, driver’s license, phone number, among many other ways. Not only that, they are supplied with information from the Department of Defense. With SCRACVS’ many years of service they are the most reliable and have the most experience with regards to obtaining information from all branches of the military. They assure the client that results will be provided often within 24 hours.