_____________________________________________________________ Continued on next page ________________________________________________________________ Sometimes used in lieu of a DD Form 214, c. Service Certificate of Release or Verification or other discharge document, service Discharge from Active Duty, Letters verification letters outline the specifics of a service and Veteran’s military certify the information to be accurate. For customers asking for a copy of a DD Form 214, always ask if a service verification letter will suffice. Prior to preparing the requested letter, review the system of records to Note: ensure that the service has been verified. Veteran’s In order to generate a service verification letter, the following information must be verified in VA systems: All the service information including Entry on Duty (EOD) and Release from Active Duty (RAD) dates, branch of service, character of discharge, and separation reason, Character of service must show "HON" or "UHC," Note: The service verification letter states that the Veteran is “honorably” discharged. For VA and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) purposes, discharges of Honorable (HON) and Under Honorable Conditions (UHC) count as being “honorably” discharged. Branch of service code is "ARNG" or "ANG," not Separation reason is "SAT," and If the Veteran's RAD is prior to June 1, 1968, there is a "Y" in the VER field, or If the Veteran's RAD is June 1, 1968, or later there is a "Y" in either the VER field or VADS field.
_____________________________________________________________ Continued on next page ________________________________________________________________ c. Service Verification Letters Sometimes used in lieu of a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other discharge document, service verification letters outline the specifics of a Veteran’s military service and certify the information to be accurate. For customers asking for a copy of a DD Form 214, always ask if a service verification letter will suffice. Note: Prior to preparing the requested letter, review the system of records to ensure that the Veteran’s service has been verified. In order to generate a service verification letter, the following information must be verified in VA systems: All the service information including Entry on Duty (EOD) and Release from Active Duty (RAD) dates, branch of service, character of discharge, and separation reason, Character of service must show "HON" or "UHC," Note: The service verification letter states that the Veteran is “honorably” discharged. For VA and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) purposes, discharges of Honorable (HON) and Under Honorable Conditions (UHC) count as being “honorably” discharged. Branch of service code is not "ARNG" or "ANG," Separation reason is "SAT," and If the Veteran's RAD is prior to June 1, 1968, there is a "Y" in the VER field, or If the Veteran's RAD is June 1, 1968, or later there is a "Y" in either the VER field or VADS field.