The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a "DD 214", is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.

What is a DD 214 used for?

What is a DD214? The Defense Department issues to each veteran a DD-214, identifying the veteran's condition of discharge - honorable, general, other than honorable, dishonorable or bad conduct. You can find a sample DD-214 which can help you determine if a veteran served in armed combat HERE.

Is a DD214 an honorable discharge?

The DD214 provides proof of service and, in most cases, proof of honorable discharge from the military. Having this information in hand is essential if you want to take advantage of a range of benefits and services only available to veterans.