Lest We Forget - African American Military History by Researcher, 
				Author and Veteran Bennie McRae, Jr.

Order Forms for Military Service and Family History Records

Order Forms for Military Service and Family History Records

 

 

Forms to use

Click below on the links in the column "Type of Record" to find out more about that type of record.

Type of Record

Form/Instructions

Ship passenger arrival records, 1820-1959 NATF Form 81
Census records, 1790-1920
NATF Form 82
Eastern Cherokee application records, 1906-1909
NATF Form 83
Land entry files
NATF Form 84
Military pension and bounty land warrant records, 1775-1916
NATF Form 85
Military service records, 1775-c.1916 NATF Form 86
Military service records, c.1917-present
Standard Form 180

 

How to obtain forms

Except for Standard Form 180, NARA is not able to provide forms electronically at this time. To obtain NATF Forms 81 through 86:

  1. Provide your name and postal mailing address
  2. Specify the form number
  3. State the number of forms you need (limit 5 per order)
  • in an email addressed to NARA* or
  • in a letter addressed to the National Archives and Records Administration, Attn: NWCTB, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20408-0001

 

Form 180 is also available from

Call the Fax-on-Demand System at (301) 713-6905 from a fax machine (using the handset). Follow the voice instructions. Request document number 2255.

 

Where to return forms

Except for the Form 180, return completed forms to: National Archives and Records Administration, Attn: NWCTB, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20408-0001

Mail the completed Form 180 to The National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63132-5100

 

Order processing time

Orders placed on NATF Forms 81 through 86 are generally completed in approximately eight weeks from the time we receive them. Please note, however, that orders placed on NATF Form 85, for full pension files, generally take twelve to sixteen weeks, due to the large size of the files.

If you have not received a response to your order for copies within the stated times, please send an email to orderstatus@nara.gov* or call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-234-8861. Be sure to provide the following information:

  • your name and postal mailing address
  • the order number (preprinted on the NATF Forms 81 through 86), if applicable
  • a daytime phone number, if you wish to be called.

If you are not satisfied with the response of our Customer Service Center, write NARA* to communicate your concerns.

Turnaround times for records requested from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) vary greatly depending on the nature of the request.  For example, the NPRC Military Records Facility currently has a backlog of over 150,000 requests and receives approximately 5,000 requests daily.  Routine requests for separation statements currently require 2 weeks for servicing.  The average turnaround time on most other requests is currently 4-6 weeks; however, requests that involve reconstruction efforts due to the 1973 fire may take much longer.

*Please see our Privacy Statement

U. S. National Archives & Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20408

1-86-NARA-NARA
1-866-272-6272


Return to: Access to Military Service and Pension Records

Category: | Subcategory: | Tags: Cherokee , Washington , Missouri
Related Topics / Keywords / Phrases: 1775, 1790, 1820, 1906, 1909, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1959, 1973, Cherokee (Indians), DC, GE, Mary, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Reconstruction, St. Louis (Missouri), Washington (DC),