Find your military ribbons
and award records.

Start with what is already at home.

Ask which ribbon means the most. Look together at an existing rack, award certificates, a DD-214, or other separation documents. A display can begin with one meaningful ribbon; it does not have to recreate an entire rack.

THE ONLINE WALKTHROUGH

Request award records with eVetRecs.

Use the official site for the request. Its questions adapt to your selections.

1. Start a new request.

   Select Make a new request, then sign in with an identity-verified ID.me account.

2. Choose who you are requesting for.

   Select Veteran for your own records. For someone else, use the appropriate relationship; see family guidance below. Choose current or former service accurately.

3. Choose “Military Awards/Decorations.”

   Under service and request details, enter the correct branch, component, and officer or enlisted status. Select Military Awards/Decorations as the request category.

   Served in more than one branch? Follow eVetRecs’ instruction to make a request for each branch.

4. Enter the veteran’s service information.

   Complete the identity and service fields on the official form, using the name held during service.

5. Describe the records you need.

   In Documents Requested, review the separation-document choices and use Comments to explain the awards or additional documents you are seeking.

   EXAMPLE COMMENT — ADAPT TO YOUR REQUEST

   “Please provide records documenting my military awards and decorations, including my separation document and available award orders or citations. I am seeking information about [award names, if known].”

   What do “Deleted” and “Undeleted” mean?

   When these choices appear, Undeleted means the full separation document, including sensitive separation details. Deleted omits certain sensitive information. These labels refer to the version of the document, not whether your records still exist. Read the official form’s explanation and choose the version you need.

6. Complete authorization, then review and submit.

   Confirm the response-delivery details and provide any supporting documentation required for your requester role. Review the acknowledgement and verification, submit your request, and save the confirmation case number.

   What proof or authorization might I need?

   Your own records: verify your identity through ID.me and complete the official verification prompts. Follow any document requests specific to your situation.

   Acting on someone’s behalf: upload the required authorization when prompted.

   Next of kin of a deceased veteran: provide proof of death, such as a death certificate, funeral-home letter, or published obituary. Follow the official instructions for an obituary link.

   The National Archives describes the upload step as a place for supplemental documents; not every requester needs the same documents. Its current help specifies PDF files smaller than 5 MB. Upload supporting documents only through the official request service.

Need several kinds of documents? Use Comments to expand the request rather than submitting duplicate requests for each menu category. Processing time and available records vary; this is a records request, not an instant award lookup.

PREFER A PAPER FORM?

Request by mail or fax.

Download Standard Form 180 (SF-180), complete it, and sign and date it. Use its routing chart to find the correct mailing address or fax number for the branch, separation date, and record type. Keep your originals and send copies of supporting documents.

FOR A GIFT OR A FAMILY LEGACY

Helping someone find their story.

ANOTHER WAY IN

milConnect or your personnel command.

Depending on your branch and separation date, records may be available through milConnect or your service’s personnel command. The VA guide explains which route fits your service.