How to Apply for Military Service Medals: A Guide

 

The U.S. military is a massive bureaucracy that has employed millions of men and women since its inception in the 1700s. While the armed forces are ordinarily known for their structure and order, sometimes things happen and service members fall through the cracks.

It is common knowledge that some service members did not receive the service medals they earned while in service. Other veterans might have received them, but maybe a fire at their home or a natural disaster destroyed their military mementos.

That said, whatever the reason, you should know how to apply for military service medals. Knowing how to apply for military service medals can help you help other veterans, or yourself. At the very least, this blog post on how to apply for military service medals can be bookmarked and used as a reference in the future.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from NPRC

It is important to note that the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) does not issue service medals. That is a function of each military service department.

Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals, decorations and awards should be directed to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served. For cases involving U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army personnel, the NPRC will verify the awards to which a veteran is entitled and forward the request along with the records verification to the appropriate service department for issuance of the medals.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from the Service Branches

How to apply for military service medals from the service branches is easy once you know where to send the request. Veterans can contact the military services which will work replacement medal requests for the veteran at no cost. Family members with the signed authorization of the veteran can also request medals.

For next-of-kin, the process of how to apply for military service medals differs among the service branches and is dependent upon who is requesting the medal, particularly if the request involves an archival record. Next-of-Kin (NOK) for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps & Coast Guard, the NOK is defined as the unremarried widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister. For the Army, the NOK is defined as the surviving spouse, eldest child, father or mother, eldest sibling or eldest grandchild. If you do not meet the definition of NOK, you are considered a member of the general public.

The general public can also learn how to apply for military service medals. If the service member separated from military service 62 or more years ago, the public may purchase a copy of the veteran's Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) to determine the awards due and obtain the medals from a commercial source.

If the service member separated less than 62 years ago, the public may request such information from the OMPF via the Freedom of Information Act.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from the Army

Applicants can write the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. They can also request the medals online.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from the Air Force (including Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces)

Applicants can write the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138 or request the medals online.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from the Navy

Applicants can write the National Personnel Record Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. Like the other services, they can also request medals online.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from the Marine Corps

Applicants requesting medals from the Marine Corps can write the National Personnel Record Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. They can request medals online here.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals from the Coast Guard

Applicants requesting medals from the Coast Guard can write the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center, 4200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 900 (PSCPSD-MA) Stop 7200, Arlington, VA 20598-7200.

The OMPF is used to verify awards to which a veteran may be entitled. OMPFs are accessioned into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the service member's separation from the military. Separation from service is defined as discharge, retirement or death in service based on a rolling date. To calculate this, take the current year and subtract 62.

Records with a discharge date 62 (or more) years ago are archival and are open to the public. Records with a discharge date less than 62 years ago are nonarchival and are maintained under the Federal Records Center program. Non-archival records are subject to access restrictions. As such, the veteran's date of separation (separation is defined as discharge, retirement or death in service) will affect how the request is processed.

How to Apply for Military Service Medals as NOK

If the veteran separated from military service 62 (or more) years ago requests are accepted at no cost. Applicants should write to the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138 or request the medals online.

The Air Force and the Coast Guard do not accept NOK archival requests. The NOK may purchase a copy of the veteran's OMPF to determine the awards due and obtain the medals from a commercial source.

If the veteran separated from military service less than 62 years ago, requests are accepted at no cost by writing to the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138 or applicants can also make an online request.

Remember, you are dealing with an organization that has a back log of requests due to the pandemic. The best way forward is to complete your forms, preferably online, accurately with as much information as possible. Be clear about what it is that you’re requesting and then sit back and wait. It might take a while, but the request will be processed and you will get the service medals you or your loved one earned.