There has been discussion lately on DD214s so I thought I would take this opportunity to pass along some information. My comments will be based on Army records but all services had the same type of form, just different numbers. With the exception of one duty assignment, the bulk of my military career was as a Military Personnel Records Specialist plus I also worked at the Records Center for almost two years. When/if you receive copies of a military personnel record, also known as a 201 File or Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ), there are two documents you should look for in that file. One document is completed at the time the soldier entered the service. It will list his/her name, date and place of birth and address where he was living at the time of his/her entry into the Army. Unfortunately, my MPRJ is in the safe deposit box so I cannot remember the form number but believ it may be something along the line of a DA 368 or DD 369. Don't quote me on that<g>. If the member was also married, the form will list their spouse and children if any with dates and places of birth and present address. It will also list brothers and sisters of the soldier. However, (this form number I remember) there is another form known as DA 41 Record of Emergency Data and Notification. In the event something would happen to the member, this form is used to determine who to notify first and beneficiaries of insurance and unpaid pay and allowances. Make sure you look for this form as it was supposed to be reviewed and updated if needed, each year during the month of birth of the soldier. Example, the first form I mentioned when I entered never did change throughout my 8 year career (I enlisted in 1968). However, in 1973, the DA 41 had to be changed as I got married that year. However, in 1974 it had to be changed again as my daughter Jennifer was born. So you can see the importance of checking for this form also. The other branches had these forms also but in a different style and number but they all served the same purpose. From a genealogy point of view these are the two most important documents you will want to check. A lot of the other documents will not mean that much really as it mostly will just contain the soldier's military history. In reality, if you are looking for ancestors, the DD 214 would not be worth anything. That form basically will show when entered, when separated/discharged, foreign service tours, awards, AWOL time if any, etc. Basically as Jim said it is a summary of the person's career. There is no genealogical important information on it with the exception of the Home of Record (place they called home at time of entry onto active duty). Service Numbers, for us "old timers" who had one before the advent of SSAN in mid-1968 the Army had basically 4 types of service numbers. Each started with a two letter prefix - RA, US, ER and NG. RA meant Regular Army, in other words, the member voluntarily enlisted onto active duty. US meant Army of the United States - this meant the member was drafted. ER - meant Enlisted Reserves - the member was a reservist NA - meant National Guard - member of course was assigned to a National Guard unit. Now for the trivia, why the difference in the prefix. Good question. Under Title 10 (if I remember the number right) law, a member who ENLISTED in the Army could reenter after the age of 35. If he/she enlisted initially for three years he/she could reenlist at the age of 38. In other words, for every year they enlisted, that number could be added on to the age of 35. Of course, they would still have to qualify to get back in. If the member was US, ER, NG, then they could not enlist in the Army after the age of 35. You notice I did not say reenlist here and that is because they never enlisted in the RA. By the way, all us old timers still remember our service numbers. RA16998429 Right folks!! However, in all fairness to our fellow ERs out there, at the beginning of Vietnam, entire reserve units were called up en masse onto active duty and were sent to Vietnam. They were some of the first companies to go. For those that made it back, Welcome Back Brothers and Sisters! Good job. Sorry for being long winded but hope this helps you out. George gebasden@worldnet.att.net http://www.basden.com