Form ARC 301, Military Service Record (Form DD214) – San Bernardino County, CA

The Military Service Record (Form DD214) application, form ARC 301, is the San Bernardino County Recorder's request form for a copy of a military discharge record that was recorded in San Bernardino County. Its printed title is Application for Military Service Record.

Completing it asks the Recorder to locate a recorded military discharge and provide a copy. The form identifies the record by the name on the military discharge, the date of discharge, the branch of service and the year of recording, and it asks how many copies you want. The applicant section then records why you need the record, your relationship to the person named in it and your contact details.

The form states two limits. First, the San Bernardino County Recorder's Office only has military service records that were recorded in San Bernardino County; for a record recorded elsewhere you contact that county. Second, the County Recorder may provide a certified copy only to an authorized person, as described in Government Code Section 6107(b).

The county's forms and fees page lists the form under the Recorder, with the note that printed applications are used for mail requests only. The bottom block of the form, Below Section for Recorder's Use Only, is completed by staff.

Only an authorized person may receive a certified copy of a military service record from the San Bernardino County Recorder, as described in Government Code Section 6107(b). The form lists the groups, and you mark the statement that applies to you:

• The person who is the subject of the record, on presentation of proper photo identification.
• A family member or legal representative of the person who is the subject of the record, on presentation of proper photo identification and certification of their relationship to that person.
• A representative of a county office that provides veteran's benefits services, upon written request of that office.
• A United States official, upon written request of that official.

Every applicant agrees not to use the discharge, or any part of it, for fraudulent purposes and confirms that they are signing their own legal name. A separate box covers applicants who certify that an official record copy with a full Social Security number is required to receive benefits under Government Code Section 27303.5.

This form does not serve people whose discharge was recorded in another county: they contact that county. The form also names the National Personnel Records Center as another place to request copies.

Use Form ARC 301 whenever you need a copy of a military discharge that was recorded in San Bernardino County. The form prints no deadline, expiration date or filing window, so the trigger is your need for the record. Complete a separate blank application for each request. If you apply in person, you sign in front of a member of the Recorder's staff, so go during the office hours printed on the form: 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The form does not state a processing time; call the Recorder at (909)387-8306 with timing questions.

You can submit Form ARC 301 in person at the Recorder's office or by mail; the form's header gives one office address and phone number.

• In person: San Bernardino Recorder-County Clerk, 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. The county requires photo identification, and you sign the application in front of a member of the staff.
• By mail: complete the applicant information section but do not sign the Penalty of Perjury statement on the front. The form sends mail requesters to the reverse side, which has its own penalty-of-perjury signature line and an All Capacity Acknowledgment block for a notary public or other officer. The form prints no separate mailing address, so use the office address above or call (909)387-8306 to confirm where to send it.
• Other sources: for records not recorded in San Bernardino County, the form says to contact the county where the record was recorded, or to write to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132-1002, fax (314) 801-9195, www.archives.gov/st-louis.

The form mentions no fee amount; ask the Recorder about fees. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.