The SF813, Verification of a Military Retiree's Service in Non-Wartime Campaigns or Expeditions, is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) form that asks a military records center to confirm a retiree's participation in a nonwartime campaign or expedition. The service is verified so it can be credited for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes. On FillingPDF you can fill out SF 813 online and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself goes to the address that matches the retiree's branch and retirement date, as described below.
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What is SF 813?
Form SF 813, Verification of a Military Retiree's Service in Non-Wartime Campaigns or Expeditions, is the form used to request verification of a retiree's military service in a nonwartime campaign or expedition for which a badge or medal was authorized, so that the service can be credited for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes.
The form is published by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and appears in The Guide to Processing Personnel Actions. It has two halves. The requesting side lists the retiree's identifying information (items 1 through 6), the campaigns or expeditions claimed with their dates (item 7), remarks (item 8) and the requesting official and agency (items 10 and 11). The records center side, marked "FOR RECORDS CENTER USE ONLY", confirms the dates or corrects them, adds remarks (item 9) and is signed by the certifying official.
The form's Privacy Act statement cites sections 3502 and 6303 of title 5, United States Code, and Executive Order 9397 for the Social Security Number. Giving the information, including the SSN, is voluntary, but failing to do so may make it difficult or impossible to verify the periods of creditable service.
SF 813 is not a general record request. It is used only when the campaign or expedition and its dates are not already documented on the retiree's DD Form 214. Previous editions are not usable.
Who needs to file SF 813?
Use SF 813 only for a person who is retired from active military service and whose nonwartime campaign or expeditionary service has to be verified for leave accrual rate or reduction-in-force purposes. The form has a block for the requesting agency and requesting official, so it is completed on behalf of the retiree by the agency that needs the verification.
Conditions and exclusions printed on the form:
- Use it only if the campaign or expedition and its dates are not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.
- Do not use it for a person who has completed 20 or more years of Reserve or National Guard service but will not receive a pension until age 60.
- For a U.S. Coast Guard retiree, allow six months from the date of retirement before submitting it.
- The retired member is responsible for providing the name of each nonwartime campaign or expedition for which credit is requested.
Which records center receives the form depends on the retiree's branch and retirement date; see the submission section.
When to file SF 813
Submit SF 813 when you need a retiree's nonwartime campaign or expeditionary service verified for leave accrual rate or reduction-in-force purposes and the DD Form 214 does not document it. The form sets no calendar deadline.
For a U.S. Coast Guard retiree, wait six months from the date of retirement before sending the form.
If you need to follow up on a request already sent, reproduce a copy of the original SF 813 and clearly mark the top of the copy "Follow up Request" before sending it again.
How to fill out SF 813
Choose the records center address
In the "To:" block, enter the address selected from the list on the reverse. It depends on the retiree's branch and retirement date.
Enter the retiree's identity
Item 1: the name used during military service. Item 2: the service number, only if the retiree retired before 1970. Item 3: the Social Security Number, which the Privacy Act statement says is voluntary.
Enter branch and dates
Item 4: the branch of service. Item 5: the date of military retirement in mm/dd/yyyy format. Item 6: the date of request in mm/dd/yyyy format.
List campaigns and expeditions claimed
Item 7: name each nonwartime campaign or expedition and give its From and To dates in the Month, Day and Year columns, with at least the month and year. Do not list just a service or a medal.
Leave the records center columns blank
The "check here" box and the corrected From/To dates beside item 7, and item 9, are for the Records Center. Do not complete them.
Add requesting agency remarks
Item 8: enter any remarks. For an Air Force general retiree, write "Retired General Officer". On a follow-up copy, mark the top of the form "Follow up Request".
Identify the requesting official and agency
Item 10: the requesting official's name and telephone number and/or email address. Item 11: the requesting agency's name, address and ZIP Code.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every campaign has dates and that the address in the "To:" block matches the retiree's branch and retirement date. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit SF 813
SF 813 is sent by address to one of two kinds of recipient, chosen by the retiree's branch and retirement date. Write the chosen address in the "To:" block on the front. The form lists no portal, fee or in-person option.
- National Personnel Records Center: 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. Use it for retirees of the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. Army who retired before October 1, 1995; the U.S. Navy before January 1, 1995; the U.S. Marine Corps before October 1, 2001; and the U.S. Air Force before October 1, 2004. For an Air Force general, write "Retired General Officer" in the Agency's Remarks block.
- U.S. Marine Corps (retired October 1, 2001 or later): Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, Personnel Management Support Branch (MMSB-10), 2008 Elliot Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5030.
- U.S. Navy (January 1, 1995 or later): Navy Personnel Command (PERS-312A), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130.
- U.S. Army (October 1, 1995 or later): Human Resources Command, Veterans Inquiry Section, Dept. 420, 1600 Spearhead Div Ave, Fort Knox, KY 40122.
- U.S. Air Force (October 1, 2004 or later): AFPC/DPSIDR, 550 C St. West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, TX 78150.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing only the service component (for example "USAF") or only a medal (for example "Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal") in item 7. Service is verified only when specific campaigns or expeditions and inclusive dates are listed.
- Using SF 813 when the campaign or expedition and its dates are already documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.
- Using the form for someone with 20 or more years of Reserve or National Guard service who will not receive a pension until age 60.
- Submitting a U.S. Coast Guard retiree's form before six months have passed since the date of retirement.
- Sending the form to the wrong records center instead of matching the retiree's branch and retirement date to the address list on the reverse.
- Leaving out "Retired General Officer" in the Agency's Remarks block for an Air Force general retiree.
- Resubmitting a request without marking the copy "Follow up Request" at the top.
- Giving participation dates without at least the month and year of each campaign or expedition.
- Using a previous edition of the form; the form states that previous editions are not usable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SF813 form used for?
The SF813 (Form SF 813) asks a military records center to verify a retiree's service in a nonwartime campaign or expedition for which a badge or medal was authorized. The verified service is credited for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes.
Who should not use SF 813?
Do not use it for someone who completed 20 or more years of Reserve or National Guard service but will not receive a pension until age 60. Use it only for persons retired from active military service, and only when the DD Form 214 does not document the campaign or expedition.
Where do I send SF 813?
It depends on the branch and retirement date. Coast Guard retirees and earlier Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force retirees go to the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. Later retirees go to their own service's office listed on the reverse.
Can I list just the medal I received on SF 813?
No. The instructions say it is not enough to list a service component such as "USAF" or a medal such as "Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal". List the specific campaign or expedition and the inclusive dates of the retiree's participation, with at least the month and year.
When can I submit SF 813 for a Coast Guard retiree?
Allow six months from the date of retirement before submitting it. The form prints this waiting period as a note for U.S. Coast Guard retirements and sets no calendar deadline for other branches.
How do I follow up on an SF 813 request?
Reproduce a copy of the original request and clearly mark the top of the SF 813 "Follow up Request". Then send it to the same records center that received the original.
Can I fill out SF 813 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the fillable PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with OPM, and does not send the form; you mail it to the address on the reverse that matches the retiree.
Is the Social Security Number required on SF 813?
The Privacy Act statement says furnishing the SSN is voluntary. However, failing to provide it may make it difficult or impossible to verify the periods of creditable service.
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