SF813, formally SF 813, is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) standard form that asks a military records center to verify a retiree's participation in a nonwartime campaign or expedition. The verified service is credited for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes. On this page you can fill out SF 813 online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and its instructions are published by OPM, and the completed form goes to the military records address that matches the retiree's branch and retirement date.
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What is SF 813?
SF 813 is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) standard form that requests verification of a military retiree's service in a nonwartime campaign or expedition with an authorized badge or medal, so it can be credited for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes.
The full title is Verification of A Military Retiree's Service in Nonwartime Campaigns or Expeditions. The requesting agency completes the address block and items 1 through 11 and sends the form to the military records office that holds the retiree's records. That office compares the claimed periods with its records, checks the items it can verify and corrects the dates that do not match. A printed statement above the certifying official's signature says that items checked were verified by its records and that items not matching the dates in the records have been corrected.
The form is not a general proof of military service. The instructions say to use it only when the campaign or expedition and its dates are not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214. The form is listed among the OPM standard forms and is part of The Guide to Processing Personnel Actions. It states that it is approved for local reproduction and that previous editions are not usable.
Who needs to file SF 813?
SF 813 is used by an agency requesting verification, on behalf of a person who is retired from active military service, of that person's nonwartime campaign or expeditionary service. The form has blocks for the requesting agency's name and address and for the requesting official, and the retiree's details go in items 1 through 6.
Conditions in the instructions:
- Use it only for persons retired from active military service.
- Use it only when the campaign or expedition and its dates are not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.
- Do not use it if the person 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, wait six months from the date of retirement before submitting it.
It is the retired member's responsibility to provide the name of each nonwartime campaign or expedition for which credit is requested. The form does not describe any representative or signer other than the requesting official and the records center's certifying official.
When to file SF 813
Submit SF 813 when credit is needed for a retiree's nonwartime campaign or expeditionary service for leave accrual rate or reduction-in-force purposes and the DD Form 214 does not document that service. The form prints no filing deadline.
For a U.S. Coast Guard retiree, allow six months from the date of retirement before submitting the form.
If a follow-up request is necessary, reproduce a copy of the original request and clearly mark the top of the SF 813 "Follow up Request." The instructions give no processing time.
How to fill out SF 813
Select the address in the To block
In the To: block, enter the records address from the instructions that matches the retiree's branch and retirement date. Use the National Personnel Records Center for the earlier retirement dates listed in the instructions, or the individual service's address for later dates.
Enter the retiree's name and numbers
Item 1: the name used during military service. Item 2: the service number, only if the person retired before 1970. Item 3: the Social Security Number.
Enter branch and dates
Item 4: branch of service. Item 5: date of military retirement in mm/dd/yyyy format. Item 6: date of the request in mm/dd/yyyy format.
List the claimed campaigns or expeditions
In item 7, enter each nonwartime campaign or expedition claimed with the From and To dates (month, day, year). Provide at least each month and year of participation, and name specific campaigns, not just a service or medal.
Add remarks if needed
Use item 8, Requesting Agency's Remarks, for any note. For an Air Force retiree who is a general, write "Retired General Officer" here.
Complete the requesting official block
Item 10: the requesting official's name, telephone number and/or email address. Item 11: the requesting agency's name, address and ZIP Code.
Leave the records center areas blank
Do not fill in the check column, the corrected From and To dates, item 9 (Records Center's Remarks) or the certifying official's name, title, signature and date. These are marked for records center use.
Mark follow-up requests
If you are repeating an earlier request, reproduce a copy of the original and clearly mark the top of the form "Follow up Request."
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that item 7 names specific campaigns with dates and that the address matches the branch and retirement date. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit SF 813
Send the completed SF 813 to the address in the instructions that matches the retiree's branch and retirement date. The form lists mailing addresses and names no online portal or fax number; select the address and enter it in the To: block on the front.
- National Personnel Records Center: 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. Address: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. For an Air Force retiree who is a general, write "Retired General Officer" in the Agency's Remarks block (item 8).
- 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 (retired January 1, 1995 or later): Navy Personnel Command (PERS-312A), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130.
- U.S. Air Force (retired October 1, 2004 or later): AFPC/DPSIDR Veterans Inquiry Section, 550 C St. West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, TX 78150.
- U.S. Army (retired October 1, 1995 or later): Human Resources Command, Dept. 420, 1600 Spearhead Div Ave, Fort Knox, KY 40122.
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 for a person with 20 or more years of Reserve or National Guard service who will not receive a pension until age 60.
- Submitting the form for a U.S. Coast Guard retiree before six months have passed since the date of retirement.
- Sending the form to the wrong records address; the correct one depends on the branch and on whether the retirement date falls before or after the cutoff date.
- Omitting "Retired General Officer" from the Agency's Remarks block (item 8) when the Air Force retiree is a general.
- Using SF 813 when the campaign or expedition and its dates are already documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.
- Sending a follow-up request without reproducing the original and marking the top "Follow up Request."
- Leaving the retiree to assume the records center will name the campaigns; the retired member must provide the name of each campaign or expedition for which credit is requested.
Frequently asked questions
What is SF 813 used for?
SF 813 asks a military records office 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 is not retired from active military service, including a person with 20 or more years of Reserve or National Guard service who will not receive a pension until age 60. It is also not for service already documented on the DD Form 214.
Where do I send SF 813?
Send it to the address matching the retiree's branch and retirement date. Earlier retirees (Army before October 1, 1995, Navy before January 1, 1995, Marine Corps before October 1, 2001, Air Force before October 1, 2004, and Coast Guard) go to the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002.
Do I need a DD Form 214 with SF 813?
The instructions do not ask you to attach one. They say to use SF 813 only when the campaign or expedition and its dates are not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.
Is the Social Security Number required on SF 813?
Giving the SSN in item 3 is voluntary, according to the Privacy Act Statement. Failing to provide it may make it difficult or impossible to verify periods of creditable service.
How do I send a follow-up request for SF 813?
Reproduce a copy of your original request and clearly mark the top of the SF 813 "Follow up Request." Then send it to the same records address as the original.
When can I submit SF 813 for a Coast Guard retiree?
Allow six months from the date of retirement before submitting the form for a U.S. Coast Guard retiree. Coast Guard requests go to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO.
Can I fill out SF813 online?
Yes. You can fill out the SF813 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of OPM and does not submit the form; you send it to the records address yourself.
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