In November I helped someone fill out two of NARA/NPRC’s Standard Form 180s to get Navy personnel files. Only a miniscule number of Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps OMPFs were affected by the fire. So one would think if you send in Form 180 you’ll get a copy of the full service file. Right?
WRONG!
The man I helped fill out the forms brought me one response to his requests. The other we expect to arrive shortly. NPRC wrote in the letter, about the Navy OMPF, the following:
“We are unable to completely fulfill your request at this time and have focused all available resources to providing a Report of Separation (DD Form 2014 or its equivalent) for records requests. This is the most pertinent document needed to secure veteran’s benefits like medical emergencies, aid and attendance and final military honors. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.”
Let’s be honest – this makes me angry. I realize the priority is living veterans and the spouses or kids of veterans who need the benefits. However, there are plenty of people also seeking answers and closure to their family histories and these service files can provide that. So where is the balance or is this now standard operating procedure – give as little as possible. Do as little work as possible.
There are many people who prefer not to hire a researcher like myself because they want to do the research themselves or do not have the funds to do hire a researcher. They know the OMPF is available and not burned because of the military branch – and yet NPRC won’t release it to them.
This kind of response will likely result in more requests being placed which will mean more work for them, when they could have handled the first time the request came in. It will also mean that the backlog they just celebrated being finished or almost finished since the 2 year shutdown- by closing the facility for a day so they could celebrate – may begin again once word spreads that the archivists aren’t providing the information requested.
What is the answer here? I don’t know because the archives operate by their own set of rules which doesn’t always seem to benefit the taxpayer, family historian, and often not even the veteran.
As a side note – those Surname A-L IDPFs that are being held at NPRC. They were digitized years ago, through taxpayer money, as have the M-Z being held at Ft. Knox. I learned if you send in a request to NPRC for an IDPF – you will be charged. However, if you are on-site and request it – there is no charge and it’s emailed to you. Interesting right?
What Is the Current Solution?
If you received a letter like what my friend did above, and the file should be intact you have two options. 1) Send in another Form 180 and see if they answer your request. If not, request again and make sure to let them know you’ve requested before and not gotten the results you need. 2) Hire a researcher like myself to get you the records. We are on-site and will follow up to make sure we get the information we need. I offer a free phone consultation to discuss your research needs. Email me at jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a call. Every client receives a customized quote for both parts of the research project that fits their research needs. Clients also receive two full research reports with information on what was searched, discovered or not discovered, all documents we receive and answers, peace, and closure. Are you ready to start your research project today? I can help you with WWI, WWII, Korea or Vietnam.
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I wish you good luck in finding out why they are taking this approach in responding to document requests. They could have said that they are providing the information on an interim basis and will provide the complete file as soon as possible.