DD 214 Warning

COMNAVSURFLANT N434A5 | 26 Nov 2001 | Hunnicutt, Steven CMDMC

[gunnrmike]

Subject: FW: DD 214 Warning > FYI: > > Historically, VA, FFSC, RAO's, and other military affiliated groups, have > always encouraged separating and retiring personnel to file their DD 214's > with their county courthouse so that they would always have access to a > legitimate copy in case their original is ever lost. We have always > encouraged personnel in TAP class to do this; however, here's a reason we > might want to re-think it. > >

I had a retired Master Chief come by my office this morning > with a scary story. His identification was stolen the beginning of > September. He received a call from a lady at American Express because > someone had established credit with them (in his name) and was trying to > cash a $9,000 check in his name in early September, made out to a > Muslim/Arabic-sounding name. The lady flagged the check because apparently > she had a different address on file for the Master Chief than what showed on the > check. When she called him, he of course reported it.

>

Last night, the Master Chief received a call from an investigator >telling him that they finally tracked down the fellow who stole his >identification. > The guy is a lawyer and had a lap-top computer with several thousand > MILITARY names, SSN's and other information. Each military person was a > separatee or retiree and their common link was > that they had their DD 214's filed with a county clerk. The Master Chief > was told that this lawyer had accessed the DD 214 information through the > public court computer system.

> >

I called our Camden County courthouse this morning and asked about their > procedures for DD 214's. The clerk there told me that although DD 214's > were not put on their computers, they were public record. In fact, > with the exception of adoption papers, anything filed through the courthouse > was public record. A check with the county clerk in Brunswick revealed the > same information. In fact, when asked directly if someone could obtain a > certified copy of a DD 214, the answer was "yes." The clerk did say that > they would verify the SSN (which of course you could look up on the public > record first!).

> >

This is really scary stuff, and it gets scarier. I called PSD here and > asked them what a retiree would need to replace a lost I.D. card and asked > specifically if a certified court-copy of a DD 214 would suffice. I was > informed that they usually ask to see a picture i.d. but would probably > issue the i.d. card without it, so long as the member had a certified copy > of his DD 214! I told the I.D. card section leader this story and warned > him to be careful. This was the Master Chief's main concern that it > appears that it would be easy for others to steal your identity and get a valid > I.D. card to get access to military bases. > > I notified the RAO, the VA Representative, and > the TAMP Manager. Bob called Dennis Xxxxxx, the Retired > Activities Program Director at BUPERs and gave him a heads-up on the > situation. Sandra is notifying her superiors at the VA. Debbie has > brought the matter to the attention of the TAMP Program Manager in PERS.

> >

Please help warn folks. Unfortunately, the down side to not filing the DD > 214 with the county court is the hassle it can take to replace a lost DD > 214. It can take months to get one replaced, if at all. The bottom > line is safeguarding this important document. Have folks make copies and keep > the original in a SAFE place (kid/animal/fire proof, > etc...). >

[gunnrmike]

FYI to all military retirees and vets. I hope this comes out OK. I don't post much on FR. Gunnrmike

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for this post.

I will be taking down my DD214 to my safety deposit box today or tomorrow! A copy will be sent to my oldest son. He keeps stuff like this for us in his safety deposit box and we keep similiar stuff for him in ours.

[ChemistCat]

* Ya done good gunnrmike; post more often if this is the quality of your posts! Is there a military bump list?

[Timesink]

Uh....whuh? What's a DD 214?

[Poohbah]

Anyone filing identity documents in the county courthouse is ASKING to get set up.

[68 grunt]

Its your immediate proof of service. It has your active/inactive dates, you awards and medals, your re-enlistment codes and things of that nature.

[Fred Mertz]

I received this via e-mail last week and passed it on to our security manager. They were looking into it, but haven't came back and officially said that filing the DD-214 with the court house is a no-no.

[aomagrat]

Thanks for the post. I'm retiring next year and just finished TAP. They're recommending filing the DD-214 with the county clerk. I reckon I'll get me a safe deposit box.

[ChemistCat]

I think we need to polish this up a bit and send it to the Secretary of Defense. This is an absurd crack in the security of US military bases, secrets, and facilities. Harming veterans' credit ratings is the least of it (and since I'm married to a veteran, I think the least of it is a lot!)

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I'm glad I never filed with the county courthouse like I was told to do in the TAP class.

[Brownie74]

I don't have to much to worry about. All my records were destroyed in the fire of 1973. My oldest daughter has my original discharge and I have a couple of copies of my DD-214.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Go to www.google.com. Put the phrase "DD 214" in the blank box. Click on the "Google Search" button. Then read/click on some of the links that appear.
This method works for most things you might want to decode or research.

[patent]

A bump. Identity theft isn't getting any harder these days. I highly recommend that people get a free copy of the their credit reports yearly. Review them carefully, and if something looks amiss, follow up on it. This isn't fool proof, but it can catch problems. I don't know that it would help this this one though.

patent

[bobzeetwin]

Uh....whuh? What's a DD 214?

It's a chit so you can a good deal on a mortgage if you have no down payment.

[aomagrat]

FYI

[Duke809]

I live in Camden County myself. I've never filed my DD214 with anyone. It's in a fireproof box at home. Hope everything works out for you

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

A DD-214 lists how many times you went to the trophy lounge.

[Tennessee_Bob]

It's a chit so you can a good deal on a mortgage if you have no down payment.

Amen to that. I think that we ended up paying around eight dollars in cash when I closed on my house, and that was for the copier and the notary.

[gunnyg]

Thanx!

I will post this immediately to my mailing list and my Gunny G's Old Salt Marines Tavern (Forum).

-Dick Gaines

[logos]

Thanks for the heads up, Fred. Mine has been filed in the County Courthouse for so long, I don't even live in the same state any more! I s'pose I oughta do somthing about that, eh?