1. Consent/Authorization from the Individual to whom the records pertain or his/her legal representative
2. Letter from Requester
3. Information to Conduct a Search
4. Proof of Legal Representation (if applicable)
5. Proof of Death (If applicable) 

LETTER FROM REQUESTER

• Records/information you are requesting must match what is listed on the consent/authorization. If it does not match, we will only release what is authorized by the Individual to whom the records pertain.
• Must contain the date, your signature and contact information (email, phone number)
• If you are an attorney or representative of a business/organization, your request must be on official letterhead.

INFORMATION TO CONDUCT A SEARCH
Full social security number of Individual to whom the records pertain

​Description of requested records

• Be as specific as possible
• Name of document, report, or information
• Form number (if known)  
• DO NOT use ‘any and/or all…information’, dates of birth, enlistment or separation, etc.; these are not a searchable parameters

Search Period

• Start Date (Month/Year) AND End Date (Month/Year)
• DO NOT use parameters such as date of birth, enlistment/separation date, start of employment, etc.

Status of the Individual to whom the records pertain for the requested period(s)

• Federal Civilian Employee
• Military Service Member

 If Individual is/was a Federal Civilian Employee, list:

• Name of agency or agencies for which the Individual works/worked  
• Dates of employment for each agency (if known)

 If Individual is/was a Military Service Member, list:

• Branch of Service – Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force
• Component – Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Military Academy
• If individual served in multiple branches/components, list each service period
• DFAS does not maintain any records for the Coast Guard 

If requesting Army Reserve or Army National Guard information that is dated prior to 1976, we also require:

• Name(s) of the Major Command(s) the Individual was assigned to during the requested period(s)
• Name(s) of the Unit(s) of Assignment for each command
• City/State for each Unit of Assignment
• Dates the Individual served in each Unit

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

PROOF OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION
If the Individual to whom the records pertain is incapacitated and/or you are claiming Legal Representative status, we require 1 of the below documents as Proof of Guardianship:

• Court Appointment Documentation
• Power of Attorney

PROOF OF DEATH
If Individual to whom the records pertain is deceased, we require one (1) of the below documents as Proof of Death:

• Certificate of Death 
• Coroner’s Report of Death 
• Funeral Director’s Signed Statement of Death
• Verdict of Coroner’s Jury

DO NOT FORWARD YOUR REQUEST UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS

Email dfas.foia@mail.mil and Fax (317) 275-0391 are the preferred submission methods.
 
You may also submit Online or mail your request to the address below.
 
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Corporate Communications – FOIA/PA
8899 East 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-0150