Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC)
Web site provides service certificates for
Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act of 2003 (SCRA)

The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 2003 is a federal law that provides protections for military members as they enter and serve on active duty. Often, creditors require proof of active duty service to apply SCRA requirements to rental agreements, credit card accounts and other financial dealings.

To assist service members in proving active duty service, a "look-up" capability is available on a Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) public Web site that can be used to obtain certificates of current active duty service or non-service to provide creditors. There is no charge for the certificate.

The Web site is: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/owa/home .

The " look-up" capability requires Social Security Number (SSN), last name, birth year and month, first name, and middle name, if any. It provides a certificate signed by the director of DMDC providing the information DMDC has on the current active duty status of the member.

The DMDC Web site has current active duty status only. Historical information must be obtained through the military service (see Web site provided below).

The DMDC certificate cautions that if DMDC does not have information showing the member is on active duty, further verification must be sought by contacting the member's military service. The certificate provides a Web site that has military service contact information ( www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/PC09SLDR.html ). There is a small charge for certificates obtained through the military services.

The SCRA covers a wide range of issues such as housing rentals and evictions, installment contracts, credit card interest rates, automobile leases, life insurance, health insurance and income tax payments. For more information on the SCRA, contact the nearest armed forces Legal Assistance Program or see the Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/military/index.html .