Personnel Record Contents

The Military Personnel File is also called a 201 File or MPRJ (Military Personnel Record Jacket).

While the items listed below are not going to be a complete list of everything that might go into a 201 File, it will serve to remind you of some of the things that go into the making of a military man or woman’s Personnel Record. Just being aware of some of the things that go into this file will make you ask better questions. The more questions you ask, the more you will learn about your loved one’s death.

Often, there are items missing from the MPRJ of a deceased individual. Whether deliberately withheld, removed or never entered is a mystery. At least being aware gives you a basis for asking questions.

There will be 2 copies of every record. 1) Copies of everything that goes into this 201 File is kept by the Military and 2) a copy (or duplicate copies) of everything that goes into that file is given to the man or woman to keep in his/her records. These copies are usually kept by the owner in a desk, file cabinet, dresser or locker with his other personal effects.

Please note that when a Military man dies his personal effects are sent to relatives. If he hadn’t saved his personnel records, they would not be among his personal effects. There have been some questions about the Military destroying documents and this is a possible alleged reason for them to be missing from personal effects. If the 201 File is not with the effects, you can request it.

If any subject below is not in the 201 File that you requested and received from the Military, or is not in the personal effects that you were given when your loved one died, it will be a good starting point for your questions. (You will have to use judgment on what questions to ask. For instance, if you knew there had been no foreign duty, you would not expect there to be a drivers’ test for a foreign country. Therefore, you would not ask why there wasn’t one in the file.)

What you ask for might not be what you get. Remember the hurry up and wait part? If the Military is still investigating the death, filling your request for a 201 File could take up to a year or more. While the investigation is in process the Military will not release information. In at least one case that I personally know of, the parents waited out the year only to find that the Military had not done an investigation of the death at all. An entire year wasted!

Following are some of the subjects/forms you might expect to find.

Enlistment Contract, DD Form 4 (Joining the Military, signing up.)

Home of record and statement of personal history has no form name and number as far as I know. Address where the man or woman lived when he signed the contract with the Military and this is also the place the Military will pay his way back to when his contract has ended. His single/marital status is listed, children, siblings, step-relatives, mother, father and where they were born, his age, sex, eye color, hair color, height and weight, education and previous employment, credit and character references.

Statements of Enlistment, DA Form 3286-10 Simply put it states: I can enlist for the option promised and I hereby confirm my intention to do so.

Disposition Form, DD 2496 ...says, "State in writing whether you desire notification of next of kin if you are slightly wounded."

Examining and Entrance Station

Security Questionnaire No form name and number at this time, says, "Have you ever been a communist...?"

Education: No form name or number, lists courses you have taken in Military, special training schools and courses, colleges attended, where attended, dates, etc.

Enlisted Qualification Record, DD Form 20 enlisted or volunteered, reenlisted, extended, MOS (Military Occupational Specialties) such as MOS 76P20 is code for Stock Control and Accounting and MOS 76S20 is code for Automotive Repair Specialist. Contains aptitude tests, other tests, military education and specialized training and qualification in arms.

Special Orders - Travel Orders, no form name or number at this time. This may come under the general heading of Special Orders as so many things do without a form name and number. Changes in duty stations or TDY (temporary duty) and travel orders. Leave orders for absences whether it is for a vacation or AWOL (Absent Without Leave). Amending previous orders or reassignment directed or overseas replacement situations. Deployment orders, port call, time and date of deployment.

Travel Voucher or Sub-voucher, DD Form 1351-2 calculates the amount of travel pay the man is entitled to when he has to pay his own way where Military cannot transport him.

Driver’s Test, no form name and number, is a test he has to take when stationed in an overseas installation. Without the test, you cannot drive in that country.

Report of Medical History, Standard Form 89, is a physical exam and history at foreign posts, including dental, laboratory and hearing.

Report of Mental Status Evaluation

Special Orders no form name and number. Forfeiture of/or Detention of pay, fines, appointments, promotions, demotions, misconduct, Court Martial, Medals, Commendations, campaign medals and medals earned.

Installation Clearance Record, DA Form 137 has to be taken to every service provider the person has used while stationed at any installation. Library, laundry, clubs, Chaplin, medical facility, unit and supply, finance and accounting office and many other facilities because he has to clear this installation before he can leave it. If he owes library fines, video rental, bar bill, etc, this has to be paid or he is in trouble. They even check to see if you have your vaccination record.

There are other things that go into a personnel record which we have not listed. We will be happy to hear from those who are familiar with military records who can expand this information.