NATF 86 National Archives (NARA) Order for Copies of Military Se

OMB Control No. 3095-0027 Expires 08-31-2023

NATIONAL ARCHIVES (NARA) ORDER FOR COPIES OF MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS

Expedite your order; submit it online at

eservices.archives.gov/orderonline

We receive orders more quickly when you submit them online. We will send you an e-mail confirming that we
have your request and you will be able to track the order online at no additional cost.
Order reproduction service by using this form is available ONLY from Archival Operations Washington D.C., Form 86 – Military,
National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001. For more
information, please write to us at the address above.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORDER
DO NOT use this form for any request relating to post-1912 military service in World War I or II, or subsequent service. Write
to: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138.
For additional information about these later records, visit eVetrecs at www.archives.gov/veterans.
Military service records rarely contain family information. Federal pension files may be requested on NATF Form 85. Pension
application files generally are most useful to those who are doing genealogical research and contain the most complete
information regarding a soldier's military career. We suggest that you first request copies of a soldier's pension file. You should
request copies of a bounty-land warrant file or a military record only when no pension file exists. If the veteran's service was
during the Revolutionary War, bounty-land warrant applications have been consolidated with pension application papers. You
can obtain both files by requesting the pension file only. We will copy complete compiled military service and bounty-land
application files. More information about the availability of records pertaining to military service or family histories may be found
in our free genealogical information leaflets and forms. You may request these, as well as order additional copies of this form,
online at www.archives.gov/contact or by writing to: Archival Operations Washington D.C., Form 86 – Military, National Archives
and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001. Electronic versions of this and
other forms are available on the NARA website, www.archives.gov.
The success of our search depends on the completeness and accuracy of the information you provide in blocks 1-13 on this
form. Please note that each NATF Form 86 is handled separately. When you send more than one form at a time, you may not
receive all of your replies at the same time.

USE NATF FORM 85 TO OBTAIN COPIES OF
FEDERAL PENSION AND BOUNTY LAND WARRANT APPLICATIONS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM
Use a separate NATF Form 86 for each file that you request. You must complete blocks 1 – 6 or we cannot search for the file.
Print your name (last, first, MI) and address in the box provided at the bottom of the form. This serves as your mailing label.
We destroy requests without return addresses. Please enter the Card Validation Code, found on your card, in the space
provided on the form (three or four digits). We will make reproductions of records that relate to your request. We accept Master
Card, VISA, American Express, and Discover credit cards. Do NOT send cash or check. Forms with incomplete Credit Card
information will be destroyed. Make a copy of the completed form for your records. Mail it to: Archival Operations
Washington D.C., Form 86 – Military, National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20408-0001. Please allow up to 90 days for processing your order. If you provide your email address, we will
send you an email with your order number. You can track the status of your order at our website,
eservices.archives.gov/orderonline. Do not use this form to request certified copies of records. To request certified copies
contact us at www.archives.gov/contact or write to the above address. We cannot provide digital certifications.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST FUND BOARD

NATF Form 86 (rev. 10-2019)

OMB Control No. 3095-0027 Expires 08-31-2023

TYPES OF RECORDS THAT CAN BE ORDERED WITH THIS FORM
ARMY SERVICE RECORDS
Military service records are based on service in the UNITED STATES ARMY (officers who served before June 30, 1917, and
enlisted men who served before October 31, 1912) and CONFEDERATE ARMED FORCES (officers and enlisted men, 186165). In addition to persons who served in regular forces raised by the Federal Government, volunteers fought in various wars
chiefly in the Federal Government's interest from the Revolutionary War through the Philippine Insurrection, 1775-1902.
Compilations of information concerning Army service in volunteer organizations during the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries are available. Such records were not compiled for Regular Army officers who served before 1863 and for Regular
Army enlisted men who served during most of the nineteenth century. Records pertaining to that service tend to be limited. We
will copy those records which pertain to the soldier in question that can be retrieved by name. This will not represent all of the
information scattered among a variety of records. We are not able to undertake the research required to locate all such
documents.
The record of an individual's service in any one organization is entirely separate from his record of service in another
organization. We are unable to establish accurately the identity of individuals of the same name who served in different
organizations. If you know that an individual served in more than one organization and you desire copies of all of the military
service records, submit a separate form for the service record in each organization.
Discharge certificates are not usually included as a part of a compiled military service record. Before 1944, Army regulations
allowed the preparation of an original discharge certificate only, which was given to the soldier. Confederate soldiers in service
at the time of surrender did not receive discharge certificates. They were given paroles, and these paroles became the property
of the soldier.

NAVY OR MARINE CORPS SERVICE RECORDS
There are no compiled service records for Navy or Marine Corps personnel. Do not use this form to obtain information about
obtaining reproductions of records relating to Navy or Marine Corps service. You may obtain information by contacting us online
at www.archives.gov/contact or by writing to Archival Operations Washington D.C., Form 86 – Military, National Archives and
Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001.
RETURN POLICY: Due to various factors, it is occasionally difficult for NARA to make a legible reproduction. NARA will notify
customers and ask for approval to proceed if we anticipate a reproduction of questionable legibility. As a result, NARA does
not provide refunds except in special cases. If a customer requests a refund, we review the order to determine if we properly
notified the customer of the questionable nature of the original and if the product is a true representation of the original. If the
product is a true representation of the original, we will not issue a refund. If you feel we processed your order incorrectly or it
contains errors, please contact us within 30 days of your delivery date to have your issue verified. Once we verify the issue,
we will correct the error and resend the documents. If we cannot correct the error, you will receive a refund.
ELECTRONIC TRANSFER: Electronic transfer allows you to download your files from a site, as opposed to having them
mailed to you. You will be sent a link for the download. Click the link and download the file to a location of your choosing.
Download speeds will vary based upon file size and your internet connection. A valid email address is necessary for electronic
transfer. Total file transfers can be up to 5 GB. However, files of that size are typically separated into multiple, smaller files.
Files will be available for 30 days from date of upload; downloads of the files should take place within that period. To ensure
electronic receipt of your order, please add [email protected] to your trusted senders list. In some cases, certain
email applications will move your reproduction orders to your spam box. Please monitor your spam box while awaiting your
order.
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Collection of this information is authorized by sections 2108, 2116, and 2307 of Title 44 U.S. Code. Disclosure of the information is voluntary; however, we will be unable to
respond to your request if you do not furnish your name and address and the minimum required information about the records. The information is used by NARA employees
to search for the record; to respond to you; to maintain control over information requests received and answered; and to facilitate preparation of internal statistical reports. If
you provide credit card information, that information is used to bill you for copies.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a current valid OMB control number.
The OMB Control No. for this information collection is 3095-0027. Public burden reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be 10 minutes per response. Send
comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to National Archives and Records
Administration (ISP), 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park MD 20740. DO NOT SEND COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND COMPLETED FORMS TO THE
ADDRESS INDICATED ON THE FORM ITSELF.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST FUND BOARD

NATF Form 86 (rev. 10-2019)

NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST FUND BOARD NATF Form 86 (rev. 10-2019)

OMB Control No. 3095-0027 Expires 08-31-2023

NATIONAL ARCHIVES ORDER FOR COPIES OF MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS
(See Instructions page before completing this form)

If we locate the record you identify below, we will reproduce it for you. The cost for these reproductions is $30.00.
Provide your credit card information at the bottom of this page. Orders with incomplete credit card information will not be processed.
DO NOT SEND CASH OR CHECK. There is no charge for an unsuccessful search.

1.

Reference Number:

G

M

M

D

D

Y

Y

#

#

Reference Number: Enter the date you fill out the form (example – MMDDYY =
012319). Enter the number of the request being submitted in the last two boxes.
If you are submitting four forms and this is your second, you would enter 02. A
completed reference number example is: 01231902.

SECTION A. REQUIRED MINIMUM IDENTIFICATION OF VETERAN - MUST BE COMPLETED OR YOUR ORDER CANNOT BE SERVICED
2. VETERAN (Give last, first, and middle names)

 Please note: ARMY SERVICE ONLY. See
instructions for information about Navy and
Marine Corps service.

3. STATE WHICH HE SERVED 4. WAR IN WHICH, OR DATES BETWEEN WHICH, HE SERVED

5. IF SERVICE WAS CIVIL WAR:

6. KIND OF SERVICE

UNION
CONFEDERATE
VOLUNTEER
PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IF KNOWN
7. UNIT IN WHICH HE SERVED (Name of regiment or number,
company, etc.)

8. ARM IN WHICH HE SERVED

INFANTRY

10. DATE OF BIRTH

11. PLACE OF BIRTH (City, County, State, etc.)

If other, specify:

CAVALRY

ARTILLERY

12. DATE OF DEATH

REGULAR

9. RANK

OFFICER

13. PLACE OF DEATH (City, County, State, etc.)

ENLISTED

Your completed order is available either as a paper reproduction or as .pdf. Delivery of .pdf files can be done via USPS on
CD/DVD or through NARA’s electronic transfer system. Check one box below for selection*.

Paper Copies
Comments:

CD/DVD

Electronic Transfer** email address: __________________________________

* If no selection is made, paper copies will be generated; a certified copy cannot be generated of a .pdf
** Download speeds will vary based upon file size and your internet connection. A valid email address is necessary for electronic transfer.

SECTION B. THIS SPACE IS FOR OUR REPLY TO YOU

We were unable to search for the file you requested above. No payment is required. Your request is returned because:
REQUIRED MINIMUM IDENTIFICATION OF VETERAN WAS NOT PROVIDED. Please complete blocks 2 (give full name), 3, 4, 5,
and 6 and resubmit your order.
Post-1912 Regular Army service records are housed at the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. You may be able to
obtain information about the military service of the person in which you are interested by completing the Standard form 180, Request
Pertaining to Military Records. The Standard Form 180 is available online at www.archives.gov or visit eVetrecs at
www.archives.gov/veterans.
See attached forms, leaflets, or information sheets.

SECTION C. CREDIT CARD INFORMATION AND YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS (REQUIRED)
CREDIT CARD TYPE: ______________________________
(see Instructions for credit cards we can accept)
Card Validation Code
(See Instructions):

Signature:

Exp.
Date:

Day Time Phone (Required):

e-mail Address (Preferred):

First Name, MI

Last Name

Street

(check here if
shipping address
is same as billing
address)

Street
City

State

ZIP or Postal Code

Country (if not USA)

Billing
Address

Shipping
Address

Last Name

First Name, MI

Street
Street
City

State

ZIP or Postal Code