Maintaining Your Records and Files

By Maj. Alisia Mahatoo, Army Retirement Services, U.S. Army Reserve       February 2026

Retiring from the military can feel exhilarating, overwhelming, and deeply relieving all at once. With this transition comes a wide range of benefits, and the responsibility to stay organized. It’s essential to have a plan in place to maintain your records and important files.

As a retiree, you can obtain copies of your files from your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) using your DS Logon account. If you need to acquire your lost records, the repository for U.S. Army military personnel, health and medical records is located at the National Archives’ National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, MO. For medical and dental records you will first determine where the record is located at the following website, https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html. Retiree’s who have a current VA claim will contact the VA to determine the location of their medical records.

For correction of your military records, the retiree, surviving family members or legal representative can request corrections using the Application for Correction of Military Records (DD Form 149) and submit to Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA) at 251 18th Street South, Suite 385, Arlington VA 22202, or send to https://www.army.mil/arba#org-other-military-records-corrections.

All retired Soldiers, Gray Area Retired (GAR) Soldiers (those in the Retired Reserve who are not yet receiving retired pay) and surviving spouses receiving a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity must update both the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) whenever they move or change their email address.

Update your address using myPay at https://mypay.dfas.mil/ or calling (800) 321-1080. Soldiers can complete a retiree change of address using the Retiree Change of Address Request/State Tax Withholding Authorization (DD Form 2866) and mail to: DFAS U.S. Military Retired pay, 8899 E. 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249.

Family members receiving SBP annuities must also complete the DD Form 2866 and mail to DFAS, U.S. Military Annuitant Pay, 8899 E. 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249. Non-annuitant surviving spouses, who are not in receipt of SBP must make address changes in DEERS. Former spouses who are eligible for ID card benefits should also keep their address current in DEERS.

Retirees and surviving spouses receiving benefits from the VA should change their address by logging into the VA website at https://www.va.gov/change-address/ or calling (800) 827-1000.

For most, family is the most important aspect of an individual’s life, so listing assets, important contacts, the locations of documents, and how to make updates, will ensure families can easily access their Soldier’s earned benefits.