One of the most frustrating part of trying to find justice from the military is seeking and obtaining records. Whether using the Privacy Act (for records maintained using your private information such as your DoD ID number or even your social security number) or using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it can seem like a veritable maze.
Here are some resources you can use to try to untangle the mess of navigating the Department of Defense’s requirements by branch of service:
FOIA Requests
To send a FOIA request online to the Department of the Army, please use this link https://www.rmda.army.mil/FOIARequest/default.aspx
[email protected] is a valid email where you can send your Army FOIA / Privacy Act requests; telephone number for the FOIA office is: 502-613-4400
Their mailing address is: Department of the Army
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
ATTN: AHRC-FOIA
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept. 107
Fort Knox, Kentucky 40122-5504
For Department of the Navy, you may file either a FOIA or Privacy Act Request by visiting the following website:
https://www.secnav.navy.mil/foia/Pages/default.aspx
There, you will see that you can file the request using their online portal at www.securerelease.us or through FOIA.gov – Freedom of Information Act
For requests that are specific to the USMC, they accept requests through securerelease .
Privacy Act Requests
To send a Privacy Act request to the Department of the Air Force, please use this link
https://www.privacy.af.mil/Home/How-To-Make-A-Privacy-Act-Request/
The Air Force will not accept email requests.
Instead, you can send a Privacy Act request to:
Department of the Air Force
Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Office
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1000
For Privacy Act Requests for Department of the Army, see the above information; the same office handles both Privacy Act and FOIA requests.
Please download this resource for a sample request.
For questions and concerns about ensuring your rights as a member of the Department of Defense, please hire experienced counsel.
