SF813

Verification of a Military Retiree's Service in Non-Wartime Campaigns or Expeditions

Agency
GSA
Revision
Revised April 2013
Fillable fields
73
Pages
2
Official source
GSA form page
Checked
October 20, 2026
Fill SF813 online
Page 1 of form SF813

Standard Form 813 (SF 813): Verification of a Military Retiree's Service

Standard Form 813 (SF 813), Verification of a Military Retiree's Service in Nonwartime Campaigns or Expeditions, is a U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) form, Revised April 2013. Its footer names The Guide to Processing Personnel Actions. GSA hosts a copy in its forms library.

The instructions say to use SF 813 only to request verification of a retiree's military service in a nonwartime campaign or expedition for which a badge or medal was authorized, in order to credit that service for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes. It is for persons retired from active military service, and only when the information is not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.

The requesting agency completes the address block and items 1 to 11 and sends the form to the records center or military service listed on the back, which checks the dates against its records and signs. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.

Top of page 1 of Standard Form 813 (SF 813): Verification of a Military Retiree's Service, as printed by GSA

What's on SF 813

To: address block

The address of the records center or military service the form goes to, selected from the list on the reverse.

Items 1 to 6: the retiree and the request

Name used during military service, service number if retired prior to 1970, Social Security number, branch of service, date of military retirement and date of request.

Item 7: campaigns and expeditions

Each nonwartime campaign or expedition claimed, with from and to dates of participation by month, day and year.

Records center columns

For records center use only: a check if the claimed dates are correct, or the dates of active duty the person performed in the period covered by the campaign badge or medal.

Items 8 to 11: remarks and requester

The requesting agency's remarks, the records center's remarks, the requesting official's name and contact details, and the requesting agency's name and address.

Certification

The printed name and title, signature and date signed of the records center certifying official.

How to complete SF 813

  1. 1

    Check that SF 813 is the right form

    The instructions say to use it only for persons retired from active military service, and only when the campaign or expedition and its dates are not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.

  2. 2

    List specific campaigns and dates

    Service is verified only if the form lists specific campaigns or expeditions and inclusive dates. The form says listing just the service component, such as USAF, or the medal is not sufficient.

  3. 3

    Complete items 1 to 11

    Enter the retiree's details, the claimed service and the requesting official and agency. For an Air Force retiree who is a general, the form says to put Retired General Officer in the Agency's Remarks block.

  4. 4

    Choose the address

    Section A on the back sends Coast Guard retirees, and Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force retirees before the listed dates, to the National Personnel Records Center. Section B lists each service's office for later retirements.

  5. 5

    Allow time for Coast Guard retirements

    If retirement is from the U.S. Coast Guard, the instructions say to allow six months from the date of retirement before submitting this form.

  6. 6

    Mark any follow-up

    If a follow-up request is necessary, the instructions say to reproduce a copy of the original request and clearly mark the top of the SF 813 Follow up Request.

Why fill Form SF813 on indox

You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.

  • Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
  • Free to fill and free to download, with no account
  • The official blank straight from the GSA, not a copy someone retyped
  • Works on a phone, tablet or computer

Where it goes and what the form says

National Personnel Records Center

For the retirees listed in Section A: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002.

Marine Corps and Navy

Section B, for retirements on or after these dates. Marine Corps, October 1, 2001: Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, Personnel Management Support Branch (MMSB-10), 2008 Elliot Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5030. Navy, January 1, 1995: Navy Personnel Command (PERS-312A), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-3130.

Army and Air Force

Section B, for retirements on or after these dates. Army, October 1, 1995: Human Resources Command, Veterans Inquiry Section, Dept. 420, 1600 Spearhead Div Ave, Fort Knox, KY 40122. Air Force, October 1, 2004: AFPC/DPSIDR, 550 C St. West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, TX 78150.

Privacy

The Privacy Act statement cites sections 3502 and 6303 of title 5, United States Code, and Executive Order 9397 for the SSN. It says furnishing the information is voluntary, but failure to comply may make it difficult or impossible to verify creditable service.

Copies and editions

The form says it is approved for local reproduction and that previous editions are not usable.

Related forms

Who uses SF 813?

  • The requesting agency

    An agency official completes the address block and items 1 to 11, with their name, telephone number or email in item 10 and the agency's name, address and ZIP code in item 11, then sends the form.

  • The military retiree

    The instructions say it is the retired member's responsibility to provide the name of any nonwartime campaign or expedition for which credit is requested.

  • The records center or military service

    The National Personnel Records Center or the military service office listed on the back checks each claimed period, corrects dates that do not match its records and adds remarks in item 9.

  • The certifying official

    A records center official prints their name and title, signs and dates, certifying that checked items were verified and items that did not match the records were corrected.

The form and the instructions on its back describe these roles.

Official sources and the blank

Do it all with indox

View all 94 tools

Questions about Form SF813

Who issues SF 813?

The form is printed as a U.S. Office of Personnel Management form, Revised April 2013, and its footer names The Guide to Processing Personnel Actions. GSA hosts a copy in its forms library.

What is SF 813 used for?

The instructions say it requests verification of a retiree's military service in a nonwartime campaign or expedition for which a badge or medal was authorized, to credit that service for leave accrual rate and reduction-in-force purposes.

Does SF 813 cover Reserve or National Guard retirees?

The form says not to use it if the person has completed 20 or more years of Reserve or National Guard service but will not receive a pension until age 60.

Is naming the medal enough?

The instructions say it is not sufficient to list just the service component, such as USAF, or the medal, such as Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Service is verified only when specific campaigns or expeditions and inclusive dates are listed.

When is SF 813 not needed?

The instructions say it should be used only if participation in the campaign or expedition, and its dates, are not documented on the retiree's DD Form 214.

Where does a Coast Guard retiree's request go?

Section A lists U.S. Coast Guard retirees for the National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. The instructions say to allow six months from the date of retirement before submitting.

Is the Social Security number required?

The Privacy Act statement says furnishing the information, including the SSN, is voluntary, but failure to comply may make it difficult or impossible to verify periods of creditable service.