How to Obtain Coast Guard Records - Click Here!

Where to search for coast guard service records?

Coast guard records are managed by The National Archives and The National Personnel Records Center. Coast guard records of people served between 1791 and 1919 can be requested from The National Archives. The National Personnel Records Center holds records of coast guard officers separated after 1928, coast guard enlisted personnel separated after 1914 and records of civilian coast guard personnel for the period between 1864 and 1919.

A search for coast guard records can take anything from 10 days to six months or even a year. This is why you need to make sure you know where to submit your request - at The National Archives or at The National Personnel Records Center.

Tips for obtaining coast guard military records.

As mentioned above, you need to know where to submit your coast guard military records request. There are also different request forms - if you are asking for copies of records from The National Archives, you will need a DD form 214; if you want to get copies of records from The National Personnel Records Center, you will need a standard form 180 (SF180).

Both forms must be completed as accurately as possible as the amount of information provided can greatly influence the time required for the search. Once you complete the form you can post it and wait back the copies of the coast guard personnel records to be posted back to you.