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Ao And Your 201 File
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Ascomdepot68
I am in the process of constructing a page per page record of documents I have supplied to VARO in St Petersburg for my claim which has been in since July 7, 2010. Too long for me, reading other persons posts I'm a newbie way in the back of the line. Thing is I'm not going to take it.
Today, I was reading a Military Personnel Records Jacket DA Form 201 (June 1966). Interesting reading, wonder why I never read it in the past.
For those of you without access to one I will repeat word for word the information printed printed on the form. The bold face type is of my making, for emphasis.
On left side:
INSTRUCTIONS
This side of the Military Personnel Records
Jacket is for all official and unofficial
correspondence concerning the individual,
such as officers' orders, requests, personal
documents, training and administrative doc-
uments required by local commanders, affi-
davites or certificates. The documents
listed on the Field Personnel File Divider
(DA Form 201a), will be filed above the
divider. Other documents will be filed
below the divider.
Upon transfer from an organization,the
custodian of this record will remove all
documents filed above the divider and ar-
range the remaining papers in chronological
order with the latest dated paper on top.
Documents which are removed at time of
transfer will be destroyed.
Upon release from active duty or separation
from the service, documents filed above the
divider will be destroyed, and the remain-
ing documents will be disposed of in ac-
ordance with AR640-10
Upon release from active duty, all PER-
SONAL DOCUMENTS (e.g. wills, mar-
riage and birth certificates ) will be re-
turned to the individual.
Field File Section
On right side:
INSTRUCTIONS
THE FOLLOWING LISTED DOCUMENTS WILL BE MAINTAINED ON THIS SIDe
(Documents contained herein may be withdrawn for the purpose of making entries thereon. They will not
be withdrawn for other purposes unless specifically authorized by pertinent regulations)
1. Qualification Record To be maintained in the order named at the topmost
2. Military Leave record documents in the file
3. Loyalty Certificate for personnel of Armed Forces
4. Record of emergency data
5. Report of Medical History Reserve ad other personnel only for whom a health
6. Report of medical examination records jacket is not maintained
7. Enlistment (Induction) Record (Enlisted personnel only)
8. Other documents when required by Department of the Army Instructions
(Record title of form and requiring regulation below)
TITLE REGULATION
Military History Side
I am not a personnel specialist, although in basic when they discovered I could type they tried to make me one, but i had my school already set. I don't know what was regularly destroyed or "disposed" of but from what I have in my posssession I think it was quite a bit. Promotion, weapons merit, assignment, commendations, various miscellaneous orders I was given when I got out. What was destroyed I don't know. What was or what was not above or below the divider I don't know. Perhaps a personnel specialist can chime in here? What I do know is that the VA seems to put a good deal of faith in the 201 file. Gone at a minimum is a lot of info on other personnel on orders you received that could give you a chance at
"buddy letters".
Let me relate a little piece of history. From an earlier post I stated I was stationed at USA ASCOM Depot in 1968-1969. We supplied probably better than 90% of everything in Korea to both US and ROK troops, including AO came through there. Naturally with so much stuff there were shortages, pilferage, breakage to be expected. Expected, not accepted. Having had over a decade to polish their tactics the local bandits were proficient. A favorite ploy was to have someone
in stock control pull the location card on an item. When the truck hit the gate if it was noticed and anything was said, the driver simply said "I brought it in". Without a record of it there was no way to prove theft. For some reason this went on for quite awhile until someone had the bright idea to start checking the trucks on the way in as well as when leaving. That slowed them down for awhile, but some other scheme would always pop up.
Does anyone else see the parallel here between the stuff stolen vs location cards missing and a VBA claim vs missing military records??
On November 7, 2001 then VA Secretary Principi signed a "memorandum of agreement" with the National Archives and Records Administration to cut down the wait time. In that agreement it was to take one working day for a high-priority request and under five-day delivery for routine requests for records. What happened??
The VA waited 5 months two weeks to request my 201 from NARA, according to eBenefits. Then it took 29 days for the records to be received once requested by the VA according to eBenefits. So the "under five working day" standard has been apparently relaxed.
In a "iris" inquiry I asked just that, why the delay of 5 1/2 months delay before even asking for it? The 5 day standard given on that site had come and gone also. I also asked why if there are "herbicide exposure records" as apparently there are, as they show as being requested on eBenefits, why in the world don't they use them to outreach to veterans instead of waiting to seek them when a claim is filed. Of course I will not get a direct answer at first, that's my fault. I guess I should ask easier questions.
In regards to records, both paper and otherwise I would like to make a suggestion. If you are still on active service, if you have children or grandchildren in the service or about to enter the service, any friends, etc. stress to them that at any
opportunity they have collect any documentation even if they think it is not relevant at the time and get it to a safe place. Photos are good. Soil and water samples are good, use sterile containers. Keep all their letters home. My mother kept all my letters home and now 43 years later they are providing me "evidence" to use in my claims.
To "newbies" remember there is a great great deal of difference in what is provided for public consumption and what is really done by the VBA.
To all my fellow brothers in arms and sisters, I say good luck, and don't give up!
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