The United States has a long history of supporting its military veterans. From the early days of the VA health care system and the signing of the GI Bill in 1944 to the recent decision to forgive student loan debt for all disabled veterans, the U.S. government has continually made strides toward promoting the health and success of its former servicemembers.

Still, there is a lot of room for improvement.

With close to 40,000 American veterans still experiencing homelessness and an alarmingly high veteran suicide rate, we are only just now beginning to address the topic of mental health among returning servicemembers.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, along with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and volunteer organizations like Veterans Families United, are putting the spotlight on issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anger and irritability management in the hopes that increased awareness and better resources will lead to a healthier veteran population.

One thing all veteran benefits have in common: You’ll need to provide proof of service to take advantage of them.

Whether you’re applying for VA medical benefits, educational assistance, or even just hoping to score some discounted football tickets to support your local team—it’s that time of year, after all—you’ll need to provide a copy of your DD214 to show proof of service.

For members of the U.S. Armed Forces, a DD214 is issued upon separation or discharge from active duty, including when a servicemember retires. Your DD214 is possibly the most important document you possess when it comes to documenting your time spent in the military and proving your honorable discharge, so you should always have a copy on hand to ensure you never miss out on your hard-earned benefits.

If you misplaced your DD214 or if it was lost or damaged, you can order a personal copy of your DD214 to make sure you have it the next time it’s requested—which may be more often than you think. Everything from VA home loan applications to military funeral honors require veterans to show proof of service, so it’s best to be prepared.

Need your DD214 in a hurry? DD214Direct.com has you covered.

As veterans, we understand the importance of having your DD214 when you need it. We also know that the process of ordering your DD214 personal copy can take more time and energy than you have to spare.

We built DD214Direct.com to simplify and expedite the search and delivery of your separation documents. Our team of researchers, IT professionals, and assertive government liaisons remove the hassle of dealing directly with the government and replace it with the pleasure of dealing with a small business—people who put your needs first.

We know how to get your DD214 faster, and we’ll even send you a copy via email as soon as we locate your records.