Compliance services

Military service verification and DD-214 checks

Verify military service history, discharge status, and service dates for employment, benefits eligibility, and compliance with USERRA requirements.

Request military verification(866) 440-0302
DD-214 discharge verificationUSERRA and VETS-4212 supportPBSA member agency
A professional presenting documents and records across a desk
Military verification can run on its own or fold into a full pre-employment screening package.
When you need it

When you need military verification

Confirming veteran statusFor hiring preferences or benefits eligibility.
Verifying service dates and discharge typeAs part of background screening, alongside the rest of the candidate’s history.
USERRA complianceEnsuring returning service members are properly reinstated.
Government contractor requirementsFor veteran employment reporting under VETS-4212.
Military leave and reemployment rightsConfirming eligibility before leave is granted or reinstatement is processed.
What we deliver

What a Catapult military verification returns

DD-214 verificationDischarge status confirmation against the record.
Service datesActive duty and reserve service date verification.
Branch and rankBranch of service and rank confirmation.
USERRA compliance supportFor returning service members.
Veterans preference eligibilityConfirmation for government employers.
Service-connected disabilityAccommodation guidance.
Package integrationFolds into pre-employment background check packages.
Audit-ready documentationDocumented verification for audit and compliance records.
About the DD-214

What the DD-214 actually shows

The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, is the primary record of a service member’s separation. It is the document most employer verification questions ultimately come back to.

Dates and character of service

Entry and separation dates, branch, and the character of service, which is the field that most veteran preference and benefits questions turn on.

Why a candidate copy is not enough

A DD-214 handed over by a candidate is a document nobody has checked. Verification confirms the record rather than accepting the copy at face value.

Consent is required

Military service verification runs with the candidate’s written authorization, the same as any other consumer report obtained for employment purposes.

Process

How military verification works

Order the verificationOn its own or as a component of a wider screening package.
The candidate authorizesWritten disclosure and authorization are collected electronically before anything is requested.
We verify against the recordService dates, branch, rank, and discharge status are confirmed rather than taken from the candidate’s copy.
You receive documentationA written verification you can retain for audit, VETS-4212 reporting, or a veterans preference file.
FAQs

Military verification questions

What is a DD-214 and why should we verify it?
The DD Form 214 is the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, the primary record of a service member’s separation. It shows service dates, branch, rank, and character of service. Verifying it confirms the record rather than relying on a copy supplied by the candidate.
Is military service verification part of a standard background check?
It is normally an add-on rather than part of a base package. Employers who use veteran hiring preferences, report under VETS-4212, or need to administer USERRA reinstatement typically add it. It can also be ordered on its own.
What is USERRA?
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act is the federal law protecting the civilian job rights of people who serve in the uniformed services. It governs reemployment after service, continuation of benefits, and protection from discrimination based on service. Verifying service dates and discharge status is how employers confirm reinstatement eligibility.
What is VETS-4212 reporting?
VETS-4212 is the annual federal contractor report on the employment of protected veterans, filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Federal contractors and subcontractors above the applicable threshold file it, which means they need a reliable basis for the veteran counts they report.
Do we need the candidate’s permission?
Yes. Military service verification obtained through a consumer reporting agency for employment purposes requires written disclosure and authorization under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, the same as any other component of a background check.
Can you verify reserve and National Guard service?
Yes. Reserve service dates are covered alongside active duty in the verification.
PBSA Member, Professional Background Screening Association

Catapult is a proud member of the Professional Background Screening Association, upholding the highest standards of accuracy, compliance, and consumer protection in background screening.

Screening services

Related screening services

Most employers combine several of these into one screening package.

Pre-employment screening→FACIS Level 3 healthcare screening→Continuous criminal monitoring→Employment history verification→Education verification→Professional reference checks→MVR monitoring & driver screening→Volunteer background checks→Paperless I-9 verification→I-9 audit & remediation→Drug screening services→Background check pricing→Professional license verification→Name and SSN verification→Credit history checks→

Need military service verification?

Talk to a compliance specialist today about adding military verification to your screening package.

Request military verification(866) 440-0302

*Catapult Services Corporation is an investigative agency licensed by the Private Protective Services Board of the State of North Carolina specializing in corporate pre-employment background screening. Our corporate agency license is BPN 001473P11M, Qualify Agent, Kevin von der Lippe, PI, 2891. Catapult Services Corporation is a consumer reporting agency that supplies applicant screening services for employment, volunteer and student screening, to authorized organizations under the conditions of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Human Trafficking

If you feel you are a victim of Human Trafficking, click on this link to learn more about your rights as it relates to your background screening report.

Personal Information Disclosure: United States or Overseas

Personal information submitted to Catapult Services Corporation for background screening is not transferred to third parties outside of the United States or its territories unless the completion of a background report about the person requires gathering information about that person from outside the United States (ex. international criminal check, verification of employment records outside the United States or verification of education records outside the United States.) All personal information will be transmitted and stored in a secure manner in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Kevin von der Lippe, Director, HR Products & Technologies at Catapult
Kevin von der LippeDirector, HR Products & Technologies
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