SOTS Annual Training 2012

1. SOTS Annual Training 2012 Certification of Documents Thomas Meadows TDVA Training Officer 615-441-3384 or tom.meadows@tn.gov

2. CERTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS • Certify copies of original discharge documents. • You cannot sign original, income or dependency claims. • Nor any other type of documents (dependency). • Original documents issued by the service dept. or a copy issued by a public custodian of records who certifies that a copy of the original document is on file. (County Clerk) • Certifications from war records are acceptable. • If veteran had multiple periods of service, needs 214’s for all periods if there were breaks.

3. CERTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS (CONT) • Responsible for detecting altered or fraudulent service documents. • 214’s issued from Korea forward, not for WWII. • For current discharges, need copy 4 of DD 214. • Discharge changes are made on form DD 215 • Different type or size print on same document. • Erasures or white out.

4. CERTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS (CONT) • Short period of Active Duty service with multiple decorations. • Combat decorations (Purple Heart) with no foreign service. • Short period of service with high rank, E-5 or above. • Lengthy periods of service with low rank, below E-3, suggests possible Court Martial. • Decorations not matching branch. • Inconsistent date of birth.

5. CERTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS (CONT) • Character of service not centered. • Cautions: • If you have doubt, submit but don’t certify • If you know that the document is fraudulent, do not assist the client. • Don’t submit SF 180 to verify service since VA will be attempting to do same. • Certification stamp must be exactly as sample. • You must purchase your own stamp.

6. CERTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS (HANDOUTS)