Military Personnel Records are accessioned into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the service member's separation from the military.
This is a rolling date; hence, the current year, 2012, minus 62 years is 1950. Records with a discharge date date of 1950 or prior are archival and are open to the public. Records with a discharge date after 1950 are maintained by the Federal Records Center program, and are subject to access restrictions.
If the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) is an archival record it can be ordered on-line for a copying fee. Coping requests requre the purchase of the complete file, not just certain pages. Cost for copying are:
OMPF of 5 pages or less: $20 flat fee
OMPF of 6 pages or more: $60 flat fee (Most OMPF's fall in this catagory
Refer to the following website for ordering information:
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/archival-programs/military-personnel-archival/ompf-archival-requests.html
