MilConnect is the Defense Department’s online portal for military families and dependents. It offers 24/7 access to a variety of information, including healthcare enrollments, personnel records, education benefits, and more.
The site also lets beneficiaries request and receive a copy of their DD214, a form that provides evidence of service for veterans who are applying for VA benefits. It also allows beneficiaries to check their OMPF status and get eCorrespondence notifications about changes in benefits eligibility.
MilConnect is an online application that provides military and civilian personnel with access to information about their health, education, benefits, and personal records. It is an initiative of the Defense Manpower Data Center, a DoD service that maintains personnel, medical, security, manpower, and financial records for millions of DoD members and beneficiaries.
Using milConnect, DoD beneficiaries can update contact information and health care enrollments, find the nearest military ID card issuing facility, and access group life insurance, among other things. The Web site also offers a new initiative called eCorrespondence that will use email to notify service members about benefit changes rather than postal mail.
The new eCorrespondence initiative is an effort by DMDC to improve communication with beneficiaries on various aspects of their military benefits. Beneficiaries, including active duty, reserve, and National Guard service members on periods of active duty, will receive email notifications about changes in Tricare eligibility and other upcoming or existing benefits.
In addition, DoD sponsors, such as Air Force civilian employees and Army National Guard and Air Force Reserve service members, can check on the status of their dependents’ healthcare benefits and education information using the same system. Dixon said that the eCorrespondence system will be available for all eligible beneficiaries on the DMDC Web site and in an Android mobile application that is available through Google Play.
DoD officials said the eCorrespondence system is expected to save money by eliminating the need for many of the benefit change notifications that are mailed to beneficiaries. DMDC estimates the savings to be about $576,000 in one year alone.
As an added bonus, milConnect also allows download of a DD 214 document that serves as proof of military service for veterans who want to apply for VA benefits. The DD 214 is available in two versions – a document laying out the military skills and training veterans acquired during their service and a cover letter.
If you’re a veteran looking to get your DD 214, be sure to download it as soon as possible. It’s a mission-critical document that helps to verify military service and character of discharge and is used to apply for many VA benefits.
How does milConnect work?
In a nutshell, milConnect is a web application that provides secure access to personal information, health care enrollments, and personnel records 24 hours a day. It is the brainchild of DMDC, a departmental organization responsible for maintaining military personnel, medical, and other benefits-related records for 42 million DOD employees, retirees, spouses, and eligible dependents.
The aforementioned website also features an interactive timeline that charts the history of military service, a virtual tour of the Defense Manpower Data Center, and a myriad of other tools and resources that help DOD employees better serve their members and their families. The site is a whirlwind of information that can save users time and money.
For example, the online system allows users to opt-in to the TSA PreCheck program and see if they are in the clear for a pat down. Another noteworthy feature is a free mobile app that allows users to view their DFAS myPay account on the go.
For those of you who are still figuring out how to use the site, the best way to get started is to choose a login method that will work with your device. Selecting a password that can be easily remembered is also a good idea. The site offers multiple options, including the standard CAC, DS logon, or a hybrid of both. The latter is recommended if you are logging into milConnect on a smartphone.
How do I access milConnect?
milConnect is the Defense Manpower Data Center’s (DMDC) web portal that lets DoD affiliates and beneficiaries manage their benefits and records online. It provides a self-service platform with integrated applications that give you secure access to many of your personal and personnel records held in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
To log in, use your common access card (CAC), a DoD Self-Service Logon (DS Logon), or a DFAS myPay password (DFAS PIN) from devices that support card readers, such as a computer or tablet. DMDC also offers separate logon options for service members who are separated and their dependents to help make the transition easier.
Once you’re signed in, the top right of the home page shows your name and whether you are a sponsor or a dependent. The menu bar displays the Correspondence/Documentation, Benefits, and FAQ pages where you can access your information.
In addition to managing your own personal information, milConnect can be used to request and receive copies of your official military personnel file (OMPF). This is the document that contains images of documents that record details of your career and can be searched by name or rank under the Freedom of Information Act.
To access your VMET, use your DoD CAC or DS Logon to sign into milConnect and select Correspondence/Documentation in the top menu. Then, select a VMET document (DD-2586) or cover letter, depending on which you want to download, and click Submit. You’ll receive an email with a link to your document.
How do I log into my .mil account?
If you are in the US military, you have likely been issued a smartphone that is designed to work within the DoD infrastructure. It allows you to check your military email without needing special measures or documents. You can even forward your military email to your personal webmail account.
However, you should be aware that security is a top concern when it comes to accessing your military email from home. For example, you may need a Common Access Card (CAC). Most units automatically issue this to their service members, but you can also request one through your human resources department.
After you receive a CAC, you need to use ActivClient, the main DOD software that interfaces your card reader with your access documents to verify your online identity. This process is fairly simple and takes a few seconds to complete.
Once you have a CAC, you can then log into your.mil account using any device that can connect to the Internet. Most computers will be able to do so, but you can also use a tablet or mobile phone.
Once you are signed in, you will be able to access many of the tools and resources available on milConnect. These include hourly childcare options, the MilTax tax preparation and e-filing software, and various other information resources. You can also sign up for a Military OneSource account and gain access to more tools and resources. This type of login is reserved for eligible service members, veterans, their spouses, and other individuals enrolled in the DoD or VA systems.