What is a Cold War Certificate and how to obtain it?

Under the 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.

The program to issue the Cold War Recognition Certificate is run by the United States Army. There is an official Army web site where you can request Cold War Recognition Certificates. This site should be used by everyone who qualifies for the certificate, no matter which branch of the armed forces or agency of the federal government you served. Please click on the link: https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/905

Cold War Recognition Certificates are available to qualified individuals at no cost. Any other sites offering to sell this certificate, a replica of the certificate, or anything else referred to as a Cold War medal or certificate, are not official sites and are not approved or endorsed by the US Army.

The National Archives may be able to help you document your service.

Military veterans, please see:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html

Federal civilian employees, please see:

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/civilian-personnel/

  • in reply to TomMertens

    Obtaining a Cold War Recognition Certificate without Form SF-50 can be challenging, but it's still possible if you have other substantial documentation of your service. The SF-50 is typically used to verify employment and service dates, which are crucial for eligibility. However, you can contact the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to request your service records, which may include the necessary details to verify your service during the Cold War period. Additionally, you can provide other supporting documents, such as military discharge papers (DD Form 214), orders and assignments, performance evaluations, and awards related to your service. Including a detailed personal statement in your application, explaining your roles and any pertinent information, can help fill in the gaps if specific forms like the SF-50 are missing. It's also a good idea to contact the U.S. Department of Defense, the issuing authority for the certificate, to explain your situation and ask for guidance on alternative documentation that may be acceptable.

  • can a Cold War certificate be obtained without Form SF 50,  most other information is known or in hand except pay grades, places served,. I am not NOK, this is for an Archived record

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