Dd Form 1853 – Fill Out and Use This PDF

Updated: Oct 31, 2026

The DD Form 1853 is a document used by Reserve personnel to verify their eligibility for space-available transportation on Department of Defense (DoD)-owned or controlled aircraft. It includes sections for personal information, details about the applicant's service, and authorization from verifying officials to confirm active reserve status and travel eligibility in accordance with DoD Regulation 4515.13-R. To ensure your travel plans are in compliance with military regulations, click the button below to start filling out your DD Form 1853 today.

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Dd Form 1853 PDF Details

Embarking on government or military travel requires detail and preparation, particularly when it involves the utilization of space available on Department of Defense (DoD) owned or controlled aircraft. At the heart of this process is the DD Form 1853, a document designed to verify the eligibility of reserve members for such travel opportunities. Divided into two main sections, the form captures essential information starting from personal identification details to official confirmation by a verifying official. Key aspects like the Privacy Act Statement and the authority under which the form operates—citing laws and executive orders—are crucial for understanding its legal basis and the implications of providing personal data, such as the Social Security Number, which is mandatory for identity verification. The stipulation that failure to provide requested details may preclude the possibility of travel highlights the form's importance. The verification process itself, facilitated by authorized DoD personnel, underscores the defense department's structured approach to managing reserve members' travel, ensuring that those eligible can avail themselves of this benefit within the established guidelines, as outlined in DoD Regulation 4515.13-R. The form's expiration date suggests the necessity for regular updates, ensuring that the most current information and regulations are being applied. Through the DD Form 1853, the intricate balance between accommodating the personal travel needs of reserve members and the operational and security protocols of the Department of Defense is navigated with precision and care.

Question	Answer
Form Name	Dd Form 1853
Form Length	1 pages
Fillable?	No
Fillable fields	0
Avg. time to fill out	15 sec
Other names	form dd 1853, verifying dd status, form 1853, official form reserve

How to Fill Out DD Form 1853

DD Form 1853 at a glance

What it is: DD Form 1853 is the Verification of Reserve Status for Travel Eligibility.

Who signs: The applicant signs in box 8 and enters the date signed in box 9 as YYYYMMDD. The verifying official signs in box 16.

Part B may be completed by the requester's commander, First Sergeant, or a DoD personnel official with access to the Personnel Data System.

Reserve personnel use it to verify eligibility for space available transportation on DoD-owned or controlled aircraft.

A filled-in DD Form 1853 example: a reservist asks for travel verification

DD Form 1853 example filled out, example: a reservist asks for travel verification — Dana Sample, an Army reservist, fills out the verification of reserve status. The verifying official authorizes travel for six months, from 20261101 to 20270430. The picture shows both parts filled in; its names and figures are sample values.

How to fill out DD Form 1853, box by box

1. Date prepared

Enter the date prepared in box 1 as YYYYMMDD.

Part A - To be completed by applicant

In Part A, enter the applicant's name (Last, First, Middle Initial), pay grade, branch of service and SSN.

Use of your SSN is necessary to positively identify you.

6. Unit/command name and 7. Unit/command address

Enter the unit/command name in box 6 and the unit/command address in box 7.

8. Signature and 9. Date signed

The applicant signs in box 8 and enters the date signed in box 9 as YYYYMMDD.

Part B - 10. From and 11. To

The Reservist is an active reserve component member and is eligible for space available transportation in accordance with Regulation 4515.13-R.

The Reservist is authorized to so travel (not to exceed six months).

Part B is to be completed by the verifying official: in box 10 enter FROM and in box 11 enter TO, each as YYYYMMDD.

12. Name of verifying official, 13. Pay grade and 14. Title

In box 12 enter the name of the verifying official (Last, First, Middle Initial); in box 13 the pay grade; in box 14 the title.

15. Organization, 16. Signature and 17. Date signed

In box 15 enter the organization and in box 17 enter the date signed as YYYYMMDD.

The verifying official signs in box 16.

More rules for DD Form 1853

Disclosure is voluntary; however, failure to disclose will prevent the applicant from traveling on a DoD-owned or controlled aircraft.

Sources

[1] DD Form 1853 (OCT 1999), Verification of Reserve Status for Travel Eligibility, Department of Defense (the Official source link on this page).