DD Form 3 at a glance
What it is: DD Form 3 is the APPLICATION FOR GOLD STAR LAPEL BUTTON.
Where and when to file: Form must be typewritten or completed in ink, signed by the applicant, and mailed to the applicable Military Service.
AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. § 1126, Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution; and E.O. 9397 (SSN), as amended. PRINCIPAL PURPOSE(S): To apply for the Gold Star Lapel Button and to determine an applicant's eligibility as the next of kin of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their life under one of the qualifying circumstances specified in 10 U.S.C. § 1126. The information is used to verify the deceased service member's status and the applicant's relationship, and to mail the button to the correct address.
DoD policy limits Gold Star Lapel Button distribution to the: widow; widower; parents; stepparents; parents through adoption; foster parents who stood in loco parentis; children; stepchildren; children through adoption; siblings; half siblings, and stepsiblings.
A filled-in DD Form 3 example: a widow applies for the button
How to fill out DD Form 3, box by box
Deceased servicemember data
Under 1. DECEASED SERVICEMEMBER DATA, enter a. Name (Last, First, Middle Initial), b. Pay Grade or Rank, c. Service, DoD, or Social Security Number, d. Branch of Service and e. Date of Death (YYYYMMDD).
Applicant relationship to deceased servicemember
Under 2. APPLICANT RELATIONSHIP TO DECEASED SERVICEMEMBER (check one): Widow / Widower, Foster Parent in loco parentis, Sibling, Parent, Child, Half sibling, Parent through adoption, Child by adoption, Stepsibling, Stepparent, Stepchild.
In accordance with section 1126, title 10, United States Code, "Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution," the Gold Star Lapel Button is provided by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned to identify next-of-kin of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives: (1) During World War I (April 6, 1917 to March 3, 1921); (2) During World War II (September 8, 1939 to July 25, 1947); (3) During any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the U.S. was engaged before July 1, 1958; or (4) After June 30, 1958, while: engaged in an action against a U.S. enemy; or engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force; or (5) Who lost their lives after March 28, 1973, as a result of: an international terrorist attack against the U.S. or a foreign nation friendly to the U.S., recognized as an attack by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned; or military operations while serving outside the U.S. (including the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the U.S.), as part of a peacekeeping force.
Applicant information and signature
Under 3. APPLICANT INFORMATION and SIGNATURE, enter a. Name (Last, First, Middle Initial), b. Number, Street, and Apartment Number (if applicable), c. City, State, and Zip Code, d. Phone Number (optional), e. E-mail Address (optional) and f. Signature.
Use a separate form for each request.
More rules for DD Form 3
ROUTINE USES: In addition to disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records may be disclosed outside the DOD as a routine use. This includes disclosures to the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist in providing benefits, to other Federal, State, and local government agencies to determine eligibility for benefits. A complete list of routine uses is available in the governing System of Records Notice, DoD-0020, Military Human Resource Records, available at https://www.federalregister.gov/ documents/2024/05/15/2024-09967/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records.
If your situation is different
Failure to provide all the requested information
DISCLOSURE: Voluntary. However, failure to provide all the requested information may result in the inability to process your application and issue the Gold Star Lapel Button.
Common questions about DD Form 3
Who signs it?
Form must be typewritten or completed in ink, signed by the applicant, and mailed to the applicable Military Service.
Where do I file it?
ARMY: If the Service member's date of death is on or after October 1, 2002, submit to: HRC, ADB, (AHRC-PDP-A), DEPT 480, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue Fort Knox, KY 40122-4508 or via email to: usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-awards@mail.mil. Otherwise to: National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records) 1 Archives Drive St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. AIR FORCE: If the Service member's date of death is on or after October 1, 2004, submit to: Air Force Personnel Center Attn: Air Force Casualty 550C Street JBSA-Randolph AFB, TX 78150. Otherwise to: National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records) 1 Archives Drive St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. NAVY: Navy Personnel Command Navy Casualty Office (PERS-00C) ATTN: Long Term Assistance Program 5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055. MARINE CORPS: Long Term Assistance Program (Code MFPC) Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps 2008 Elliot Road Quantico, VA 22134-5103 or via email to: LTAP@usmc.mil. COAST GUARD: Personnel Service Center Attn: PSC-PSD-FS US Coast Guard Stop 7200 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Washington, DC 20593-7200.
Sources
[1] DD Form 3 (AUGUST 2020), Application for Gold Star Lapel Button, U.S. Department of Defense (the Official source link on this page).