Agency Directive: Federal Implementation of Policies and Procedures
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is preparing for significant changes in the transfer of military records, with the implementation of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) M-23-07. This directive, issued by the OMB, outlines new transfer guidelines for permanent and temporary analog records after June 30, 2024.
One of the key changes is the emphasis on the long-term preservation of permanent records. After the specified retention period expires, agencies are required to transfer these records to the National Archives or appropriate Federal records centers. Temporary records, on the other hand, should only be retained as long as necessary for operational, legal, or fiscal purposes, and then properly disposed of following approved schedules.
Agencies are encouraged to update their records retention schedules to reflect OMB M-23-07 standards by the June 30, 2024 deadline. This aligns with general recommendations found in records retention documents, which highlight retention periods for various record types and the designation of some records as permanent, requiring transfer to archives.
The NPRC Medical Registry System (MRS) plays a crucial role in the electronically indexing of retired Military Treatment Facility (MTF) medical records. MTF PAD POC personnel are responsible for retiring MTF medical records to NPRC, a process that requires access to the ARCIS/MRS MTF Customer Web Portal.
The NPRC stores retired MTF clinical records (hospital inpatient) and medical treatment records (inpatient and outpatient) for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Defense Health Agency (DHA). This includes records for military retirees, dependents, and other non-military personnel who received treatment at MTFs.
For more information about OMB M-23-07, contact your agency Records Officer. If you need more information about the requirements of OMB/NARA M-19-21 or the exception process, visit the Digitization of Federal Records page.
Most military record requests at NPRC are for information from Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) of service veterans. These files may contain the Active Duty Health Record (also known as the Service Treatment Record). Additionally, many military record requests are for medical treatment records of military and non-military personnel who received treatment at U.S. Military Treatment Facilities worldwide. Many requests are also for clinical records of military personnel while on active duty.
Starting from June 30, 2024, NARA will no longer accept new transfers of analog records unless granted a limited exception (according to OMB M-23-07). For authoritative and complete guidance, agencies and records managers should refer directly to the OMB M-23-07 memo, issued by the Office of Management and Budget, which prescribes procedural steps and responsibilities regarding the transfer, retention, and disposition of both permanent and temporary analog records after June 30, 2024.
The implementation of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) M-23-07 is influencing policy-and-legislation in the context of transferring military records, marking a shift in politics. The directive outlines new guidelines for permanent and temporary analog records, requiring agencies to comply by the given deadline.
The general news surrounding this topic underscores the importance of updating records retention schedules to align with OMB M-23-07 standards, which specify retention periods for various record types and the designation of some records as permanent, necessitating transfer to archives.
