CIRCULAR

No. 880-3

HEADQUARTERS,

Cir 380-3

1. DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) is the basic document from which information is obtained to initiate personnel security investigations (either National Agency Checks or Background Investigations, as defined in AR 381-130).

2. Instructions printed on DD Form 398 require submission of more information than needed by investigators and more than is required to satisfy investigative scopes announced in AR 881130. Moreover, strict adherence to printed instructions on DD Form 398 and insistence on absolute completeness of information provided thereon (prior to initiation of investigative action) causes unnecessary burdens on persons who must prepare and process the forms and results in unwarranted delays in initiating investigations.

3. Accordingly, in order more promptly to initiate required investigative actions and to reduce efforts wasted in providing information not needed, the following actions are directed:

a. Instructions provided in the appendix concerning completion of DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) will be followed in lieu of

contrary instructions contained on the form or elsewhere.

b. Individuals (and those supervising or assisting them) will complete DD Form 898, in accordance with the appendix as completely and accurately as possible. Thereafter, DD Form 398 will not be returned for correction and/or additional information prior to initiation of investigative action by control offices unless the subject's name, date of birth, or place of birth are either missing or are illegible. After initiation of investigative action, control offices may request added or corrected information from subjects, as required.

4. DD Form 398 need be completed in no more than two copies. The original copy will accompany the request for investigation and the duplicate copy placed in the individual's field military 201 file or civilian personnel folder as appropriate. If more than one copy of DD Form 398 is required by control offices, it will be reproduced mechanically (i.e. Xerox, photostat, or similar process).

5. Instructions in the appendix will be reproduced locally and provided to each individual required to complete DD Form 398.

95-901 O-63 (App. vol. 1)-9

1. General. DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) is an important document and must be completed without misstatement or omission of important fact. All entries are subject to verification by investigation. Do not attempt to complete DD Form 398 without first carefully reading the following instructions and certification at the end of the questionnaire (just above the signature block):

a. Print in ink or type all entries on the form. b. If you already have a DD Form 398 on file, you are now only required to execute items 1 through 6, and items 14, 17, and 20 in their entirety. Item 14 will include references with whom you have had recent association or business dealings and will contain references NOT listed on previous DD Form 398. All other items will be completed with the remark "no change" or by entry of any changes or additions that have occurred since the date of submission of the last previous DD Form 398. c. When the answer to any question entered on DD Form 398 is of such a nature as to cause you embarrassment, write "Interview" in the appropriate item and you will be privately interviewed concerning the matter.

d. Carefully proofread the completed forms before signing. Delays caused by errors may prevent your serving in a sensitive position for which a security clearance is required. 2. Detailed instructions.

Item 1. Enter complete name. If you have no middle name, print "NMN"; if you have an initial only, insert the initial and print "IO." Check appropriate square for "Mr," "Mrs," or "Miss."

Item 2. Check appropriate box. NGUS and USAR personnel not on active duty should check "Civilian." Personnel receiving this form through Selective Service channels for preparation prior to induction or enlistment will leave this item blank.

Item 3. If there is an alias, nickname, or change of name, show it in item 3 and utilize additional space under item 20 to explain where, when, and why changed (e.g. name may have been changed

when adopted or naturalized). If not applicable, enter "NONE."

Item 4. Give full permanent home address or full legal address. Do not use military address. Item 5. Print complete date (Example: 2 May 1939, not 2/5/39); make all required entries regarding place of birth. Birth certificate does not have to be on your person.

Item 6. Check appropriate boxes and, if hospitalized or treated by a doctor, enter dates, place, and name of doctor in item 20.

Item 7. If you are a native-born U.S. citizen, check both appropriate boxes and leave remaining blocks blank. If you are a naturalized citizen, list certificate number, date and place of the naturalization court. If your citizenship is derived, list the certificate number(s) of your parents, the date and place of naturalization. If an alien, list your alien registration number. If you are stateless, so indicate as an additional remark in native country box. If your naturalization application is pending, explain the circumstances under item 20. (For personnel born abroad of U.S. parents, enter date, and port of initial entry into the United States, if known). Item 8. Check appropriate boxes for current active duty, USAR or NGUS activity and previous service. Include your service in all branches of the Armed Forces, list all service serial numbers, and dates and types of any discharges and separations other than honorable. If additional space is required use item 20. Leave blank if no previous military service.

Item 9. List only the last school attended and give year of last attendance, address of the school, whether graduate or nongraduate, and degree,

if any.

Item 10. List in order given, the full name (maiden name where appropriate) and, where known, the date (day, month, and year) and place of birth (city, State, and country), current address, and citizenship status of all persons listed in fine print at the beginning of item 10, DD Form 398. If you are married include the following information concerning spouse's parents, if known: Full name, date and place of

birth, present address, citizen or noncitizen. If you are divorced, enter date, place, and court in which decree was granted.

(Item 20, REMARKS, may be used if additional space is required). If persons listed are not native born, give the date and their port of entry, alien registration number, naturalization number and date, place, and court in which naturalization was granted. (This information

may be listed in item 20, REMARKS). If data is unknown, enter "Unknown." Item 11. Answer completely, giving address, if known, as well as the country of residence. If answer is none, print "NONE." Explain in item 20 the degree of relationship and frequency of your contact with these persons. Do not enter U.S. Government personnel or their dependents.

Item 12. List here only foreign travels since you were 18 years of age (or during the last 15 years, whichever period is shorter). Enter NONE if applicable. Do not list travel as a U.S. Government member or dependent.

Item 13. List each employment of 90 days duration or longer since your 18th birthday (or during the last 15 years, whichever period is shorter). If you are unemployed, so state. If a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, so state. If self-employed, give address and nature of business. If your Social Security number is unknown your unit personnel officer may be able to assist you. If not, enter UNKNOWN. Continue under item 20, if necessary.

Item 14. Do not list credit references if you are under 21 years of age. If 21 years of age or over, list three credit references. List five character references regardless of age. List references that were not listed on previous DD Form 398. If you cannot furnish bona fide credit references, list a school to which you have paid tuition, or any store, gasoline station, automobile dealer, repair shop, life insurance company, landlord, doctor, lawyer, etc., to whom you have paid cash for services or goods, and who has knowledge or records of any of your financial transactions.

Item 15. List only those residences where you have lived 90 days or more since your 18th birthday (or during the last 15 years, whichever period is the shorter). Print street number, city, and State. Military personnel who have resided in

Government quarters, bachelor officer quarters, or barracks physically located on a military reservation, should enter a remark covering the period of such occupancy, such as: "October 1960-November 1961, Fort Sill, Oklahomaon post residence." Continue under item 20, if necessary.

Item 16. List all organizations to which you have belonged since age 18 (or last 15 years, whichever period is the shorter) giving inclusive years of membership and addresses. If you held office in any organization enter the office held, the location or chapter, and the approximate dates. Item 17. Check applicable boxes. If any box is

checked "Yes," state the circumstances in full under item 20.

Item 18. Check the applicable box. Do not an

swer "Not Applicable." If the answer is "Yes," give a complete resumé of the case(s). List any incident and include all juvenile cases. For courts-martial, explain the nature and disposition of the case and your punishment. If additional space is required, remarks may be continued under item 20. If ever fined, as an officer, under Article 15 UCMJ give resumé. Summarize any official reprimands received. If ever reduced in grade, summarize the reasons. Identical procedures apply for other military services, Navy courts-martial, Captain's Mast, etc. Item 19. Read the question carefully. Check applicable box; use remarks section if additional space is required. Do not answer "not applicable."

Item 20. Use this space if more is required to complete other items or for explaining items in detail.

Military. Under this item include when ap

plicable the statement: "I have executed DD Form 98 (Loyalty Certificate of the Armed Forces) without qualification." Civilian employees. Under this item include when applicable the statement: "I have executed DD Form 1111 (Certificate of Non-affiliation with Certain Organizations) without qualification."

When DD Form 398 is executed to cover only the period since the date of submission of a previous form, enter the following certificate under this item: "I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE ENTRIES ARE