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[hassubttitle]Guide to the Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) generally provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, to obtain access to federal agency records, except to the extent that such records (or portions of them) are protected from public disclosure by one of nine exemptions, or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions (b(7)).

The principles of government openness and accountability underlying the FOIA are inherent in the democratic ideal: "The basic purpose of the FOIA is to ensure an informed citizenry, vital to the functioning of a democratic society, needed to check against corruption and to hold the governors accountable to the governed."

Click here for the full text of the Freedom of Information Act.

How to Make a FOIA Request

For the  fastest response times, the Air Force has decentralized its FOIA program. If you want to submit a FOIA request online CLICK HERE. No single office handles all FOIA requests. If you prefer not to submit on line you can mail/fax your request to the FOIA Requester Service Center where the record is located or the particular base or activity that has the records you want. If you don't know which Air Force activity has the records you want, mail/fax your request to:

SAF/AAII,
1000 Air Force Pentagon,
Washington, DC 20330-1000
eFax: 571-256-3110@fax.hqda.pentagon.mil

Ensure you describe the records you want as specifically as possible, and let the office know how much you are willing to pay. Furnish any facts or clues about the time, place, persons, events, subjects, or other details of the information or records you want. That will help the office decide where to search and determine what records pertain to your request. It can also save you and the government time and money, and you may get what you want faster. There is no special form to complete. Mark your request and envelope "FOIA."

How do I request a copy of my Military Personnel Records or DD 214?

How do I request a copy of my Military Medical Records?

 

 

Are there processing fees?

Fees are assessed depending on which group the request falls into:

Category 1: Commercial. Requesters pay all search, review, and duplication.

Category 2: Educational or Noncommercial Scientific Institution or News Media. Requesters get the first 100 copies free and pay for additional copies.

Category 3: Others. Requesters get the first two hours of search and the first 100 copies free.

Fee Waivers: If you are advised or expect that a fee will be charged, you may request in writing a waiver of those fees if the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. The mere fact that you are a non-profit organization or a member of the media does not in and of itself qualify for a fee waiver. In addition, a requester's inability to pay is not a legal basis for granting a fee waiver.

Are you seeking a record that is currently classified?

If you are only seeking a copy of a record or records that are currently classified, and would like the record reviewed for appropriate declassification and release, you should file a Mandatory Declassification Review request. Mandatory Declassification Review is a provision of Presidential Executive Order 13526 that allows members of the public to request a mandatory declassification review of a classified document in order to obtain a releasable version of the document. The desired document requested must be specified in sufficient detail that it can be readily located. The record in question may not be the subject of litigation. The mandatory declassification review process can be a very timely and in-depth, due to the classification of materials being reviewed by internal and outside agencies.  MDR decisions can be administratively appealed to the Headquarters Air Force/AAII (Mandatory Declassification Review) or Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP).

Requests for review and release of classified records under the MDR process can be made to:

Headquarters Air Force/AAII (Mandatory Declassification Review)
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1000
Email:  usaf.pentagon.saf-aa.mbx.mdr-workflow@mail.mil

 

If dissatisfied with the service received from the FOIA Requester Service Center, you may contact the Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Officer, Ms. Anh Trinh, for assistance at:

Email: usaf.pentagon.saf-cio-a6.mbx.af-foia@mail.mil

Phone (703) 614-8500

Laughlin FOIA Office

47 CS/SCXK 
350 Mitchell Blvd, Building 348
Laughlin AFB, TX 78843-5241 
E-mail: 47CS.SCXK.FOIA@us.af.mil
Phone: Comm: (830) 298-9298 
DSN: 732-9298

 

Am I eligible?

Members of the public, including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, organizations and businesses, and individual members of the Congress for themselves or constituents, may request records in writing. It is important to remember that the Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal agencies. It does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. Each state has its own public access laws that should by consulted for access to state and local records.