The government has the responsibility to keep the public informed on how it conducts business. One of the tools available to the public to attain this type of information is access to government records. The Freedom of Information Act are Records Access Laws pertaining to agency records. The FOIA is a federal statute which governs federal records, i.e. those maintained on behalf of a federal agency or Kentucky Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

Every government employee plays a vital role with regard to release of information to the public.

Authority to release records or deny access to records, does not exist at unit/office level. RAOs are trained to assess fees, apply waivers and protect non-Public data/information.

Authority to deny access to records is reserved to the following:

(1) Kentucky DMA Records - Military Records Branch Manager (2) Federal Records - Chief, National Guard Bureau

All requests for federal records exempted from release under the FOIA must be forwarded to the National Guard Bureau with a recommendation to not release the records based on the appropriate citation from the FOIA.

Persons denied access to records have the right to appeal. Appellate Authorities are:

(1) State Records - KY DMA Executive Director (2) Federal Records - Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force

All requests for information under federal or state records access laws must be forwarded to a designated RAO:

(1) KY DMA State Appeals - KY DMA Executive Director forwards opinion to the KY Attorney General’s office.

(2) Kentucky Army National Guard Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests can be: Use one of the following methods to submit a FOIA request to the Kentucky Army National Guard (KYARNG):

(1) Complete the KYARNG FOIA Request form by clicking this link: KYARNG-FOIA-Request-Form

(2) Mail FOIA requests to:

Kentucky Army National Guard ATTN: KYARNG FOIA/PA Officer Boone National Guard Center 100 Minuteman Parkway Bldg 154 Frankfort, KY 40601-6168

Main Office Number:(502) 607-1561 Facsimile number: (502) 607-1321 Email address: [email protected]

The KYARNG FOIA Office serves as the Requester Service Center for KYARNG FOIA requests. Contact the KYARNG FOIA Office at (502) 607-1589 if you have any questions about the processing of your request. If you are not satisfied with the response from this office, you may contact the NGB FOIA Office at (703) 607-3195 or [email protected].

Click this link for the DoD Freedom of Information Act Handbook: http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/dfoipo/foiaHandbook.html

To obtain copies of inactive Guard personnel files and DD 214s for Kentucky Veterans please contact:

Military Records and Research Branch 1121 Louisville road, Suite 5 Frankfort, KY 40601

Main Office Phone: 502-607-6041 Fax: 502-607-6040

Request military records using the AGO Form 26-12 (Request For Military Records).

To obtain state records from the KY Department of Military Affairs (DMA) using the KY Open Records Act contact the following:

Department of Military Affairs ATTN: Crystal Simpson 100 Minuteman Pkwy EOC Building, Room 129 Frankfort, KY 40601 Main Office Number: (502) 607-1541 Email: [email protected]

If you are not satisfied with the response from the center, you may contact the ARNG FOIA Officer, Ms. Jennifer Nikolaisen, at 703-607-3195 or by e-mail [email protected].

(3) Kentucky Air National Guard Freedom of Information Act Requests

All requests for Air National Guard records may be directed to ARNG FOIA Officer, Ms. Jennifer Nikolaisen, at (703) 607-3195 or by e-mail [email protected]

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Related Links:

Dept of DefenseU.S. Army

U.S. Coast Guard

Veterans Affairs

KY Department for Libraries & Archives

US Government Information Locator Service

US Dept of Justice