Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), known by its legal cite as 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 552, along with Department of Defense (DoD) Publication 5400.7, can be found at Part 286 of Chapter 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which is available in most libraries or online from the U.S. Government Printing Office Access CFR Web site.
 
Freedom of Information Act

What is FOIA?

The FOIA allows the general public including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, to request records electronically or in writing from the Federal Government. Some records are released to the public under the FOIA, and may therefore reflect deletion of some information in accordance with the FOIA's nine statutory exemptions or two law enforcement record exclusions. A consolidated list of such records is on the DoD and Air Force FOIA sites. Currently the law allows 20 working days to process a FOIA request upon receipt of the request in the FOIA office.

Who Can Submit an Request?

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 FOIA 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.

How To Make an FOIA Request

The Air National Guard has centralized its FOIA Program. We encourage requestors to make FOIA requests electronically through the AF FOIA website.

You may also mail, e-mail, or fax your FOIA request for ANG Records (except ANG/IG Records) as follows:
Office of Information and Privacy (NGB/JA-OIP)
Attn: ANG FOIA Requests
111 South George Mason Drive, AH2
Arlington VA 22204-1373
Phone: (571) 256-7838 or (703) 607-5901
Fax: 703-607-3684

Requests can also be made on-line by e-mail on the Army IG FOIA website . When requesting by e-mail please be sure to indicate it is a request for the Air National Guard.

The ANG/FOIA Office can be contacted at (703) 607-3195 between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST.

For more information on the FOIA Program please visit the NGB FOIA Website

Requests for your own records under the Privacy Act must be made directly to the office that holds the records you are seeking. If you have questions about making a request under the Privacy Act, you may contact the Wing Privacy Officer at :
185th ARW FOIA
2920 Headquarters Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51110
(712)233-0587
DSN585-0587

To learn more about the FOIA and about how to request information through the FOIA, view the DoD FOIA Handbook.

Service records on former civilian and military members are NOT maintained by the Air National Guard. They are maintained by the National Archives and Records Administrations' National Personnel Records Center. Records request instructions and contact information is listed on their Web site.

External Links Disclaimer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the 185th Air Refueling Wing, the Iowa Air National Guard, the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense of the external website, or information, products, or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Services/Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Air Force does not exercise editorial control over the information users may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of the website.