Fill Out DD Form 368 Online
Request for Conditional Release
U.S. Department of Defense
Requests conditional release from a Reserve or Guard component so a member can enlist or be appointed in another armed forces component.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
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Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
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Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
DD Form 368, the Request for Conditional Release, is the paperwork that lets a member of a Reserve or National Guard component seek release so they can enlist or accept an appointment in another component or branch of the armed forces. A common example is a National Guard member who wants to move to active duty in a different service.
The form travels between you, the gaining service's recruiter, and your current chain of command, so a clean, legible copy keeps the process moving. You can fill out your portion of the DD 368 in the Universal PDF editor and download the completed PDF to route for signatures.
What is DD Form 368 used for
Service members cannot simply quit one component and join another, because each member carries an existing military service obligation. The conditional release documents that the current component agrees to let the member go, on the condition that the member actually enters the new component.
The form is used for moves such as:
- A National Guard or Reserve member enlisting in a regular, active duty component
- A member transferring between Reserve components of different branches
- A member seeking appointment as an officer in another component
Who is involved in a DD Form 368
Three parties touch the form. The member and the gaining service's recruiter or representative complete the request portion, describing the intended enlistment or appointment. The member's current commander or the designated approval authority in the losing component then approves or disapproves the release.
Approval is discretionary. Commanders weigh factors such as unit strength, the member's remaining obligation, and pending actions, so a conditional release is a request rather than an entitlement.
How to fill out DD Form 368
Coordinate with the gaining recruiter before submitting anything, since the request needs to describe where you are going. The form generally covers:
- Your identifying information, current component, and unit
- The component and program you intend to join, completed with the gaining service representative
- The requested release, which is conditioned on your actual enlistment or appointment
- The approval or disapproval section completed by the losing component's authority
- An expiration date, because a conditional release is only valid for a limited period
Where the form goes
Submit the request through your current unit and chain of command per your component's procedures. Once approved, the signed release goes to the gaining service, which keeps it with your accession paperwork; if you do not join the new component before the release expires, you remain a member of your current one.
Check with your unit career counselor or personnel office for the current edition and any service specific routing rules, or verify the form on the official DoD forms site.
Frequently asked questions
No. The release is conditional. You remain in your current component until you actually enlist in or are appointed to the new one. If the move never happens, or the release expires first, your status does not change.
Yes. Approval is discretionary and depends on factors such as unit manning, your remaining service obligation, and whether any actions are pending against you. If a request is disapproved, ask what would change the decision and when reapplying makes sense.
A conditional release carries an expiration date and is only valid for the limited window stated on the form. If you do not complete the enlistment or appointment before it expires, the gaining service will need a new release.
Practically, yes. The gaining service's representative completes part of the request, and commanders generally want to see a concrete destination before approving a release.
Yes. Open the PDF in the Universal PDF editor, type the entries for your portion, and download the file to route to the gaining recruiter and your chain of command for their sections and signatures.
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