The Privacy Act of 1974, establishes a Code of Fair Information Practice that governs the collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of personally identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal agencies. A system of records is a group of records under the control of an agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifier assigned to the individual. The Privacy Act requires that agencies give the public notice of their systems of records by publication in the Federal Register. The Privacy Act prohibits the disclosure of information from a system of records absent the written consent of the subject individual, unless the disclosure is pursuant to one of twelve statutory exceptions. The Act also provides individuals with a means by which to seek access to and amendment of their records, and sets forth various agency record-keeping requirements.
How to submit a FOIA request
Freedom of Information Act requests can be submitted by letter, email, or fax to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord FOIA Office. For the request to be accepted, the following information must be included in the request.
1. Must state you are submitting a "Freedom of Information Act Request".
2. Requester’s contact information: Full Name, Address and/or Personal Email Address, and Phone number. If you are requesting on behalf of another person, that individual must sign the request and/or provide authorization for release of information to you. Attorneys must provide signed client agreements that authorizes representation to act on client’s behalf.
3. Must state an indication of willingness to pay: Minimum of $1.00. Be aware that video and audio records require special handling, and the request bears the actual costs. You will be notified if costs exceeded the agreed amount.
4. Reasonable description of records: Provide the type of records and the specifics details of the records, including dates, case numbers, and possible recordholders of the records i.e. the unit or agency in possession of the records. Records involving children, require specific documentation for release, please contact us for details.
5. The request must be signed, digitally or handwritten.
The FOIA office email address is usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dhr-asd-foia@army.mil. Please direct all inquiries to this address.
Written request can be sent to this address:
Department of the Army
DHR / Administrative Services Division
ATTN: FOIA/PA Office
Box 339500, Mail Stop 85
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433-9500
Here is the current request form to use in your submission. HJB Form 7, JBLM Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request