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.

Air Force-affiliated requesters, to include military and civilian employees, should not use government equipment, supplies, stationery, postage, telephones, or official mail channels to make FOIA requests. Requests should be made through personal e-mail or postal service.

For submitting Freedom of Information requests online to our Requester Service Centers (RSC), click on the following AF eFOIA Public Access Link PAL.

In accordance with subsection C.1.4.3 of DoD5400.7-R_AFMAN 33-302, a FOIA request must either explicitly or implicitly invoke the FOIA; be submitted in writing that reasonably describes the desired record(s) sought and must identify a willingness to pay fees associated with processing the request, or, in the alternative, why a waiver of fees may be appropriate. A FOIA request can be made by any person, including a member of the public (U.S. or foreign citizen/entity), an organization, or a business, but not including Federal Agency or a fugitive from the law.

The request is considered properly received or perfected when the above conditions have been met and the request arrives at the FOIA office of the agency in possession of the records.

Response Time: Normally, people can expect a response to their FOIA request within 20 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) from the date the proper FOIA office receives it. If special situations exist, the FOIA office will contact the requestor with an estimated completion date and explain the reason for the delay. The Air Force works on requests on a first-in, first-out basis.

Filing an Appeal:  If you disagree and interpret this response as an adverse action, you may appeal in writing to the Secretary of the Air Force, through (502 CS/SCOKF, 151 J. Street East, building 990, room 124A, JBSA-Randolph, TX 78150) within 90 calendar days from the date of this letter. Include in the appeal your reasons for reconsideration, and attach a copy of this letter. You may also submit your appeal online at the Air Force’s Public Access Link at https://efoia.cce.af.mil/.

If dissatisfied with the response received from the Requester Service Center, you may contact the Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Officer, Mr. Robert E. Bivens, concerning the processing of the request at Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Office, 1800 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1800 daf.foia@us.af.mil  or call 703-614-8500. You may also seek dispute resolution services from the Office of Government Information Services. Using the dispute resolution services, will not affect your appeal rights.

Note: Privacy Act requests are not accepted via e-mail or the online submission form. They must be in writing and sent to the FOIA/PA Office or to the office in possession of the record(s) you seek.

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: Documents shall be furnished without charge, or at a charge reduced below fees assessed to the categories of requesters in subsection. The component determines that waiver or reduction of the fees is in the public interest because furnishing the information is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the Department of Defense and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.

Expedite: An expedited request is when a requester asks for expedited processing and explains the compelling need (imminent threat to life or physical safety; urgently needed by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information; due process; or humanitarian need) for the requested information. In order to receive expedited processing, requesters must provide a statement certifying their "demonstration" (description) of their specific "compelling need" or due process/humanitarian need is true and correct to the best of their knowledge. When a requester seeks expedited processing, FOIA offices must respond in writing to the requester within 10 calendar days after receipt of the request approving or denying their request for expedited processing. Requesters have a right to appeal an adverse decision (e.g., when it is determined their requests will not be expedited). Expedited processing moves your request to the top of the queue, but it is still processed within the 20 workdays allowed by law.

The electronic reading room is located on the Air Force FOIA Library web page under the title, AF FOIA Library (Electronic FOIA Library)

Freedom of Information Act, (FOIA), [5 USC 552(a)(2)(D)], requires that certain documents of interest to the general public be published electronically. It has been determined that the materials listed in the FOIA Library should be made available to the general public in electronic form as FOIA-processed (a)(2)(D) records.

Please be advised that the Air Force will not deliver unofficial mass mailing addressed to individuals on the same day from the same mailer. (DoD Manual 4525.8-M/AFMAN 33-306, para C7.3.1.7.2.2)

This listing is provided under the FOIA and does not imply a desire of the listed individuals to receive unsolicited telephone calls or faxes.

Mandatory Declassification Review: Executive Order 12958 allows you to request declassification of classified records. 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: daf.foia@us.af.mil 
Telephone: 703-695-2226