Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program

Marrow donors offer hope

We register DoD-affiliated volunteers as marrow donors and guide them through donation when they match a patient in need.

Join the registry How donation works

Already registered? Update your contact info

Marines in dress uniform swab their cheeks to join the registry

1M+

potential donors recruited since 1991

8,000+

marrow and stem cell donations coordinated

1 in 430

chance that a registered donor goes on to donate

Program figures as of 2026

Operation Ring the Bell

One soldier's campaign, thousands of new donors.

SGT Christian Sutton hosted his first registration drive with his unit at Fort Bliss in 2022. Since then, his campaign has registered thousands of potential donors across the Army.

Help us ring that bell

Your cells can save a life

These are a few of the patients who received a second chance — and one who is still waiting for his.

Recipient

Blaize

His parents say Blaize is alive today because of his donors, who gave him “a second and third chance at life.”

Donor & recipient

Kevin and Dianne

Kevin donated marrow to Dianne in 2008. They grew close and spend holidays together, and in 2014 Dianne officiated Kevin's wedding.

Recipient

Lori and Michael

Lori, a single mother with cancer, found a matching donor in Michael — her “light at the end of a very dark tunnel.”

Still searching

Nick

Nick's first transplant, from a family member, failed. He's in remission but still has no match among more than 30 million registered donors.

You could be his match

Three ways to join

Joining takes a short online form and a few cheek swabs. Choose whichever way is easiest for you.

Who can join

You're 18 to 60 years oldYou stay on the registry until age 61.
You're in good general healthWe'll ask a few honest health questions. See the medical guidelines
You're affiliated with the DoDActive duty, Reserve, National Guard, Coast Guard, DoD civilian employees and military dependents.

Not affiliated with the DoD? Join through NMDP