How to Locate US Army Soldiers

Army soldiers may move around frequently, so locating them can be difficult.

Trying to locate US Army soldiers sounds like a simple task, but it may take a month or so to get a reply if you are using the postal service. Fortunately, the US Army allows family and friends to inquire as to the whereabouts of a current Army soldier. Since military records are mostly private, it may be more difficult to find military personnel over civilians. The military must sift through hundreds of location requests, so you should be prepared to wait several weeks for a response.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pen
• Envelope
• Stamp
• Internet access

Instructions

Written Request

1. Gather all of your Army soldier's identifying information, such as full name, last address, Social Security number and rank.

2. Type out a location request to the Army. It must contain all of the above information, or as much as you know. If you are not a family member of the soldier, write out a check for $3.50. Put the letter and check into an envelope.

3. Mail the envelope to the following address:

   Commander
   U.S. Army Enlisted Records & Evaluation Center
   ATTN: Locator
   8899 East 56th Street
   Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN 46249-5301
   1-866-771-6357

Internet Query

1. Go to the website "Military.com" and create a free account. Log in with your username and password.

2. Select the link that says "Buddy Finder" and type in your Army soldier's full name.

3. Hit "Search People" to see the results.

4. Browse through the results. The names are listed alphabetically.

5. Select your Army soldier's name to see his mailing address. It may or may not be listed.

References

• Dept of Defense: Requests For Military Mailing Addresses

Resources

• Military: Search 20+ million records for military buddies