How to Locate All Military Records of a Serviceman
You may want to find the military records of a relative or friend. The records may concern someone who has been recently in the service, or your research may be for genealogical or historical purposes. The power of the Internet has made such searches easier, with databases containing details of 15 million individuals and thousands of records available. But this also has made the search more daunting, as you grapple with so many sources of information. The key is to organize your search.
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Instructions
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Background Research
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Do as much background research as possible. The more information you initially compile on the person, the easier it will be to complete the research project. Sources are primary or secondary. Primary records consist of information gathered at the time or around the time of that person's military service. Secondary records include sources such as publications or a census of military personnel.
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Consider the period of time you wish to explore when choosing sources of information. Look at databases of death lists and casualty indexes if the person you are researching was killed in conflict. If you know the specific military unit the person served in, look in the rosters' database. Preferably, use both primary and secondary sources in your research. Expect to pay a fee if you want to look at state or federal records.
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Expect the records to contain the name, date and place of birth, as well as any disciplinary matters, records of service and how the person's service career progressed. You also should be able to find a record of the person's discharge. Pursue your research in an ordered way, cross-checking sources to be sure they offer the same information.
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Tips & Warnings
Make a record of your sources as you go. You may need to return to them, and the record will make it easier to locate where you found specific pieces of information.
References
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