Veterans' military service is often the most documented period of their lives—yet families frequently don't have access to those records.
Military records reveal deployment locations, ranks, commendations, and service details that contextualize family stories. This guide shows you how to access and understand military records for genealogy research.
Why Military Records Matter
What they reveal:
- Exact dates and locations of service
- Units and assignments
- Promotions and rank progression
- Medals and commendations
- Injuries or medical information
- Physical description at enlistment
- Next of kin information
- Discharge circumstances
For family history:
- Explains gaps in civilian records
- Provides photos and documents
- Connects to historical events
- Honors service and sacrifice
- Eligible for veteran burial benefits
Types of Military Records
Service Records (Most Important)
DD Form 214 (Discharge Papers):
- Most valuable single document
- Summary of entire service
- Required for veteran benefits
- Available for: Service after 1950
OMPF (Official Military Personnel File):
- Complete service jacket
- Enlistment papers, assignments, evaluations
- Available for: All service eras
- May be partially destroyed (see fire section below)
Other Record Types
Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR):
- For service before 1917
- Index cards with key information
- Revolutionary War through Spanish-American War
Pension Files:
- Applications for military pensions
- Rich genealogical information
- Family details, affidavits, proof of service
- Civil War and earlier
Draft Registration Cards:
- WWI, WWII, peacetime drafts
- Physical descriptions, addresses
- Next of kin
- Whether they served or not
Unit Records:
- Morning reports, muster rolls
- Medal citations
- Unit histories
The 1973 Fire
Critical information: A massive fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973 destroyed millions of records.
Destroyed:
- Army personnel discharged 1912-1960
- Air Force personnel discharged 1947-1964 (with name Hubbard-Z)
Surviv:
- Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard (mostly intact)
- Records in other locations
- Partial reconstructions available
If your ancestor's records burned:
- Request "reconstruction" (NPRC will search alternative sources)
- Check state archives (many states have copies)
- Look for personal copies (veteran may have kept DD-214)
- Search unit histories and rosters
How to Request Records
For Recent Veterans (Last 62 Years)
If veteran is living:
- Only veteran can request own records
- Use SF-180 form or eVetRecs (online)
- Free for veteran
If veteran is deceased:
- Next of kin can request
- Need proof of death
- Need proof of relationship
- Use SF-180 form
Timeline: 2-6 months typically
For Older Records (Pre-1963)
Anyone can request records over 62 years old (public domain).
Methods:
1. Online through National Archives:
- archives.gov
- Search catalog, order copies
- Pay per page ($0.80-$1)
- Best for: Known regiment/unit
2. In person:
- National Archives in Washington DC
- Regional NARA facilities
- Can research and copy same day
- Free (except copies)
3. Mail request:
- SF-180 form to NPRC
- Include all known information
- Free, but slow (2-6 months)
Required Information
For faster processing, include:
- Full name
- Service number (if known)
- Social Security number (if applicable)
- Branch of service
- Dates of service (approximate ok)
- Date and place of birth
- Date and place of death (if applicable)
More information = faster results.
Alternative Sources
If official records aren't available or are delayed:
State Archives:
- Many states kept veteran records
- Bonuses, benefits, relief records
- Sometimes duplicates of federal records
County Veterans Services:
- Local offices may have records
- Burial information
- Benefit applications
Genealogy Websites:
- Ancestry.com (extensive military collections)
- Fold3 (specialized in military, $10/month)
- FamilySearch (free)
Indexed databases include:
- Draft registration cards (WWI, WWII)
- Prisoner of war records
- Casualty lists
- Medal recipients
- Rosters and muster rolls
Understanding Military Records
Reading the DD-214
Key sections:
Block 12 - Service Number: Unique identifier (pre-SSN era)
Block 13 - Branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard
Block 18 - Decorations: Medals and awards (abbreviations)
Block 24 - Character of Service:
- Honorable
- General
- Other than Honorable
- Dishonorable
Block 25 - Separation Authority: Why/how they left service
Block 26 - Separation Code: Reason for discharge (codes vary by era)
Block 27 - Type of Separation: Voluntary, involuntary, retirement, etc.
Common Military Abbreviations
Ranks:
- PVT/PFC - Private, Private First Class
- CPL/SGT - Corporal, Sergeant
- LT/CPT/MAJ - Lieutenant, Captain, Major
- COL/GEN - Colonel, General
Medals/Awards:
- CMH - Medal of Honor
- DSC - Distinguished Service Cross
- SS - Silver Star
- BSM - Bronze Star Medal
- PH - Purple Heart
- GCM - Good Conduct Medal
- EAME - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
Units:
- INF - Infantry
- ART - Artillery
- CAV - Cavalry
- ENG - Engineers
- CO - Company
- BN - Battalion
- REG - Regiment
- DIV - Division
Campaign and Theater Codes
WWII:
- ETO - European Theater of Operations
- PTO - Pacific Theater of Operations
- CBI - China-Burma-India
Major campaigns have specific codes (Normandy, Bulge, Okinawa, etc.)
Researching Unit History
Once you know unit assignment, research what they did:
Unit histories:
- Books written about specific units
- Official Army/Navy histories
- Regiment and division websites
- Veterans organization records
Battle participation:
- Where unit fought
- Casualties and losses
- Movements and locations
- Day-by-day activities (sometimes)
Connects ancestor's service to major events.
Photos and Personal Items
Identify military photos:
Uniform details reveal:
- Branch (buttons, insignia)
- Rank (stripes, bars, stars)
- Unit patches
- Service medals
- Era (uniform styles changed)
Photo clues:
- Photographer's studio location (near base)
- Other people in photo (unit members)
- Background details (base, ship, equipment)
Personal items:
- Uniform pieces
- Medals and ribbons
- Dog tags
- Letters and V-mail
- Unit patches
- Discharge button ("ruptured duck")
Preserve and document everything.
Women in Military
Women's military records can be harder to find:
Branches and services:
- Army/Navy Nurse Corps
- WAVES (Navy)
- WACS (Army)
- WASPS (Air Force pilots)
- SPARS (Coast Guard)
- Women Marines
Records are in same locations but:
- Sometimes filed separately
- Different record types
- May have married and changed name during service
Honoring Their Service
With records in hand:
Apply for veteran burial benefits:
- Headstone or marker (free)
- Flag for burial (free)
- Burial in national cemetery (free if space available)
- Presidential Memorial Certificate
Recognition:
- Request medals they earned but never received
- Display service records and photos
- Share story with family
- Submit to veteran oral history projects
Genealogy documentation:
- Add military details to family tree
- Scan and preserve all records
- Create memorial page
- Include in family history book
Special Cases
Finding Gravesites
For veterans buried before 2000:
- Grave Registration Files at NARA
- Department of Veterans Affairs gravesite locator
- Find A Grave website
- American Battle Monuments Commission (overseas)
POWs
Prisoner of War records:
- Red Cross records
- National Archives POW files
- Unit records may have details
- Liberation records
Missing in Action
MIA research:
- DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)
- Unit loss reports
- Individual Deceased Personnel Files
- War Department casualty lists
Medals and Awards
Requesting copies:
- National Archives for records
- Replacements from National Personnel Records Center
- Some medals can be requested for next of kin
- Unit citations apply to all members
Start This Week
To request records:
- Gather information about veteran
- Determine which record type you need
- Choose request method (online, mail, in-person)
- Submit request (be patient, it takes time)
- While waiting, search genealogy websites
- When received, scan and share with family
The Bigger Picture
Military records do more than fill in genealogy blanks. They:
- Connect personal family stories to major historical events
- Provide context for family legends
- Honor service and sacrifice
- Qualify descendants for organizations (SAR, DAR, etc.)
- Create deeper understanding of ancestor's experiences
Your ancestor's service mattered. Their records tell that story. Get them. Preserve them. Share them.
Request records this week. Honor their service by remembering it.