I remember the first time I helped a friend look for his grandfather’s military records. He had this old black-and-white photo — his grandfather standing next to a plane, half-smile, half-squint — but nothing else. No service number, no discharge papers, not even the right spelling of his last name. All he had was a story that his grandfather “served somewhere in the Pacific.” That was it. And somehow, we still found him.
What I learned during that search is that finding military records online is a strange mix of detective work, patience, and luck. There’s something almost sacred about it too — you’re not just chasing data; you’re trying to resurrect a piece of someone’s life. But the truth is, most people start in the wrong place. They go to random genealogy websites, get a dozen results, and assume that’s the full story. It rarely is.
The best starting point — and I can’t stress this enough — is the National Archives. That’s the official repository for U.S. military service records. It covers every branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. You can request records online through their eVetRecs system, which sounds fancy but is basically a long form asking for everything you know about the person. If you’re the next of kin or a direct descendant, you can get full service records. If not, you’ll only get what’s considered “public” — usually enlistment and discharge details.
Sometimes, people hit a wall there. That’s because in 1973, a massive fire destroyed about 16 to 18 million personnel files at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. It’s one of those forgotten tragedies that still haunts genealogists today (source: National Archives Fire 1973). So if the record you’re looking for belongs to someone who served between 1912 and 1960, there’s a real chance it was lost. It doesn’t mean the trail ends, though — it just means you need to get creative.
Creative might look like this: checking state archives, old newspaper clippings, or even local courthouses. I once found a veteran’s burial record through a cemetery’s online search tool — it listed his regiment, rank, and discharge date. That single record filled in three years of missing history. It still gives me chills thinking about it.
If you want to go deeper, the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) by the National Archives is worth exploring. It’s not very user-friendly, but it’s full of gems — enlistment records from World War II, casualty lists, prisoner-of-war data, and even draft registration cards. You have to search smart: full name, partial name, or even service branch can make a difference. Sometimes a middle initial is the key that unlocks everything.
There’s also Fold3, a site owned by Ancestry that specializes in military documents. It’s a paid platform, but it’s probably the best one outside the National Archives for scanned photos, muster rolls, and draft cards. What’s nice about Fold3 is that other people can upload images and stories, so you get that mix of official records and personal memory — the human side of military history. If you’re lucky, someone in your family line already built a small archive there without you knowing.
Now, if you’re looking for someone who’s still alive or served more recently, that’s where it gets trickier. Modern records are more protected because of privacy laws. The Department of Defense doesn’t just publish active or retired personnel info online. What you can do, though, is file a request through the Department of Defense or use the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) request form. Expect delays. These requests move at the speed of bureaucracy — months, sometimes more.
I’ve also seen people have success with local Veterans Affairs offices. They can’t hand you classified documents, but they can point you toward public parts of the record or confirm service for benefits. The VA’s online portal has improved a lot over the last few years, especially for veterans or family members with login access.
Some folks also forget that military records aren’t just about battles or enlistment. They can reveal family secrets — hidden marriages, old addresses, even medical histories that explain a lot about why people became who they were. One man I spoke to said finding his father’s service record helped him understand why his dad was distant his whole life. “He saw things he never talked about,” he said. “And once I read those records, I stopped being angry.” That’s the quiet power of these documents — they turn myths into people again.
Of course, you’ll run into paywalls, scams, and endless websites that promise “instant access” to military records. Don’t fall for it. The real stuff takes time and usually comes from government or verified archival sources. Anything that asks for your credit card right away before showing proof of what they have — skip it.
There’s a saying among genealogists: “You don’t find history; you earn it.” That’s how military record searches feel. You’ll fill out forms, wait weeks, maybe months, and sometimes end up with a single yellowed page that changes how you see your family. Other times, you’ll get nothing. But that, too, says something — that parts of history were lost, burned, or never recorded at all.
If you’re starting today, begin with the National Archives, then check Fold3, the VA, and any state databases related to veterans’ affairs. Be patient, be thorough, and keep notes on where you’ve looked. It’s less like a search and more like a slow conversation with the past — and sometimes, if you listen long enough, it talks back.
Helpful starting points if you want to explore further:
