United States Military Service Records
Online Resources
Service Records
Service records document an individual’s involvement with the military and can be used for proving military service, or as a valuable tool in genealogical research. Some service records are available online. See the service records pages for each of the individual wars for links to these records. See also National Archives Reference Information Paper 109 Military Service Records at the National Archives See also https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10678940 War Department. Record and Pension Division]
National Archives-Muster Rolls
- 1798-1958 U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1775-1783 Revolutionary War Rolls. NARA Microfilm publication M246. NAID 602384
- 1790-1795 Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the War with Northwest Indians,1790-1795. NAID 654587
- 1794-1858 Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations in Various Indian Wars and Other Incidents Requiring the Employments of Troops, 1794-1858. NAID 654651
- 1812-1815 Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the War of 1812, 6/18/1812 - 2/17/1815. NAID 654644
- 1836-1866 Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the Civil War, Mexican War, Creek War, Cherokee Removal, and Other Wars, 1836 - 1866. NAID 300388
- 1898 Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the Spanish-American War, 1898. NAID 654654
- 1899-1901 Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the Philippine Insurrection,1899-1901. NAID 654657
- 1886-1912 Hospital Muster and Pay Rolls, 1886–1912 NAID 655769
National Archives-Regular Army
- 1784-1912 Muster Rolls of Regular Army Organizations, 1784-10/31/1912. NAID 654583
- United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914. FamilySearch Historical Records
- Registers of Enlistments in the United States Army,1798-1914. National Archives Microfilm Publications M233
Compiled Service Records - Volunteer Organizations
The federal government has compiled military service records for soldiers serving in volunteer units in wars between 1775 and 1902. These records, on cards, have abstracts of information taken from un-microfilmed original records at the National Archives such as muster rolls, pay lists, hospital records, record books, orders, and correspondence found in [Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s–1917. For a description of the contents of this record group, see:
- Lists of Records of Military Organizations Used to Create Volunteer Compiled Military Service Records, ca. 1890–ca. 1904 (Ainsworth Lists)
- Pendell, Lucille H., and Elizabeth Bethel, compilers. Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Adjutant General’s Office,p. 17. Washington, D.C.: 1949. Reprint, 1981.''
A card was made for each soldier and put in an envelope along with some original documents. These files are arranged by state, then by military unit, then alphabetically by the soldier’s name. The cards usually provide a soldier’s name, rank and unit, the state from which the soldier served, the date enlisted, and length of service. You may also find the age, residence, physical description, and date of discharge or death.
National Archives - Catalog
| NAID | Collection | Dates of Servie | File Units | Online (3.18.2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 570910 | Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War, 1894–ca. 1912 | 1775-1784 | 351,608 | Fully | comp from records in RG 93 |
| 654491 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Units During the Post-Revolutionary War Period, 1784-1811 | 1784-1811 | 14,446 | Fully | |
| 300392 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the War of 1812, 1899–1927 | 1812-1815 | 11,102 | Partially | See NAID 654644 for Receipts for Pay" rolls not Carded |
| 654520 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Mexican War, 1899–1927 | 1846-1848 | 24,395 | Partially | |
| 300398 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War, 1890–1912 (Union) | 1861-1866 | 1,157,168 | Partially | |
| 586957 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations, 1903–1927 | 1861-1865 | 1,689,116 | Partially | |
| 2133276 | Papers of and Relating to Military and Civilian Personnel, 1874–1899 (Unfiled Papers) | 1861-1865 | 372,334 | Partially | |
| 300395 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Indian Wars, 1899–1927 | 1817-1858 | 196 | Partially | |
| 300400 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Spanish-American War, 1899–1927 | 1898 | 2,158 | Partially | |
| 654554 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, 1899–1927 | 1898-1903 | Contains records not in (NAID Identifier 300400) and (NAID Identifier 654560). | ||
| 654536 | Carded Records Relating to Staff Officers of Volunteers in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, 1899–1927 | 1898-1903 | |||
| 654560 | Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Philippine Insurrection, 1899–1927 | 1899-1903 | 2 | Partially |
Copies of compiled military service records are available from the National Archives. To request copies follow the instructions in the following link. Requesting Pre-WWI Service Records
National Archives Original Records:
War Department. Adjutant General's Office
- Post-Revolutionary War Enlistment Papers, 1784–1815
- Muster Rolls of Volunteer Organizations During the War of 1812, June 18, 1812–February 17, 1815
- Regimental and Company Books of Mexican War Volunteer Organizations, 1846–1848
- Regimental and Company Books of Civil War Volunteer Union Organizations, 1861–1867
- Regimental and Company Books of Spanish-American War Volunteer Organizations, 1898–1898
- Regimental and Company Books of Philippine Insurrection Volunteer Organizations, 1899–1901
- Regimental and Company Books of the Puerto Rico Regiment, 1899–1901
- Muster Rolls of Regular Army Organizations, 1784–October 31, 1912
- War Department. The Adjutant General's Office. Volunteer Service Division. (10/1861 - 07/16/1889)
- War Department. Record and Pension Division. (07/1889 - 1892)
- War Department. Record and Pension Office. 1892 - 5.11.1904
Additional Reading
- Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Thank You, General Fred C. Ainsworth! NGS Magazine 37 # 4 (October-December 2011): 54-57. FS Library 973 D25ngs
- Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Compiled Military Service Records Part I:The records inside the CMSR jacket. NGS Magazine 38 #1 (January-March 2012): 32-36. FS Library 973 D25ngs
- Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Compiled Military Service Records Part II: The records outside the CMSR jacket. NGS Magazine 38 #2 (April-June 2012): 32-38. FS Library 973 D25ngs
- Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Compiled Service Records Part III: The Record of Events NGS Magazine 38 #3 (July-September 2012); 28-31. FS Library 973 D25ngs
- Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Compiled Military Service Records Part IV: Carded Medical Records." NGS Magazine 40 #4 (October-December 2014): 37-40. FS Library 973 D25ngs
- Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Compiled Military Service Records Part V:The Book Mark." NGS Magazine 41 #1 (January-March 2015): 41-44. FS Library 973 D25ngs
- List of the Adjutant General's Office for carded records of military organizations: Revolutionary War through Philippine Insurrection: the Ainsworth List, 112 rolls National Archives Microfilm Publication, T817. Digital Images Calendars of military units arranged by war identifying records that were "carded"
- Lists of Records of Military Organizations Used to Create Volunteer Compiled Military Service Records, ca. 1890-ca. 1904. NAID 589591 National Archives Catalog
National Archives Catalog
Indexes to the Carded Records
- Indexes to Revolutionary War Compiled Military Service Records, 1894 - ca. 1912. NAID 572371
- Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Post-Revolutionary War Period, 1899–1927 NAID 654498
- Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the War of 1812, 1899 - 1927. NAID 654501
- Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Mexican War, 1899–1927 NAID 654518
- Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Civil War, 1899–1927 NAID 654530
- Carded Index to Records Concerning the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, ca. 1898–ca. 1901 NAID 7423822
- Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Indian Wars, 1899–1927 NAID 654513
Carded Medical Records
- Carded Medical Records of Volunteer Soldiers in the Mexican and Civil Wars, 1846–1865 NAID 655646
- Carded Service Records of Hospital Attendants, Matrons and Nurses, 1861 - 1865 NAID 655658
- Carded Medical Records of Voltiguers and Pontooniers, 1847–1865 NAID 655650
- Carded Medical Records of Officers, 1861-1865. NAID 655649
- Carded Medical Records of Musicians, 1861–1865 NAID 655651
- Carded Medical Records of the Pioneer Corps, 1861–1865 NAID 655723
- Carded Medical Records of Gunboat and Naval Service, 1861–1865 NAID 655722
- Carded Medical Records of Civilians, 1894-1912. NAID 655726
- Carded Medical Records of Hospital Stewards, Noncommissioned Staff Officers, 18221-1884. NAID 655724
- Carded Medical Records of Contract and Dental Surgeons, 1898–1912 NAID 655725
- Carded Medical Records of Deceased Men in the War with Spain, 1898. NAID 655653
- Carded Medical Records of the Regular Army, 1821–1884 NAID 6556338
- Carded Medical Records of the Regular Army, 1894–1912 NAID 655639
- Carded Medical Records of Civilians, 1894–1912 NAID 655726
- Carded Medical Records of the Regular Army, 1894 - 1912 NAID 655639
- Carded Medical Records of the Marine Corps, 1821–1884 NAID 655645
- Carded Records of Patients at the Williamsville Hospital in Williamsville, New York, 1812–1815 NAID 655643
Additional Carded Collections
- Carded Marriage Records, 1883-1916. Married on U.S. Army Posts, 1883-1916. NAID 655730
- Carded Birth Records, 1884–1912 NAID 655727
- Carded Death Records of Civilians, 1884–1912 NAID 655728
- Carded Records Relating to Civil War Staff Officers, 1890–1912 NAID 654529
- Carded Records Relating to the Service of Officers, ca. 1900–ca. 1919 NAID 7422454
Official Repositories for Service Records
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the official repository for Federal military service records.
- Older military personnel records, from the Revolutionary War to 1917 (depending on the service branch), are on file at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
- Military service records from WWI through the present (depending on the service branch) are held at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis.
- Request Military Service Records
Service Records (Revolutionary War to 1917)
Older military personnel records, from the Revolutionary War to 1917 (depending on the service branch), are on file at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
| Branch of Service | Dates of Holdings |
|---|---|
| Volunteers | Military service performed by persons serving during an emergency and whose service was considered to be in the Federal interest, 1775 - 1902 |
| Regular Army | Enlisted personnel, 1789 - November 1, 1912 Officers, 1789 - July 1, 1917 |
| Navy | Enlisted personnel, 1798 - 1885 Officers, 1798 - 1902 |
| Marine Corps | All Personnel, 1798 - 1904 |
| Coast Guard | Persons who served in predecessor agencies to the U.S. Coast Guard: the Revenue Cutter Service (Revenue Marine), the Life-Saving Service, and the Lighthouse Service, December 31, 1897 and prior |
| Confederate States | Persons who rendered military service for the Confederate States government in its armed forces, 1861 - 1865 |
| Veterans Records | Claims files for pensions based on Federal military service, 1775 - 1916 and Bounty land warrant application files relating to claims based on wartime service, 1775 - 1855 |
To order military service records from Washington, D.C., order online or the NATF Form 86.
Copies of military pension claim files for military service from the American Revolution up to before World War I and bounty-land warrant applications for Federal military service before 1856 can now be ordered online, as well as through NATF Form 85.
Or write: National Archives & Records Administration, Old Military and Civil Records (NWCTB-Military), Textual Services Division, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20408-0001.
Service Records (WWI to the present)
Military service records from WWI through the present (depending on the service branch) are held at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis.
- Index to Records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis:
- BIRLS - Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem at US Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA): National Personnel Records Center – index to veterans with files at the VA; includes vital status, service, and beneficiary status
| Branch of Service | Dates of Holdings |
|---|---|
| U.S. Army (includes Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces) |
Officers separated from July 1, 1917 - September 30, 2002 Enlisted personnel separated from November 1, 1912 - September 30, 2002 Please Note: Many Army and Air Force records were destroyed by fire in the St. Louis Center in 1973. Personnel records of Army members discharged/retired after October 1, 2002, are retained in electronic format by the Army. NPRC has access to the Army's electronic system and will respond to requests for those records. |
| U.S. Air Force | Officers and enlisted personnel separated from September 24, 1947 - September 30, 2004 Please Note: Many Army and Air Force records were destroyed by fire in the St. Louis Center in 1973. Personnel records of Air Force members discharged/retired after October 1, 2004, are retained in electronic format by the Air Force and are not transferred to NPRC. |
| U.S. Navy | Officers separated from 1902 - December 31, 1994 Enlisted personnel separated from 1885 - December 31, 1994 Personnel records of Navy members discharged/retired after January 1, 1995, are retained in electronic format by the Navy and are not transferred to NPRC. |
| U.S. Marine Corps | Officers and enlisted personnel separated from 1905 - December 31, 1998 Personnel records of Marine Corps members discharged/retired after January 1, 1999, are retained in electronic format by the Marine Corps and are not transferred to NPRC. |
| U.S. Coast Guard (including: Revenue Cutter Service (Revenue Marine), the Life-Saving Service, and the Lighthouse Service) |
Officers and enlisted personnel separated from January 1, 1898 - present |
To order records from the National Personnel Records Center, in St. Louis:
- If you are a veteran or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran, use eVetRecs, at vetrecs.archives.gov (or use the paper form, SF-180);
- All others, use Standard Form 180;
- Written requests (using Standard Form 180, or letter) should be mailed to: National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
- Veteran's FAQ
Access to Military Service Records is limited. See Services for Veterans, Next-of-Kin, or the Veteran's Representative for more information.
Please note: The service records of all former active military service personnel who were discharged, retired, or who had died in service, prior to 1949, are now open to the public. Search an index to records of veterans held at the National Personnel Records Center:
- BIRLS - Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem at US Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA): National Personnel Records Center – index to veterans with files at the VA; includes vital status, service, and beneficiary status
Discharge Records
- DD Form 214, Discharge Papers and Separation Documents. National Archives
- National Personnel Records Center. Service Numbers and Social Security Numbers
Laundresses
- Department of the Treasury. Office of the Auditor for the War Department. Records of Disallowed Claims of Laundresses, ca. 1853–1920 NAID 2591963
- War Department. Office of the Surgeon General. List of Female Nurses, Cooks, and Laundresses Employed in Army Hospitals During the Civil War, ca. 1861–ca. 1865
- War Department. Adjutant General's Office. Contracts of Female Employees With the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1869
State Records of Service
Each state keeps service records for its own militia, volunteer regiments, or national guard units. These are usually available at state archives, state historical societies, or state adjutant general’s offices. If a state unit was mustered into federal service, the federal government may have sent copies of records to the office of the state adjutant general.
William A. Veselik. Tracing Military Service in State Militia Records NGS Magazine 49 #1 (January - March 2023): 36- 40.
The FamilySearch Library has microfilmed state military records in many states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Many early militia and state records have also been published and indexed. These are described in the state Wiki pages.
National Guard Records
Serivce records of former National Guard members who were not called into active Federal military service are held by the state. Contact the Adjutant General of the state in which the member served.
Service Records by Conflict
- Colonial Wars, 1607 to 1763
- Revolutionary War, 1775 to 1783
- War of 1812, 1812 to 1815
- Mexican War, 1846 to 1848
- Civil War, 1861 to 1865
- Indian Wars, 1780's-1890's
- Spanish-American War, 1898
- Philippine Insurrection, 1899 to 1902
- World War I, 1917 to 1918
- World War II, 1941 to 1945
- Korean War 1950 to 1953
- Vietnam War 1964 to 1972