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Locating Military Personnel - Be Your Own Detective

Search either by accessing free public records online (when available) or by requesting a copy from the agency holding it, usually for a small fee. Consult Public Records

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Locating someone who is presently serving or was once connected to the military can present entirely different search problems and possibilities from other types of locates because the several service branches function independently of each other within the Department of Defense.

To locate a member who is retired or an individual who is on active duty, first determine which service branch will most likely have the information you need. Each branch has a locator service that will either forward a letter for you or provide you with the member's current assignment station, possibly even a work phone number, home address, and home phone number. To forward a letter, address it and enclose it in another envelope addressed to the base locator. Provide the following information regarding the individual you wish to locate:

Full name & DOB (an estimate will do)
Rank (officer or enlisted?)
Sex
SSN
Last known address
Date entered service

The National Archives & Records Administration
http://www.archives.gov/

National Personnel Records Center
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/

Military Personnel Records
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/

All US Armed Forces
Link to all Sites

Locating Veterans and Service Members
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/other-resources/find-vets.html

Location of Navy Personnel Records
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/location/location-navy.html

Location of Marine Corps Personnel Records
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/location/location-marine-corps.html

Location of Coast Guard Personal Records
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/location/location-coast-guard.html

Location of Army Military Personnel Records
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/location/location-army.html

Military Service Records and Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs, DD Form 214)
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

Merchant Marines
http://www.usmm.org/contact.html#contact3

Civil Service Commission
Office of Personnel Management -Employee's Records Center
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/civilian-personnel/

Military Times Online
http://www.militarytimes.com/community/

VFW National Headquarters
http://www.vfw.org

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

This dedicated organization will help you locate an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces for emergency purposes through Red Cross offices located at each military installation.

To find a local American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/en/where

Military Dependents: Overseas High Schools

Overseas Brats
http://www.overseasbrats.com/

Military Brats
http://www.military-brats.com/
Overseas Brats On-line

American Overseas Schools Historical Society - AOSHS
http://www.aoshs.org/

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