(AUDIO PODCAST) Join me and professional forensic genealogist and military research expert Michael Strauss in this new podcast episode for a guided tour through military records. Michael will unpack draft registration records, compiled military service records, enlistment types, and the different branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard). Learn how to follow your ancestor from civilian life into uniform with confidence. Dive even deeper into women in the military and on the home front, and how to find photos and ephemera related to military personnel. Along the way, Michael shares research adventures and practical tips that help you recognize the clues that point you to additional collections online and at the National Archives.

Click below to listen to the genealogist’s complete beginner’s guide to military research.

Show Notes

Download the show notes (Premium Membership required) In addition, this PDF includes the full transcript of this episode.

Episode Time Stamps:

• 02:01 Understanding Draft Registrations and Their Importance
• 02:59 Selective Service Act and World War II Draft
• 05:55 Exploring Compiled Military Service Records
• 06:23 Revolutionary War Records
• 09:49 Official Military Personnel Files and Their Challenges
• 12:11 Impact of the 1973 NARA Fire on Records
• 15:03 Types of Military Enlistments: Regulars, Volunteers, and Militia
• 19:12 Overview of Military Branches and Their Histories
• 23:57 The Role of Women in Military History
• 27:45 Identifying Military Ancestors Through Photographs
• 28:52 Exploring Military Photographic Ephemera
• 42:14 The Importance of Military Diaries and Letters
• 46:06 Understanding Draft Registration Cards
• 52:06 Women’s Registration Cards During WWI

Resources & Links:

• Ancestry
• Fold3
• FamilySearch
• National Archives
• Library of Congress Manuscripts Collection
• Army Heritage and Education Center
• Newspapers.com
• Archives.com
• MyHeritage DNA
• Genealogy Gems Newsletter
• Genealogy Courses & Premium Membership

About Military Expert: Michael Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™

Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™ is a military historian and professional genealogist.  His research expertise is recognized in the judicial systems of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, where he serves as an expert witness in kinship determinations and forensic estate investigations. Beyond his courtroom work, he lectures widely at universities, conferences, and educational institutes across the country. He holds a B.A. in History from Shepherd University, specializing in the American Civil War, and an M.A. in History from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a concentration in military history. His publications include books, edited volumes, peer-reviewed journal articles, public history writings, blogs, and book reviews.

Visit Michael’s Website

Create a Military Research Plan

Military genealogy research quickly gets complex: you’re dealing with multiple wars, changing record-keeping systems, different branches of service, specialized military terminology, and records scattered across archives, online databases, and government agencies. A clear genealogy research plan helps you define one focused question, identify exactly which records and home-front resources you need, and map out where to find them so you’re not endlessly clicking and second‑guessing your conclusions. My on-demand online course Create a Genealogy Research Plan walks you step‑by‑step through that process in short, practical lessons, giving you a reusable framework and templates that make demanding projects like military research more organized, efficient, and successful!

If you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member this course is yours, right now! Just log in and click Courses in the menu. The course has a retail value of $99, but you get it as a benefit of your membership, which is half that price.

If you’re not a Premium Membership and you’re tired of hitting the same brick walls and ready to feel confident and excited about your research again, I’d love to have you join us and take advantage of the course and the template. Join today to gain immediate access to the my course Create a Genealogy Research Plan in 10 Minutes a Day.

Great genealogists need a great research road map, and this is it!

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Your Military Research Comments & Questions

Which mistakes do you suffer from most? Or do you have something else you wished someone had told you to avoid early on in your genealogy journey? I definitely want to hear your story so please leave a comment below.