How to Research Your Family Tree Using Military Records

You may wonder where your family came from and who your ancestors are, researching your genealogy is a great way to answer these questions. A great way to research genealogy is by using military records. These records tend to be very reliable and accurate. They can serve as a great way to research genealogy accurately and most information can be obtained free of charge for veterans or their next-of-kin.

Step 1:
Prepare for researching. First you will want to list some important questions to ask your relatives. Some pertinent information is: the veteran's full name used while they are serving, their service number, their social security number, the branch they served in, they dates they served, birthdate, and place of birth. Some other information you may need is; their place of last discharge, last unit assignment, and where they entered the service. Any requests for military records must be signed and dated by the veteran or their next-of-kin.

Step 2:
Perform your initial search. If your search is going to be via the internet, try to find Web sites that target genealogy based on military records.

Step 3:
Do the research. Get together all of the information you have gathered and enter it into the Web sites you have chosen.

Step 4:
Collect information. You will want to collect as much information as you can about your ancestors. You will want to keep any vital records like birth, death, or marriages. You will also want to collect census records, probate records, church records, and complete military records.

Step 5:
Assemble your information. Now that you have all of this information sitting in front you, it is time to organize and record it. You can easily record the information by keeping it in a folder or a note-book. Always remember to store these important documents in a fire-proof safe.

Sources:
http://www.learnwebskills.com/
http://www.archives.gov/research/order/#nprc