Search records; certain census records (1840, 1890, 1910, 1930) had questions about prior military service. This helps greatly in the searches.
Also read all the information columns.
In the 1900, 1910, 1920, Soldiers, Marines and sailors were enumerated in their various service places. Before that the census only counted the general public and military were overlooked. except some of those in military boarding schools.
Examples;The government didn't need to count them, they were accounted for in the military records. But some are caught 'at home' while on a leave or wounded or sick and recovering. If you find one there, it means his place of service is not too far away for him to walk, ride, or be taken home in a wagon.
Keep in mind that all men who are away - are not supposed to be listed in the census for their home. Keep in mind that men who are in away at schools & trade schools, or working away from home. They will pop up elsewhere on a census, as well as anyone in prison, they will be enumerated at federal, state and local prisons. People who are traveling or visiting not supposed to be caught in a census.) See my census page and remember to note the actual Census date they are found on a census. You are making a timeline for him. As you unfold their story add dates from the census and every other event with a date.
The time and places help unfold his history. example- I have a young boy who lived in a small town, he was enumerated four times in three days, his home, his grandmothers home and at two Aunts homes. He was running around visiting. The census taker did the rules right! Often though, someone at home gave whatever information they pleased and would even include a recently dead, child's name. I have one name in 1860 that the census taker added next to a teenagers entry, Bilious Fever. Census takers varied a lot!

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Check at home and with relatives for photographs, letters, books and journals, newspaper articles & obituaries, tombstones & Family Stories. write down what service you find them in and make note of what years likely for their service.
Example; In my Grandmothers old photo album there is a picture of a sailor and another of a soldier in the tropics. He was my Great Uncle, both photos of him, he served else where also. He joined the English in their air force (1938) before the Americans joined the war. Then when the US joined in, he joined the Navy, then  later transferred to the Army and ended up on the islands in the War of the Pacific. His records are all over the place. it is not unusual for a man to change service units. I wish I could have known him. I have a photo of him as a child pulling a little wagon with the words "I'm a Go-Getter" on it. He was!

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Where are the Military Records?

Official Government military records are in the 'National Archives Records Administration' in Washington, DC. This contains all the early records through the war of 1812.  

After that our military records were stored in St Louis, Mo. It covers WWI to today. Called the 'National Personnel Records Center'.

State Militias records are in Washington, in State archives, in special libraries.

What is 'open', Is there a government cut-off date? yes, records are private that are less than 62yrs ago. But that doesn't mean you can't find a lot of information anyway.

Check the service Actions page for the war or event you need, and then check the links below on this page. 

Official Service Records are kept for; The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard & the new Space Force 

Selective Service, drafts and registrations are also part of Official military records.

Bounty Land Records, Our country didn't have much money for a long time while it grew its army and navy. Land was something it had a lot of to give. they include; The American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and Indian wars up till about 1856.

Lastly Pension records (Often the very best records). These are extensive. It is not just about the soldiers service but a often a lot about his family too. But they differed in time periods and also took in account extenuating situations.

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Sources to Search

• Step One Prepare a timeline and add a 'place-line' to it, for the man or men you are researching. Add the possible military actions to watch for. Note where they lived.
  

• Step Two we go to the list Below

• Step Three, we look at where the records are. Many resources are in online libraries and in FamilySearch. And they are free! So if you click on a link and the website demands a sign-in, you will need to make one, It is still free but sometimes it is necessary in order to view the image of the record or book in the website.
  
• And - Yes you can find paid websites but you can usually find the same information online for free.
  

*(The reason for a log-ins? There are harvesting computers that look for images in the internet.They harvest the images, but most research  images are usually are under some kind of a 'use restriction', so a sign in keeps it all legit! It is still free.)

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