Ask A Librarian FAQ

NPS students, faculty or staff requiring additional assistance should contact Ask a Librarian using the Quick Link to the left.

Internet Public Library Military FAQ is another useful site for answering military questions.

How Do I Find A Copy Of an NPS Thesis or Report?

NPS Theses
Our NPS Theses page provides guidelines for searching for NPS theses and dissertations and requesting copies of NPS theses. Please consult that page if you want to search for or request copies of NPS theses.

NPS Theses Abstracts
The NPS Theses Abstracts page contains unclassified abstracts of theses, arranged by Academic year and quarter, though the theses themselves may be of limited distribution or classified and therefore not listed in BOSUN (our online catalog).

How Do I Find Someone’s Military Service Record (DD-214)?

See the Congressional Research Service (CRS) publication "Military Service Records and Unit Histories: a guide to locating sources.(2006)"

Military Service Records are available from NARA, National Archives and Records Administration via Standard Form 180. If you are a veteran or next-of-kin of a deceased former member of the military, you may now use eVetRecs to request copies of military records online, including DD FORM 214, Report of Separation. Please note that you will have to sign and mail, or fax, the form that is generated by an eVetRecs request within 20 days to complete the process. If you are doing genealogical research in military service records, please see NARA's guide Research in Military Records.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Standard Form 180
eVetRecs
Research in Military Records

In gathering the necessary information to order records, you may find these other web sites helpful:

Casualty Lists

WWII

WWII Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel

You will need to know the home state and county to search this list.

State Summary of WWII War Casualties for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel

You will need to know the home state and county to search this list.

Korean Conflict

State-level Casualty Lists from the Korean Conflict (1951-57)

Sorted by name and home of record: City, Town, County

Vietnam Conflict

State-Level Casualty Lists for the Vietnam Conflict, sorted by Home of Record

State-Level Casualty Lists for the Vietnam Conflict, Sorted Alphabetically by Last Name

Other Sites

Ordering military medals and awards

Including duplicates under certain conditions

Social Security Death Index Interactive Search

Use this site for dates of birth and death and social security numbers, when available.

Where to write for Vital Records

A useful guide government that offers listings for each state on how to obtain birth, death, marriage, and orce certificates.

How Do I Find Department of Defense Publications and Reports?

Unclassified unlimited Department of Defense publications and reports may be found at the sites listed below. If you are not a Naval Postgraduate School student, faculty or staff member, please request any documents that aren't available online from your own library.

BOSUN (our online catalog)

DTIC's Public STINET

DoD's Publications webpage

How Do I Find Military History Information?

Military history resources, including insignia and patches and unit histories may be found at the sites listed below.

Subject Guides By Topic (Dudley Knox Library)

Naval Historical Center (U.S. Navy)

Center of Military History (U.S. Army)

Historical Research Agency (U.S. Air Force)

History and Museums ision (U.S. Marine Corps)

Historian's Office (U.S. Coast Guard)

How Do I Find Military Regulations, Directives, Instructions, Specifications & Standards?

Military Regulations, Directives, Instructions, Specifications & Standards may be found on our page:

Directives, Instructions, Specifications & Standards (Dudley Knox Library)

How Do I Find an Address For a Member of the Military Services?

Military personnel locators now require that requests for information be submitted in writing.

Military Personnel Locator Services (about.com)

U.S. Air Force Personnel Center

U.S. Army Human Resources Command

U.S. Navy Bureau of Naval Personnel (DefenseLink)

U.S. Marine Corps Locator

U.S. Coast Guard Personnel World Wide Locator

How Do I Find Maps?

Maps in electronic format may be found on our Maps page :

Map Collection (Dudley Knox Library)

Our Map Collection is located on the first floor, and contains selected single sheet and portfolio maps available from federal depository, military (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) and commercial sources, which may be checked out by NPS students. Some maps are also available on CD's.

How Do I Find Descriptions of Military Occupations?

Descriptions of occupations in the services may be found at:

General Military Careers (Today's Military)

Air Force

Air Force Officer Job Descriptions & Qualifications (About.com)
Air Force Enlisted Job Descriptions & Qualifications (About.com)

Army

Army Commissioned Officer Jobs (About.com)
Army Warrant Officer Jobs (About.com)
Army Enlisted Job Descriptions & Qualifications (About.com)

Coast Guard

USMC Officer Job Descriptions (About.com)
Coast Guard Enlisted Job Descriptions (About.com)

Marine Corps

USMC Officer Job Descriptions (About.com)
USMC Enlisted Job Descriptions (About.com)

Navy