How to Locate Military Veterans You Served With

Once you officially leave military service, keeping in touch with your old buddies isn’t always easy as you transition into civilian life.

But there comes a time when you’ll start thinking of rekindling past relationships. After all, the bonds you develop while on active duty are like no other and go deeper than most people assume. It’s a testament to the trust, camaraderie, and kinship that form when you lean on each other through the toughest times. For many, those friendships last a lifetime, even when years pass by without any contact.

So, if you’re a veteran, too, it’s natural for you to think of catching up with your old military friends. In this article, we discuss how you could dig up information and find their whereabouts, irrespective of when they left active duty.

How to Locate Ex-Military Buddies

Maybe you plan to honor a veteran with a service recognition plaque or create a visual record of your military days with all your former colleagues in it. Perhaps you just want to arrange a meetup to reunite dispersed ex-members from your unit.

Whatever the reasons, here are the top ways to locate military veterans you’ve served with in the past.

Check With the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

The Military Personnel Records Center (MPRC) of the National Archives stores personnel, medical, and health records of veterans from all the military units in existence. 

While these documents are usually disclosed to the respective veteran or their next of kin, others can also access limited details under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

To find ex-members in NARA’s military directory, you must complete the SF 180 form and mail or fax it to the relevant department. You can also send a request letter providing the veteran’s full name, service number, and other information.

Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs

Similar to the NARA, the Department of Veterans Affairs mainly allows ex-members to request their own information. But it can release specific details based on the Freedom of Information Act.

If you want to locate records using an FOIA request, you must first register with the Public Access Link (PAL). Then, click the “Submit a FOIA Request” button to fill out the relevant form.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to provide certain information to help identify the relevant veteran. Sharing your name, address, email, and contact number and paying a processing fee is also necessary.

Reach Out to a Veteran Services Organization

There are several public, government-affiliated, or government-sanctioned organizations focused on veteran services in the U.S. These can be important resources for finding ex-military members you’ve lost touch with.

Take, for example, The American Legion. Chartered by Congress in 1919, this organization maintains an extensive unit database of 1.6 million members. Apart from providing access to benefits, tools, and resources, it helps locate ex-service personnel by letting you post reunion events or search for those posted by others.

AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, and similar organizations are worth checking out, too, when you want to find a former colleague.

Visit a Veteran Search Site 

Platforms like Together We Served (TWS) and VetFriends specialize in helping military personnel reconnect with old friends and build online communities.

Together We Served, for instance, has five separate service branch websites and the largest directory of U.S. military units. You can search military veteran locator and online community of TWS using a veteran’s service dates, branch, and other keywords. If they’re on the platform, you can visit their TWS military service page and check the service histories.

In addition, the site’s member submitted photographs contribute to a massive database of service photos, which you can also browse for clues.

Search Public Records on Nuwber

Haven’t had any luck with military-affiliated resources or simply want to save time? If so, Nuwber’s public records database can likely locate the information you require within a few minutes.

This platform contains records of 300 million Americans — collected from credible public sources and vetted for accuracy. So, there’s a good chance you can uncover your old buddies’ whereabouts on it.

To search its database, you only need a first and last name, address, phone number, or email. The site will retrieve matching profiles with the relevant information compiled into an easy-to-use report.

Browse Social Media

Platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram are all about connecting people. So, many of them offer various ways to search and locate those you may know. 

For example, Facebook’s search bar lets you find profiles and content based on keywords and keyphrases.

The site also hosts various online communities for like-minded individuals to meet and interact. You can check them for veteran communities related to your unit or set up one so others could find it and join. These can be useful for discovering old buddies, staying in touch with each other, and organizing reunions.

Use a Search Engine

The internet is full of random pieces of information. And a search engine can help identify those that may point you to your ex-military colleagues.

For example, if one of their names appears on a news article, press release, online blog, or personal website, Google and similar search platforms can likely discover it with a simple name search. If you remember other identifiable details, such as unit names and service dates, add them, too, as keywords. 

And if you can find your basic training and boot camp photos or any other unit history related photographs, don’t forget to try a reverse image search.

To Summarize

There’s a certain kinship and camaraderie that every veteran develops with their former brothers and sisters in the military. Of course, time can take a toll on those friendships once you leave active duty.

But there are several ways you can reignite past military relationships and stay connected for life.

The National Archives and Records Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and other veteran services organizations are excellent places to start when you want to find details of ex-military service members. Veteran search sites, like Together We Served, will often have an extensive military unit directory, too.

But if you no longer remember an ex-personnel’s military service information and only have a name or old phone number, address, or email to go by, then Nuwber’s people directory is your best solution. 

If you don’t mind the legwork, we suggest checking social media and search engines as well.

FAQ

What does veteran status mean?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable”.

This includes those on active duty for training as well as personnel on inactive duty for training who have become disabled due to injuries suffered in the line of duty.

Reservists and National Guards who were called to active duty or became disabled by injuries incurred while in training or in the line of duty are also categorized as veterans.

What are military discharge records?

The DD Form 214, or the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, outlines details of a service personnel’s separation from active duty.

Typically stored at the National Archives and Records Administration, this document is necessary for confirming service histories in a variety of instances — from applying for benefits and seeking employment to gaining membership in veteran-related organizations.

Ex-military members can access a free copy of their DD Form 214 on the VA eBenefits site, through the eVetRecs system, or by mailing or faxing the SF 180 form.

When would someone want to locate a military service member?

The reasons can vary from person to person. For example, someone who has retired from active duty may want to rekindle past relationships by reconnecting with others they served with.

Sometimes, they may attempt to find former service members to set up a military veteran online community. This would provide an opportunity for ex-personnel to keep in touch and engage with each other by sharing photos and memories.

A person could also want to locate a particular veteran to create a military service tribute and plaque to honor their bravery and preserve memories for their family and future generations.

How can someone prove they’re a veteran?

The DD Form 214 is the easiest way to confirm veteran status. This document is provided to all personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard at the point of official separation from military duty.

It includes various critical information about an individual’s service history, like the dates they started and ended active duty, their last rank and assignment, decorations, and separation details.

Other documents a person can use include the honorable discharge certificate, Veteran Health Identification Card, and driver’s license or state ID bearing the veteran endorsement.

How do I check my military service records?

To get a copy of your service records, you must submit the Standard Form 180 to the National Archives and Records Administration.

An easier alternative is the eVetRecs platform. Access to this site is free, and ex-members can use it to request a range of documents, including DD Form 214, official military personnel files, medical and health records, and replacement medals.

You could also find your records through the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) milConnect website. However, the eligibility for this will depend on your discharge date. 

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