This article explains how to find someone in the military. The overview includes recommendations for each branch of the armed forces.
At the end of the fiscal year 2017, there were 1,281,900 service members in the United States Military, with an additional 801,200 people reserves. Family and friends sometimes lose touch with those who enter the service and often don’t know how to get in touch with someone who is serving. Keep reading if you need to find someone in the military.
Find Active Duty Military Personnel
The quickest way to find someone in the military is to visit the official Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website. The form can request a certificate that verifies active duty status on a specified date. To submit a request, you’ll need the following information:
- First, you’ll need the person’s First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name
- Next, you’ll need the specific date for which you wish to verify the service
- Date of birth and/or social security number. You can search using a date of birth without an SSN, but without the SSN, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) cannot verify that this is the same individual your query refers to. The person’s name and date of birth alone do not uniquely identify an individual.
- Check all of the data before clicking the submit button
- The response may take up to 15 seconds after clicking submit
You are not required to create an account for single record requests. To submit requests for multiple individuals, users must create an account. Creating an account allows a user to upload request files with multiple names, download result files, and download certificates.
Other Military Search and Locate Services
The following are military locator services for active and retired military personnel. Use these contacts to find people in the military. In addition, BeenVerified provides easy access to billions of public records online.
It is important to note that the Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits Federal agencies from providing individuals’ home addresses or telephone numbers without their written permission. Remember, keep this in mind before beginning your search. In most cases, the agency or organization will only agree to let the person know you are trying to locate them. They may also agree to forward a letter written by you to the person that you are trying to locate.
The following list of Federal agencies and private organizations assist individuals in locating persons of unknown whereabouts. Be sure to include the appropriate first-class postage with the letter to the locator service. It will be up to the individual to respond.
If you suspect the person you cannot locate has been the victim of a crime, you should immediately contact your closest law enforcement agency. This information can help locate active, reserve, and retired Department of Defense (DOD) military personnel.
Each of the five military branches has separate procedures for contacting active or past service members. In cases of emergency, immediate family members should contact the local chapter of the American Red Cross. The telephone number and address are available from your local directory or assistance. Also, you can call the National Contact Center toll-free at 1 (800) FED INFO, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., eastern time.
Remember, when you need to find someone in the military, provide as much identifying information as possible about the person you wish to locate. This includes full name, rank, last duty assignment/last known military address, service number, and Social Security number.
The locator service is free to immediate family members and Federal and State government officials. Other family members, civilian friends, businesses, or others must pay a non-refundable fee of $3.50 (price may vary) in the form of a check or money order made payable to the U.S. Treasury.
How to Find Someone in the Military: U.S. Army
The Army locator has been suspended. Please use the service member request form listed above.
How to Find Someone in the U.S. Navy
Navy Locator
To locate an active-duty member, write to:
Navy World Wide Locator
Navy Personnel Command
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055
How to Find Someone in the Air Force
The Air Force Worldwide Locator can locate active duty personnel, retirees, reservists, and guardsmen. In most cases, parents, spouses, and government officials may call 210/565-2478. Letters requesting locator service should be mailed to:
HQ AFPC/MSMIDL
550 C Street, West, Suite 50
Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4752
Voice: 210/565-2660 (Live assistance is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., central time)
This service will not help in locating Air Force separatees or Air Force retirees. You may write to the National Personnel Records Center below or contact one of the various veterans’ service organizations to help locate these persons.
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63132-1500
How to Find Someone in the Marine Corps
The Marine Corps Locator Service can provide the duty station for active-duty personnel and reservists. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern time. The telephone number is 703/784-3942. Your written request should be mailed to:
Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps
Personnel Management Support Branch (MMSB-17)
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, Virginia 22134-5030
Voice: 703/784-3941/3942/3943
How to Find Someone in the Coast Guard
To locate an Active Duty Member at the U.S. Coast Guard:
The Coast Guard World Wide Locator has duty stations for active-duty personnel. To locate Active Duty Personnel Only, call (202) 493-1697 or send an e-mail with the person’s full name to CGlocator@Ballston.uscg.mil. The Coast Guard Personnel Command does not have custody of crew lists or current addresses for former Coast Guard service members.
To locate Coast Guard separatees:
The Military Reference Branch, National Archives, Washington, D. C. 20408, holds copies of most deck logs. The Suitland Reference Branch, National Archives, Washington D. C. 20409, has custody of muster rolls. The National Personal Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, has a repository of records for retired and separate military members. You must fill in Standard Form 180 to request military records information.
The address is:
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Ave
St. Louis, Missouri 63132
Individuals have also had success locating former and retired military personnel by placing advertisements or reunion notices in Coast Guard periodicals. These magazines have a combined circulation of several hundred thousand. Please contact the individual editors for assistance.
Other Locator Sources from the Coast Guard:
Fred’s Place offers an online E-Mail Directory of Active Duty, Reserve, Retired, Auxiliary, and Civilian co-workers of the U. S. Coast Guard. This Directory is a listing of individuals that have voluntarily registered at Fred’s Place and is not a complete listing of Coast Guard Personnel.
If you have any questions about how to find someone in the military, please post a comment below. However, please note that I cannot investigate people on your behalf. Unfortunately, if you think you’re getting scammed by someone saying they are in the military, you likely are. If you are suspicious, search their name on Google and look at their social media pages.
You can use FOIA method. Step 1: Complete an FOIA Request Letter. Step 2: Submit Your FOIA Request Letter. Step 3: Wait for A Response
Hello I am a mother that would like to know how my son is doing in the UK. He has been part of the Air Force for two years now, he was in Florida and Texas and now station in the UK. We used to be so close texting and talking a lot. However the cellphone got very pricy and expensive. We hardly talk, sometimes months, I don’t know where he is sleeping working or what he does. Please help me locate him. I would like to go and visit him to the UK but don’t have a clue on what I need to do First…. any advice how to request permission from his peers or commander? I need to make sure hes doing okay. I live in California so flying to a Airforce station in the UK will be good for his spirit. Thank you and good night..
Looking for someone in the Army (Jake Taypotat) supposed to be stationed in CA.
I am talking to a guy who is claiming to be in the us army and he wants to treat me like a queen, he has said that he wants to come to England to get me so we can spend the rest of our lives together but he keeps coming up with a different excuse every single month, i am really thinking about blocking him because he never wants to do video calls or voice calls with me, which i am finding really wired can you please help me with this so i can find out if he is real or not.
Reading all these are making me cry and scream…
As a Deputy and Service member, please read carefully to the following:
1) If it feels weird or not right…go with your gut!
2) You are NOT the exception…You are being targeted…Ask to see the persons CAC (common access card with name on it) No CARD = No Military (all branches), DoD Civilian or Contractor
3) Until you have put a face to the name, for the LOVE of GOD stop giving them your life history and all your personal information and money!
If they don’t show you the CAC (none of this Top Secret Clearance can’t show you crap either) DON’T talk to them…THE END!
Absolutely ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS…NONE.
want to know is ruiz sofia real because we been chat on whatsapp talking love relationship with like 3 months and send few picture of her and i ask can video call she said it not possible because military equipment in cellphone if she do video call she get arrested because they think she show criminal her identity and she in afghanistan kabul and will come to my country australia to meet me and couple day after happen in kabul even i watch news and she said have flight to indonesia then flight to here in australia nsw newcastle but then end up to new zealand and tried asking want come my country and need my help to pay $350 to connect to get here from new zealand and promise pay me back when she come here meet me i said about get your money an pay flight and she said military goverment hadn’t paid any soilder i said about your family could help you she said don’t have parent i said what about your cousin uncle or aunty or grandparent she said she an orphan and how can i believe this so before i send $350 to get her flight here i want make sure i want to know if real of her or have i been scam or catfish on me this had been last 3 day she said wanted get out of here in new zealand to get to my country meet me last text this morning
name other way round it Sofia Ruiz
Hi, i just wanna ask if there is DESMOND MARIANO asign at new york street right now, i been talking to this guys since last week and i just want to know that he is real or not. THYANK YOU
I want to know if this guy name Patrick Gomez sgt in the marines deploy in djibouti is real. He told me he cannot clear Clarence because he old 5000 on a stole card. He cannot access his account and we have only talk through Wattapp and Ig. He said he will be home in june/july but no show.
I am trying to find out if there is someone in the Army ,name Dwayne Mark…he claims he is stationed in Kuwait
These scammers are very very smart… I went so far as to run an actual background check on the man I was talking to. We had planned to meet face to face but he received orders to go to Belgium on the day before our “date”. we stayed in touch throughout the day that he flew out. (Andrew Neil Johnson- Air Force). we talked everyday and he ‘ fell in love’ with me and couldn’t wait to get home after his 6 weeks were completed in Belgium. I decided to prove to myself that he was who he said he was… The background check showed two possible people, one of the correct age as my “friend” and one was several years younger. I also ran his name and birthdate through the SCRA website and it shows that there IS in fact someone with that name and birthdate currently on active duty. My friend sent me pictures of himself through WhatsApp and they resembled his facebook profile photos. He also tried to video chat with me but his calls would not connect so he sent a short video of himself but the audio could not be heard. I felt I had done everything i could to prove that he was real…. then he told me the food on his base had been tampered with and he needed me to send $500 to buy new food until the end of his assignment. I told him I would … had him hanging on for 6 days thinking i was sending the money but bad things kept happening to me so I couldn’t. Finally he said I was playing with his feelings and he no longer wanted my money.. Haven’t heard from him since then. I wonder why
Can I ask what kind of short video did he send and do you have a copy of it! I also had a guy send me a short video of himself! Some of the things you said in your comment kinda sounds like the guy I’m talking to!
I have been taliking to an army,guy he,says he is.his name is,William Scott he suppose to be. A sargent . he says the only way he can come home from yeman is by,paying his easy home he signed a contracted. And it’s going. To cost 4,200. I live off of social security and SSI i am handicap . he says he livesvme I am getting verbal abused by my husband who I am with I dont have a place to go .. He says he wants to get me out of my situation . I woyld live fpr him,to,help me .,but he is over there in yeman . but I don’t,know if William,is a scammer . my heart wants to believe that he he is good but my mind wants to tell me something, different he, birthday is Jan 23 1977.,any,infomation on,William Scott will,be. Helpfully he is from el Quledio California if I spelled it right . please help,desperly.
He is a scammer, the military would pay for him to come home, he wouldn’t have to beg money from people, I am retired military so I am telling you this experience not B.S.
ive been talking to a man in the military well he says he is he sent me photos and and says he doesnt wear a uniform what rank would that be
None, ALL military members have a uniform
Hi Sam, I’ve been chatting with someone claiming to be in the US Army at Fort Bliss, he says he needs to pay his superiors in order to get his leave, and can’t access his money until he’s off base, I will never give him money, just want to know do people in the army need to pay to get their leave?
I hope you see this, thank you so much
Pretty sure I am being scammed by someone I met online who is claiming to be lieutenant general serving in Afghanistan. Searching on Google for name & rank turns up nothing but facebook profiles which I’m pretty sure are fake. I tried doing a search on SCRA but can’t seem to figure out how to enter my search there. I don’t have SSN or DOB, however just first and last name. Is there a way for me to verify if someone who claims to be in military actually is or isn’t? So far I’m having no luck figuring out what resources I should use. Thank you for any suggestions you might have.
Hi did you have any joy I’ve been asked to date a certain sergeant photos sent with daughter and young children, can you let me know if this person exists,as this person has used their profile and find this upsetting for this persons personal life, will send details to the correct personal, a tragic profile to his life when his wife and children where killed in horrific car crash in England ? And now wants to start a new life with me. Need to stop these people to use real peoples profiles and photos
Need your help in finding out about a RN Nurse stationed in Afghanistan. The name is Alexandra Dormanold. He sent me a friend’s request on Facebook. And a couple weeks letter sent me a message through messaged. Stated he is 40. Born in 1980. Sent me photos. Has asked me to buy him $100 Stream Cards. Asked me to invest in Bitcoins. I need to see if this person is real. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Hi there. I think we have the same thing. Someone sent me a message and told me that she is an active military officer assigned in Syria. She give me here name as Nicole Roqeeb. Can I ask if there is an officer name like that. Thank u for your help.
Me too I have a chatmate who’s claiming he’s a us army deployed in Nigeria named Clark Raymond somer I feel there is something wrong we can’t video call and he doesn’t believe me that no us army deployed in Nigeria as of this moment I know from there he’s lying he also said he came from Afghanistan and transferred in Nigeria and that he is an American us army
Hi i would like to know if there’s a guy name Rodolfo Cortez but his IG is sgt Cortez, he said that he is currently in a mission in Syria and that he is in the ARMY. His birthday is September 06 1985.I’m so curious about him if it is true. Thank you so much for your help.Please reply. I don’t want it to be a catfishing…
Hi i would like to know if there’s a guy name frank jones but his surname is sitwat, he said that he is a sergeant working as infantry in Dallas Texas. And he said that he is currently in a mission in syria. His birthday is September 8 1985. Please reply. I’m so curious about his personality if it is true. Thank in advanced.
Hi there
I am communicate with a us lady aide de camp based in japan owada communication base.
She told me that she work for General Campbell.
Her name is Kerra Gibson.
I feel like I am been scammed and I would like know if she really exist and work in the army.
Your answer or any help will be greatly appreciate.
Hello, Good Day! Being friend with someone claiming that he is a US military personnel who is currently deployed in Kabul Afghanistan for a Mission. His IG account is Franklinparis2. We use to talk on hang outs & has an email Generalmarkstephenmark@gmail.com. Then suddenly he came out sending a parcel here in the Philippines because he wanted to keep safe his military documents and all property documents in San Jose California. He Uses a name of KIM DERRICK FRANKLIN & claims to be a US ARMY specifically a combat army. Hope to get a response from you as soon as possible. Thank You!
I had one who messaged me on Facebook. Said he was with the Malaysian Army who had been training at one of our bases in Canada. CFB Trenton, I was in the Forces so I know what to ask him. Anyway, he was trying to pull me along and I went for the ride and then he says he wants to visit me. He had gone back home. I said Ok. So he sends me a fake copy of a Boarding Pass. I could see it was fake, no Airline Booking number on it. Then asks for money. I told him “I knew it all along that you were a scammer. Don’t try and play that game with an ex-member of the Canadian Forces.
Hello. I am compiling a family tree for someone. Her parents were never married and she only knows his name and approx. year of birth. His name is Richard Floyd. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in 1964. He was from Brooklyn, Ny. He is black. That is all. I know this is a very long shot, but I have exhausted all my family tree resources. Any help appreciated. Thanks.
Hi I’m trying to locate my son. Last I hear she was going into the marines but that was 2 years ago. I hVe t heard from him since then. He stopped answering my phone calls. His name is Isaiah Ethan Burlison-Clark. His dob is 9-22-99. He may have gone into the army too
Try a simple Google search of his name (just use Isaiah Burlison-Clark). I see two Facebook accounts under that name.
He works at Coherent. Inc in Wilsonville, Oregon.
I would like to find out if a certain Charlotte Berwick, DOB January 1, 1985 who a resident of Virginia, U.S.A and is still in active duty of US Air Force who is in Afghanistan. She request as friend in FB which I accepted. Then after a few days she message me on my messenger. After which she said that she has a package to be sent to me. To cut the story short after 2 days a some one called saying he is a diplomatic agent saying that the package is at hand in the US embassy. That I have to pay 50k for the package to be delivered. I thought it as a scam. I would only would like to inform you about the above name that her name had been used to do something like this. After 2 weeks which two days ago she removed all her messages to in my messenger thinking that she can not succeed in asking me to pay the amount and used a certain Irish Raymundo to deposit in the person’s name. Fyi
The old Scam and they often find someone to fall for it. I get it all the time so I’m trying to Scam them.
Okay, i’m in need of some expert help. I’ve been talking to a young gentleman that’s claiming to be an US Soldier, deployed in Nigeria, Africa, on a peace seeking mission. His name, Anthony Micheal Richardson, DOB May 29, 1991. he’s sent me pictures of himself, which I’ve reversed searched them, and I’ve gotten no results. So they seem to be legit pictures. He said he’s not on any social media platforms. Other than snapchat. I just want to be sure this guy’s the real deal, or if i’m being scammed, and know to cut off all contact with him.
Based on that information, it is difficult to say whether you’re dealing with an honest person. They may have provided you with a real name, DOB, and photo, but how do you know that is who you are talking to?
The real question is, what does he want from you? If he is asking you for money, personal information, or help in any way, I would be very suspicious. Don’t give out any personal information and don’t send him any money.
SCAM! RUN.
Hi my mother is in communication with a certain Army personnel based in Afghanistan by the name of Perry Anderson Moore, DOB – September 10, 1963, I just want to know that this person is genuine as I don’t want my mother to be scammed, I enlisted her in SCRA, but I’m not sure how to use it.
Would you mind helping me verify a US army staff’s service status, please? He said his name is Dave Bradley and his DOB is 3/24/1993. He claimed he is currently deployed to Togo, Africa.
If anybody out there can find, help me find, or knows First LT Timmy Mack, United States Army, Airborne,Infantry, Ranger, Special Forces, from 1996…. I’d love to get ahold of him and thank him for dragging me out of that hole on July 12, 1996. I want to tell him thank you for calling my family, and telling them what happened. And I want to thank him from my kids, because I’m still here today. If anybody finds him, tell him he used to call me “Flex” and used to call me “The Bully” (This is for my son Stationed in Fort Hood Texas)
Here is one possibility. Take a look at this LinkedIn profile for Tim Mack – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mack-5164ba41
He has experience in the U.S. Army, in an Airborne Division, and was in a Special Forces group.
My daughter left home at 18 and joined the Navy. I would love to reconnect with her and write to her how much her sister and I love her. I would pay anything to be able to find her.
A grieving Mom.
Good day maam i would like to know how to verify that he is a real us navy because he send me his two identification card and he keep asking me for money for help… he was deployed in egypt… so i want to how to find hes his name in website… his name is SMART D. JAMES… E5 Po2… hope you can help me if he is still active in duty…
HI,
I just need to verify someone, he claims he is a marine sergeant. That he is currently in Afghanistan working secret service. He says he has been serving about 11 years years already. I just want to verify this information. Name is Michael Bran Rose, OR Michael Bran, Michael Rose, Bran Rose. Not sure what it is but need to check. He claims to be 35 years old born on 2/14/1984.
Thanks,
Rubi
I am trying to locate the captain of my Ex-husband. This is about a child support issue. I don’t know where to start or if there is a number I can call. can you please help? Thank you.
My father was in the military, he was a Vietnam vet. He has passed away. What do I do to get information on him, as I have no proof I’m his daughter. I don’t know his ss#.
Try searching the National Archives at https://www.archives.gov/research/military/veterans/online
Look in the Vietnam Era Conflict section
Can you please help me!!!! I feel like I am being scammed. He said his name is Samuel Amzan. His D.O.B 11/27/1976
He wants to add me as a beneficiary he gave me this email address Us.navy@rescueteam.com to request beneficiary. He said he is Chief Warrant Officer Samuel Amzan W03
He said his mom is Cinderella Nwakanma and she lives in Georgia Can you please look into this for me. Can you please see if he is really in the Navy.
Thank you so much for your time
Jen
It does sound suspicious.
Do you know the individual? Do you have any known connection to him? How did he contact you? Are they asking you to provide personal information, bank account, etc.?
Hi I’m looking for a Phillip Meyer born 25 May 1974. Believe to be a solider. I really need to get something to him. Us army maybe be a sergeant now. This is very important
Hi i would like to know if there a guy name Jackson Crawford Kingsley in the military? Details that i have was only Captain E 5 ranking mos combat soldier. Please reply. Thank you
I’ve been scammed and blocked that person who wanted to date me online.
He send me like real pictures from his training in Afghanistan.
I just want to find out if this soldier is aware and if he’s death or alive!
Any help is highly appreciated
Angela
am looking to locate my father whom I have never met. The information I have on him is that his full name is Howard Kenneth Harris and he was an E5 @ Ft.Lee Virginia w/ the MP corp in 1979. Any information you have will be appreciated. Thank you.
If you have your father’s date of birth or social security number, you can search for active duty military personnel at https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#/single-record.
Hi! Can you please help me? I think I’m being scammed. I would like to know if there is a guy name Gabriel Logan Lucas, 31yrs old DOB March 17,1990. He said he’s working in US Marines as Staff Sergeant. He is now deployed in Egypt. I don’t know if he’s catfishing to me only. Thank you
If you think you’re being scammed, you probably are being scammed. If the person is in the military, you can visit https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#/home to request a report. However, there is no guarantee that it is the same person you’re talking to. It could easily be someone who is pretending to be him.
I am curious if you all have have a service member by the name of Robert Jeffery .. He has stated to me that he I in the Army and that he is a surgeon, and that he is in Afghanistan…please email me back to let me know if this I true thanks…
You can verify active duty military status at this site https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/single_record.xhtml, but you will need the person’s social security number and birth date.