One thing that is constant about my military and genealogy business the last 16 years is CHANGE.
I realize a lot of genealogists and military researchers, especially those who write for Stories Behind the Stars, only do online military research. In fact, a few SBTS writers who are students, have asked for additional resources to help them find records.
You asked and I am delivering. A couple things are changing for my Fold3/NARA Catalog Class.
First – I’m still calling it the Fold3/NARA Catalog Small Group Coaching. I am going to be sharing additional websites as time permits because military records are everywhere.
Second – A few people have asked for a roadmap on how to research online – branch by branch. I am going to have the first version of this available in this Friday’s class. A few spots remain if you’d like to register. I did also add a class on August 5 and I’ll have an updated version available then. With my client load this week and teaching, I don’t have time to make a fully complete workbook for Friday. If you are registered for Friday’s class I will make sure you get the 2nd version when it is done. You won’t be missing out on anything.
I would like to mention something important.
I know so many people prefer to find a few military records online and write a biography but I would caution you to verify what you find. I also invite you to actually get military records from the archives. You will tell a better story and if you are reconstructing military service using my 2-part strategy – you’ll get the story accurate as far as what units/ships or stations someone was part of and the time periods.
It’s never a good idea to assume the discharge paper or grave has the only unit or ship on which someone served. 95% of the time you will tell the wrong story if you go that route and do not reconstruct the service. Learn more in my article – WWII Discharge Paper Doesn’t Have All the Answers
I am absolutely certain that Ancestry, Fold3, FindAGrave, and many other websites and blogs and stories you find about military service members do contain errors. My own mother put out wrong information in 2010 because of an incorrect military record and military issued gravestone that was wrong. At that time we didn’t know it was wrong because it was assumed the military issued stone was correct.
I am also absolutely certain that not everything you need to tell a more accurate and full story is online. So much is still sitting in archives on paper.
So how can you learn what you don’t know so you can more accurately write a story – even just using online sources?
Learn the 2-part strategy I developed to at least understand how to reconstruct military service. This doesn’t mean taking every branch-specific class I teach. Take one and learn the overall strategy and what records can be used for that branch. Then use the new workbook I am creating for the Fold3/NARA class and go from there.
No one else in the country is providing this level of military research education. You are invited to learn the strategy, attend other classes to learn what else is out there beyond Ancestry, FamilySearch, Fold3, NARA, and FindAGrave. You might be surprised at just how much information exists.
In August I will be teaching the Army records class again. That may be the only branch class I teach as I haven’t taught my WWII Death Records class or the POW Records class in a while. If you don’t want to wait for a class – book a private 1-1 session with me and I’ll guide you through what you need.
Would You Like to Learn More?
Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.
If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army, Army Air Force, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, Coast Guard or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.
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