Legal Question in Military Law in Alabama

Re: Phenix CIty Alabama National Guard Records

Beth,

Most National Guard records are State records UNLESS at the time, the Guard was activated in a "federal" status.

The only way [absent a Court Order] to access those types of records, is to either have a signed release from the person(s) involved, i.e., your parents, or to make a "Freedom of Information" request under Alabama's version of that law.

For federal records, the process is essentially the same, only there is the federal Freedom of Information Act [FOIA].

For Alabama records, I would call or check on line to see if there is a "Records Access" office or FOI office. That will be in the State National Guard's Headquarters in Alabama.

For federal, check with the US National Guard Bureau in Washington DC and they can point you in the right direction as to where their historical records are kept and what you need to do to get access.

Good Luck and I hope this helps.

Don Rehkopf