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Military service records contain specialized terminology that varies by era, branch, and country. The terms below are commonly found in enlistment papers, service records, pension files, draft registrations, muster rolls, discharge papers, casualty reports, and compiled military service records. Understanding this language helps clarify rank, duty status, unit organization, eligibility for benefits, and the scope of an ancestor’s service.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Enlistment | Formal entry into military service for a specified term. |
| Muster Roll | Periodic roster listing soldiers present, absent, or assigned to a unit. |
| Muster In | Official acceptance of a soldier into service. |
| Muster Out | Formal discharge from military service. |
| Commission | Official appointment as an officer. |
| Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) | Enlisted soldier holding rank above private but below commissioned officer. |
| Rank | Position or grade within the military hierarchy. |
| Grade | Pay level associated with a rank. |
| Regiment | Major military unit typically composed of several companies or battalions. |
| Battalion | Subdivision of a regiment composed of multiple companies. |
| Company | Basic military unit, usually commanded by a captain. |
| Detachment | Smaller unit separated from a larger command for special duty. |
| Brigade | Large military formation composed of multiple regiments or battalions. |
| Division | Major military formation composed of brigades. |
| Infantry | Soldiers trained for ground combat on foot. |
| Cavalry | Soldiers trained for mounted or mobile combat. |
| Artillery | Military units operating large-caliber weapons. |
| Signal Corps | Military unit responsible for communications. |
| Quartermaster | Officer responsible for supplies, equipment, and logistics. |
| Commissary | Officer or department responsible for food supplies. |
| Provost Marshal | Officer responsible for military law enforcement. |
| Adjutant | Officer responsible for administrative duties within a unit. |
| Service Record | Official record documenting an individual’s military career. |
| Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) | Abstracted record assembled from original documents, commonly used for Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers. |
| Pension File | Application and supporting documents filed to obtain veteran or widow benefits. |
| Bounty | Monetary incentive paid for enlistment. |
| Furlough | Authorized temporary leave from duty. |
| Desertion | Abandonment of military duty without permission. |
| AWOL (Absent Without Leave) | Unauthorized absence from assigned duty. |
| Casualty | Service member killed, wounded, missing, or captured. |
| KIA | Killed in Action. |
| WIA | Wounded in Action. |
| MIA | Missing in Action. |
| POW | Prisoner of War. |
| Honorable Discharge | Release from service under satisfactory conditions. |
| Dishonorable Discharge | Release from service under punitive conditions. |
| General Discharge | Separation from service under conditions other than dishonorable. |
| Medical Discharge | Separation due to injury or illness incurred during service. |
| Reenlistment | Renewal of military service after completion of prior term. |
| Draft | Compulsory military service mandated by law. |
| Volunteer | Individual who enters service without conscription. |
| Induction | Formal process of entering service under a draft system. |
| Service Number | Unique identification number assigned to a service member. |
| Dog Tags | Identification tags worn by service members. |
| Pay Voucher | Record documenting payment issued to a service member. |
| Court-Martial | Military court for trying service members accused of offenses. |
| Line of Duty | Determination that injury or death occurred during active service. |
| Invalid Pension | Pension granted due to disability related to military service. |
| Dependent Pension | Pension granted to a widow, child, or dependent of a veteran. |
| Veterans Administration (VA) | U.S. federal agency administering benefits for veterans. |
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