Exciting News for Genealogists: BIRLS Database Military Records Now Accessible!

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Reclaim the Records (RTR), a groundbreaking resource is now available to genealogists and researchers. The Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) database, the primary index to the Veteran Administration (VA)'s records of veteran benefits claims files, is now searchable online. This is an extraordinary development for anyone delving into family history or military research.

What is BIRLS?

The BIRLS database is an invaluable index that contains information on "pretty much any deceased US veteran who served in the late nineteenth or twentieth centuries." This includes veterans from all branches of the US military, even those that no longer exist, such as the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) and the Army Air Corps.

According to RTR, these files are the modern equivalent of the Civil War pension files or other veteran records held at the National Archives (NARA), which genealogists have long relied on. However, about 95% of these newer files are still held by the VA and have never been transferred to NARA, making them previously inaccessible to most researchers.

Search Page for BIRLS Database

How to Access the Database

RTR has gone a step further by creating a user-friendly search engine for this data, covering over 18 million deceased US veterans, at BIRLS.org. Here’s what you can do:

• Search for your veteran of interest: Enter the name of the veteran to see if they’re included in the BIRLS database military records.

• Submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request: If you find a match, you can send a FOIA request directly from your web browser.

• Request the full underlying benefits claims file: The VA will send you the claims file from their warehouse—completely free of charge!

What You Might Find

The VA claims files can contain hundreds of pages of biographical and historical material about the veteran, their military service, and their interactions with the VA. These details can provide invaluable insights into your ancestor’s life and times, making this resource a treasure trove for genealogists and historians alike.

Supporting Reclaim the Records

Reclaim the Records is a non-profit organization dedicated to making important genealogical and historical records accessible to the public. They rely on donations to fund their work and legal battles to free up these vital resources. If you’d like to support their mission, consider contributing to their efforts.

For more information and to start your search, visit BIRLS.org.

This new resource opens up exciting possibilities for genealogists and researchers. Happy searching—and may you uncover incredible stories about your ancestors!