The Center of Military History's Field Historian Program ensures that military history meets the needs of the Army and nation. The Army Historical Program preserves, interprets, disseminates, and teaches military history; provides historical advice to decision makers and their staffs; and stimulates historical mindedness within the Army and throughout the nation. Field historian operations include command historians at all levels of command, unit historians and Military History Detachments.
Command Historians
The command historian or unit historian advises the commander on historical matters relating to the command; documents the command’s history; provides historical perspective to the commander and staff during planning and execution of operations; assists with professional development and training of officers and Soldiers; and supports the Army Historical Program through the collection of historical documents and artifacts.
Military History Detachments

LTC David Spies (Commander, 102nd MHD) shakes hands with a local Iraqi civic official after conducting an oral history interview at the Abu Ghraib district hospital in Baghdad on February 28, 2009.
MHDs carry out directed collection of historical material during combat and contingency operations for later use in writing the official history. They are trained and equipped to gather historical documents and materials, conduct oral interviews, photograph actions and events, and advise supported units on planning and conducting historical operations. The MHD collects historical documents and materials and conducts oral history interviews throughout the Army.
Military History Detachment Vacancies
United States Army Reserve
Team | Location | Openings |
---|---|---|
50th MHD | Salt Lake City, UT | MAJ, 01A |
50th MHD | Salt Lake City, UT | SFC, 46Z |
50th MHD | Salt Lake City, UT | SSG, 46S |
28th MHD | Aiken, SC | SFC, 46Z |
28th MHD | Aiken, SC | SSG, 46S |
21st MHD | Fort Detrick, MD | SFC, 46Z |
21st MHD | Fort Detrick, MD | SSG, 46S |
46th MHD | Birmingham, AL | MAJ, 01A |
46th MHD | Birmingham, AL | SFC, 46Z |
46th MHD | Birmingham, AL | SSG, 46S |
47th MHD | Bell, CA | MAJ, 01A |
47th MHD | Bell, CA | SFC, 46Z |
47th MHD | Bell, CA | SSG, 46S |
35th MHD | Bell, CA | MAJ, 01A |
35th MHD | Bell, CA | SFC, 46Z |
35th MHD | Bell, CA | SSG, 46S |
51st MHD | Bell, CA | SFC, 46Z |
51st MHD | Bell, CA | SSG, 46S |
48th MHD | Forest Park, IL | SSG, 46S |
49th MHD | Forest Park, IL | SFC, 46Z |
54th MHD | Birmingham, AL | MAJ, 01A |
54th MHD | Birmingham, AL | SFC, 46Z |
54th MHD | Birmingham, AL | SSG, 46S |
Point of Contact:
Mr. Christopher J. GhizCommand Historian,
Office of Army Reserve History, USARC, HQ
4710 Knox Street
Fort Bragg, NC 28310
Phone: (910) 570-8194, DSN (670)
Military History Detachment Courses
Course# | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
921-9E-F68/920-F58 Class 001 | Ft. Dix | 7-11 OCT with a report date of 6 OCT |
921-9E-F68/920-F58 Class 002 | Ft. Knox | 10-14 FEB with a report date of 9 FEB |
921-9E-F68/920-F58 Class 501 | Ft. Dix | 16-20 MAR with a report date of 15 MAR |
921-9E-F68/920-F58 Class 003 | Ft. Knox | 27-31 JUL with a report date of 26 JUL |
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned is the concept of collecting information and performing tactical, technical, and doctrinal analysis with the goal of improving how the Army performs operations. This section provides lessons learned from various historians, MHD’s and other history related elements to provide a professional development opportunity. Feel free to provide lessons learned to help improve the way we conduct history operations.
Course# | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
921-9E-F68/920-F8 Class 001 | Ft. Dix | 05-09 Nov 2018 with a report date of 4 Nov |
921-9E-F68/920-F8 Class 002 | Ft. Dix | 20-24 May 2019 with a report date of 19 May |
921-9E-F68/920-F8 Class 003 | Ft. Knox | 08-12 July 2019 with a report date of 07 May |
Articles / News
- Collecting Military History During the 59th Presidential Inauguration
By SFC Lamont Bradford | U.S. Army article | January 26, 2021 - Army Historians document actionable history during COVID-19 Operations
By Crista Mary Mack | U.S. Army article | June 10, 2020 - History detachments called into action during Army Reserve COVID-19 response
By Zachary Mott | 88th Readiness Division | May 11, 2020 - Early Lessons From The U.S. Army’s Campaign To Conquer COVID-19
By Loren Thompson | Forbes article | May 6, 2020 - COVID19/Coronavirus Current Updates
References
- ATP 1-20 | (FM 1-20) Military History Operations [PDF 1.6MB]
- AR 870-5 | Military History: Responsibilities, Policies, and Procedures [PDF 225KB]
- AR 870-20 | Army Museums, Historical Artifacts, and Art [PDF 421KB]
- AR 870-21 | The U.S. Army Regimental System [PDF 168KB]
- AR 220-5 | Designation, Classification, and Change in Status of Units [PDF 33KB]