SI (officer) and ASI (enlisted) 5X identifies positions requiring the analytical and critical thinking skills developed through the study of history and positions requiring the understanding of the impact history has on the development of joint and Army doctrine, organization, training, planning, and material acquisition.
Qualifications
Individuals may obtain the 5X SI or ASI in two ways:
- Individual must have at least 18 credit hours in history from an accredited college or university and must complete either the Military History Detachment Course or the Field & Unit Historian Course.
- Individual has a graduate degree (M.A. or PhD) in History from a fully accredited graduate school, or a Master of Military Arts and Science in History from CGSC or has completed the Art of War Scholar Program at CGSC or has graduated from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at CGSC. The granting degree program must require the research and writing of a thesis.
The Chief of Military History, ATTN: ATMH-ZA, 102 4th Avenue, Ft McNair, DC 20319-5058, may grant waivers if an individual possesses equivalent qualifications. To be awarded by USACMH only.
POC for award of the SI or ASI: Requests for information can be sent to the Field & Expeditionary History Division mailbox at: usarmy.mcnair.cmh-cmh.mbx.cmh-field-exp-hist@army.mil.
Army Field and Unit Historian Course (A625) (Distance Learning)
Course Description: This course is intended for uniformed and civilian personnel assigned as Army Command Historians. The course is designed to educate participants on the roles and responsibilities of an Army Command Historian at the general officer command level and above in both garrison and deployed environments. It will prepare command historians to effectively provide guidance to subordinates designated to act as unit historical officers (UHOs) or members of military history detachments. Instruction includes familiarization with the Army History Program, incorporation of history considerations in the operational planning process, production of unit historical reports, collection and management of documents and artifacts, planning and execution of staff rides, and oral history interview techniques.
Eligibility: This course is open to military personnel of any grade, service, and component, and DoD civilians.
Workload: Course workload consists of designated readings, written products, and oral history interviews. This is an 80-hour course.
Prerequisites: None.
POC: Requests for information can be sent to the Field & Expeditionary History Division mailbox at: usarmy.mcnair.cmh-cmh.mbx.cmh-field-exp-hist@army.mil.
Enrollment (CAC Required): https://cgscsms.army.mil/STUDENTS/CSI/index.asp
Unit Historical Officer Fundamentals Course (Distance Learning)
Course Description: This course is intended for military personnel assigned as Unit Historical Officers (UHOs) at the battalion and brigade level. UHOs are military officers or non-commissioned officers assigned in an additional duty capacity to collect historical documents and media, maintain the unit's historical research collection, ensure the unit's lineage and honors are kept current (as applicable), and most importantly, write and submit the units annual command history report to their higher headquarters for consolidation and ultimate reporting to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. Instruction includes familiarization with the Army History Program, unit lineage and honors, production of unit historical reports, collection and management of documents and artifacts, planning and execution of staff rides, and oral history interview techniques.
Eligibility: This course is open to military personnel of any grade, service, and component and DOD civilians.
Workload: Course workload consists of designated readings, written products, and oral history interviews. This is a 40-hour course.
Prerequisites: None.
POC: Requests for information can be sent to the Field & Expeditionary History Division mailbox at: usarmy.mcnair.cmh-cmh.mbx.cmh-field-exp-hist@army.mil.
Enrollment (CAC Required): As of 01 April 2026, this course is available on demand in the Army Training Information System - Education (ATIS-ED). UHOs must first establish an account in ATIS-ED and then they can search under the “courses” menu for the Course Name: Unit Historical Officer Fundamentals. Once selected, the UHO can self-enroll in the course. The link to ATIS-ED is https://learn.atis.army.mil/education/.