Field Historians

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development and training of officers and Soldiers; and supports the Army Historical Program through the collection of historical documents and artifacts.

Unit Historical Officers (UHOs)

UHOs are military officers or non-commissioned officers assigned at brigade and battalion level commands, in an additional duty capacity, to collect historical documents and media, maintain the unit's historical research collection, ensure the unit's lineage and honors are kept current ( as applicable) , and most importantly,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 o consolidation and ultimate reporting to the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Effective immediately, all Unit Historical Officers should register for the Unit Historical Officer Fundamentals Distance Learning Course to receive the baseline training required to fulfill their assigned duties. The course is available on demand in Blackboard (ELLC domain) . UHOs must first establish an account in Blackboard ELLC and then they can select the following Course ID or Course Name from the course catalog Course ID: 912_CMHUHOFDLC_2023_001_00_N , Course Name: Unit Historical Officer Fundamentals Distance Learning. Once selected, the UHO can request enrollment in the course in Blackboard ELLC.

When registering for the course, UHOs should also send a copy of their additional duty appointment orders, signed by their brigade or battalion commander ( as applicable), to the following e-mail address: usarmy.mcnair.cmh.mbx.unit-historical-officer---cmh-coordination@army.mil

Additionally, send all questions regarding the course to the following e-mail address: usarmy.mcnair.cmh.mbx.unit-historical-officer---cmh-coordination@army.mil

Military History Detachments

Field Historians

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.

Upcoming MHD Courses

Course # Location Date
921-9E-F68/920-F58 24-001 Fort Knox, KY 22-27 October 2023
921-9E-F68/920-F58 24-003 Fort Knox, KY 07-12 April 2024
921-9E-F68/920-F58 24-004 Fort McNair, DC 09-14 June 2024

A 625 Field / Unit Historian Distance Learning Course (ASI 5X)

Officers holding the ASI 5X are qualified to supervise unit-level historians from battalion to division level or to serve as unit historians themselves.

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Contact Us

U.S. Army Reserve Point of Contact

Mr. Christopher J. Ghiz
USARC Command Historian,
Office of Army Reserve History, USARC, HQ
4710 Knox Street
Fort Bragg, NC 28310

christopher.j.ghiz.civ@army.mil

U.S. Army Reserve, National Guard & Command Historian Point of Contact

LTC Jeffrey R. McGeary
Deputy Chief, Military Programs
U.S. Army Center of Military History
Fort McNair, DC 20319-5058

jeffrey.r.mcgeary.mil@army.mil

Articles / News

References