In one instance he's particularly proud of, Essex's hunt for military records enabled a 71-year old former National Guard Soldier to qualify for subsidized housing based on his military service. He claimed he had been awarded the Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Air Crewman Badge while serving in the New York Army National Guard.īut his New York National Guard records included no orders awarding those badges, Essex testified. The case involved a former New York Army National Guard Soldier who, among other crimes, had falsified his records to reflect awards he had not earned. Once he even had to testify about a Soldier's records at a court martial at Fort Eustis, Md. He also gets records requests from federal agents conducting security-clearance investigations, Essex said. Other requests come from employers - police departments or private businesses that want to verify a job applicant's military background. They didn't care too much about keeping track of records when they were a 20-something Guardsman finishing out their enlistment, but now - in their 60s, or 70s - they want proof of their military service, he explained. Some come from old Soldiers who want proof of their service to obtain veterans benefits like a veterans housing loan, a veterans discount at a store, or simply to prove they served, Essex said. WATERVLIET, N.Y.-If you served in the New York Army National Guard after 1950, Stephen Essex has your number-along with lots of other information about you.Įssex, the inactive/active records officer for the New York Army National Guard personnel office since 2006, locates records for Soldiers who left service years ago, as well as those who are still in the Guard.Įssex fields 40 to 60 requests for records each week.

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