10/30/2026
From Choosing a Historical Focus to Building the Research Skills Used to Study Warfare
A battlefield can tell you where people fought, but a military historian wants to know why they were there, what decisions led to the conflict, what sources reveal about the people involved – and how later generations came to understand the event. That work takes plenty of research.
Military historians study armed conflict using letters, government records, photographs, oral histories, official reports, artifacts, and other primary sources. Some concentrate on one war or time period, while others examine subjects such as military strategy, technology, leadership, or the experiences of soldiers.
If you're researching how to become a military historian, there is no universal checklist that applies to every position. Education, specialized knowledge, research experience, and practical experience may all be relevant depending on the position.
Step 1: Build Your Foundation in Military History
A bachelor's degree in history, military history, or a related subject is one educational pathway for students interested in historical research.
American Military University's online Bachelor of Arts in Military History focuses specifically on armed conflict and its effects on society.
Students examine:
- Philosophies and strategies of war
- Military leadership
- Major historical battles
- Technological developments in warfare
- Military conflict as a catalyst for societal change
The 120-credit program also requires students to work with primary and secondary sources and conduct independent historical research.
A general history degree is another possible route. AMU's online Bachelor of Arts in History covers a broader range of civilizations, periods, and historical themes and includes coursework involving research and source analysis.
Step 2: Find the Part of Military History You Want to Study
The term 'military historian' covers a huge amount of ground. One historian might spend years studying the Civil War. Another could specialize in World War II, ancient warfare, military technology, naval history, individual units, or the relationship between warfare and politics.
Choosing a focus gives your research overall direction.
A Civil War researcher, for example, might examine battlefield records alongside soldiers’ correspondence. Other sources could include government documents, newspapers, photographs, and accounts written after the conflict. Someone studying World War II could ask entirely different questions about strategy, logistics, technology, or civilian experiences.
Specialization often becomes increasingly important during graduate study and independent research.
Step 3: Learn How to Work With Primary Sources
Historical research involves working out what a source can actually tell you.
Who created the document? Why was it produced? What information might be missing? Does another source describe the same event differently?
Military historians often conduct research using:
- Unit and operational records
- Personal letters and diaries
- Maps
- Photographs
- Government records
- Oral histories
- Newspapers
- Military reports
- Historical artifacts
Archival and digital research are increasingly relevant as historical documents become available through digitized collections as well as physical archives.
Researchers working on conflicts involving non-English-speaking nations might also find language skills useful when accessing original records.
Step 4: Develop Your Historical Writing
Collecting evidence is one part of historical research. Historians also need to explain and interpret what they find.
Strong historical writing connects evidence to a clear argument while acknowledging gaps, conflicting accounts, and alternative interpretations.
AMU’s military history curriculum includes evaluating historical arguments and completing a major research paper using primary and secondary sources.
Students interested in advanced study could explore AMU's online Master of Arts in Military History.
The 36-credit graduate program emphasizes advanced historical methods, research, and persuasive arguments supported by evidence. Students can focus on American Military History, American Revolution, Civil War, World War II, or War Since 1945.
Interested in advancing your military history education? Explore graduate-level study options and learn more in "Can I Get A Masters Degree In Military History Online?"
Step 5: Build Practical Research Experience
You do not have to wait until graduation to start doing the work of a historian.
Museums, archives, historic sites, libraries, and public history projects may offer opportunities to work around collections and historical records. Depending on the organization, students might find internships, volunteer positions, research projects, or other ways to gain practical experience.
You could also begin building a body of work through research papers, articles, presentations, or public history projects.
For someone hoping to work in academia, academic positions may include research and publishing expectations in addition to teaching responsibilities. Postsecondary teaching positions can also require graduate-level qualifications, with requirements varying by institution and role.
Military History Detachments and Field Historians
Military history is also documented while events are unfolding. Within the U.S. Army, Military History Detachments have historically collected materials and firsthand accounts relating to military operations. Their work can include gathering documents and conducting interviews that preserve experiences for the historical record.
Command and field historians may also document operations and help preserve records at different levels of military organizations.
These are specialized military positions with their own eligibility, assignment, and training requirements. Studying military history does not automatically qualify someone for a Military History Detachment or command historian role.
Likewise, military service is not a requirement for becoming a civilian military historian.
Where Can Military Historians Work?
The word "historian" can describe several types of work.
Depending on their education, experience, and the requirements of a particular position, individuals working in military history may pursue roles in settings such as:
- Universities: Teaching and conducting academic research
- Museums: Researching collections, exhibitions, and artifacts
- Archives: Preserving and interpreting historical records
- Government: Conducting historical research or working with official collections
- Public history: Making historical research accessible to wider audiences
- Media: Providing historical research or subject expertise for documentaries and other productions
Some historians also write books, scholarly articles, or material for general audiences.
How Do You Start Building a Career as a Military Historian?
Start by becoming a better researcher. Choose an area of military history that genuinely holds your attention, learn how to work carefully with historical evidence, and take opportunities to produce original work.
As your interests become clearer, review the qualifications for positions that interest you. That could mean graduate education, archival experience, additional language skills, publishing research, or practical work within museums and historical organizations.
There are many ways to study war, and becoming a military historian means learning how to turn surviving evidence into a careful, well-supported account of the past. Prospective students can explore AMU’s military history programs to learn more about studying historical research, military conflict, and primary sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Be a Historian in the Military?
Yes, historian roles exist within parts of the U.S. military. Military History Detachments and command historians are examples connected with documenting and preserving military history. Requirements depend on the specific service, position, and assignment.
Is Military History a Good Degree for Historians?
A military history degree can provide focused study of warfare while developing skills in historical research, source analysis, and writing. Whether it suits a particular student depends on the period and subjects they want to research and the qualifications required for their preferred type of historical work.
What Jobs Can You Get With a Military History Degree?
A degree doesn't guarantee employment. Military history graduates might explore work in museums, archives, government, public history, research, education, or other settings where historical knowledge is relevant. Individual positions may require additional education, professional experience, or other qualifications.
Do You Need a Master's Degree to Become a Military Historian?
Education requirements vary by employer and position. Some roles may consider candidates with a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience, while certain research-intensive, academic, or specialist positions may require graduate education. Reviewing current requirements for the type of historian position you want can help you identify the appropriate educational path.