As noted earlier, the VFP designed a curriculum to provide active-duty military members and veterans with the tools needed to manage their personal military records. Like the curriculum you are completing, the military curriculum is divided into four modules, each requiring between 1 and 1.5 hours to complete. The online version of the curriculum is self-paced with integrated videos, interactive activities, and handouts.

While the material can be completed entirely online, we also prepared a set of files for archivists, museum educators, or librarians interested in hosting in-person or synchronous online workshops. The downloadable files include each module's PowerPoint deck, links to online videos, handouts, worksheets, and assessment tools. Please use these as a starting point, and feel free to customize them as needed for your particular audience. If you plan on hosting a workshop, please contact us at vfp@lsu.edu so we can provide additional assistance.

Downloadable Files

1. Handouts & Worksheets

2. Inventory Excel Document

3. Veteran Curriculum PowerPoint

Module 1: Introduction to the preservation of personal military records

In the first module, the curriculum discusses the importance of personal military records from both historical and personal perspectives. The module then discusses general storage and preservation challenges for analog and digital records before providing recommendations on how to identify important records and key moments of one’s military career.

Upon completion of module 1, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the importance of preserving personal military records. (CO 1)

2. Identify the storage & preservation needs of personal military records. (CO 1)

3. Identify what personal military records to keep & key/important moments of a military career. (CO 2)

Module 2: Organization and storage of personal military records

The second module introduces key elements of record and collection organization, including the importance of naming conventions for digital materials. The module continues with a more in-depth discussion of storing analog and digital materials with both general and format-specific recommendations. The module concludes with a discussion of how to select the best approaches and priorities for their individual needs.

Upon completion of module 2, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss basic organizational strategies for personal military records. (CO 3)

2. Discuss the importance and application of naming conventions for digital materials. (CO 3)

3. Compare digital and analog storage for personal military records. (CO 3)

4. Select appropriate organizational and storage strategies for their own personal military records. (CO 3)

Module 3: Preservation of analog and digital personal military records

The third module provides participants with basic preservation techniques, including passive and active approaches. Similar to module 2, this module provides both general and format-specific recommendations. The module also provides basic information regarding digitizing materials before discussing digital preservation techniques. Overall, module 3 is the longest of the four modules.

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss basic preservation techniques & strategies for analog records. (CO 3)

2. Discuss basic digital preservation techniques & strategies. (CO 3)

3. Select personal military records that require advanced preservation or conservation applications. (CO 3)

4. Select & apply appropriate preservation strategies for their own personal military records. (CO 3)

5. Discuss how to prioritize the preservation of personal military records. (CO 2)

Module 4: Additional resources and donation of personal military records

The final module provides participants with additional resources for managing their personal collections and concludes with a discussion of the role of archives and museums in long-term preservation.

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:

1. Locate specialized preservation resources. (CO 4)

2. Discuss the role of archives and museums in the long-term preservation of personal military records. (CO 4)

3. Identify regional and national archives and museums with military collections. (CO 4)

Walkthrough Video

Please watch the following walk-through of the curriculum.

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