Microfiche are filed at CPR by Accession Number. Accession Numbers are 9 digit numbers that look like this: 127 99 0111. The first 3 numbers are the Record Group: 024 is Navy, 127 is USMC, 338 is Army and 342 is Air Force. The next two numbers signify the year the accession number was assigned. The last 4 numbers signify the number assigned to a shipment.
The microfiche stored at CPR are not meant to be used routinely for reference service. Requests for copies of microfiche should be made as a last resort, only after searches of available sources at MPR have been completed. This includes checking PERMS for Army personnel. If you determine a microfiche is needed, you may request a duplicate from CPR by taking the following actions:
Complete a Request for Microfiche worksheet. This worksheet is available in Word under Get Form/Miscellaneous and UnNumbered Forms/CPR Microfiche Worksheet. The information needed to complete the worksheet varies, depending on the branch of service. See below for how to obtain the information from the different branches. Only one request is permitted per worksheet. Always enter the veteran's or retiree's Name and SSN on the worksheet. Also enter the CMRS Request Number and fill out the 'Technician' information at the bottom of the form (name, core and team, phone number and date). Be sure to include your full name so CPR can email you.
Navy: Email the Navy Liaison Office at P313STL2@persnet.navy.mil to obtain the Accession Number. They require the Name and SSN to locate the number. Enter the Accession Number on the worksheet. The Navy Liaison Office email address is listed on the worksheet for your convenience.
Marine Corps: Call the Marine Corps Liaison Office at 538-3155 or email them at robertsoncr@manpower.usmc.mil to obtain the Accession Number. They require the Name and SSN to locate the number. Enter the Accession Number on the worksheet. The Marine Corps Liaison Office phone number and email address are listed on the worksheet for your convenience.
Air Force: Enter the AF Registry Number on the worksheet. Look up the End of Month Registry Number Date (month and Year) in Word. This located on the common drive 'Stlmpr2/Shared'(s:) in a document called 'Registry.doc.' Enter the End of Month Registry Number Date (month and year) on the worksheet. From this date, CPR personnel are able to determine the Accession Number. If the record was retired by Randolph (discharged from Active Duty), put an 'X' in the 'AFPC' check block. If the record was retired by Denver (discharged from the Reserves), put an 'X' in the ARPC check block.
Army: Enter the Name and SSN on the worksheet. CPR personnel will obtain the Accession Number, Box #, and Location, if available. A master microfiche should exist for Active Army (Officer and Enlisted, Sergeant (E5) and above), USAR (Officer and Enlisted), and National Guard Officers with service between 1973 and 1992. Microfiche was not used prior to 1972, and after 1992 the Army began using PERMS.
Send an email to your Coach (or your Assistant Manager if your Coach is not available) with the worksheet attached. (With the worksheet on your screen, go to File/Send To and select 'Mail Recipient' (or 'Mail Recipient - as Attachment' if you have a newer computer). This opens an email with the worksheet attached. Send the email to your Coach.)
Your Coach will review the request to make sure it is valid and all required information is included on the worksheet. The Coach then forwards the email with the attached worksheet to CPR's microfiche mailbox at microfiche.request@nara.gov.
If a microfiche is found, CPR personnel will duplicate the microfiche, attach the duplicate to a copy of the worksheet, and send both to the appropriate Core HQ. The Core Manager or designee will distribute the duplicate microfiche to the core teams. CPR personnel will also email the requesting technician - with a cc: to the Coach - that the microfiche was sent to MPR. After notification, it may be several days before the duplicate microfiche is actually received by the technician. Technicians are to notify their Coaches - not CPR - if the duplicate microfiche is not received within a reasonable period of time.