TAPS: Supplemental Details / Cullum Files
Preserve Your Story for Future Generations
Every West Point graduate has a unique story to tell. By preserving the details of your life, service, accomplishments, and personal experiences, you can help future generations better understand your place in the Long Gray Line.
WPAOG encourages every graduate to prepare a draft Memorial Article or, at a minimum, provide supplemental biographical information for their Cullum file. Personal memories, reflections, and important documents help create a more complete record of your life.
Share as much information as you can. You do not need to complete every suggested topic to begin preserving your story.
Begin Your Personal History
Autobiographical/Vital Statistics Form
Share information about your life before West Point, cadet experiences, military and civilian careers, family, and personal accomplishments. Your submission can help WPAOG preserve your graduate record and prepare a future Memorial Article.
Complete the Form ›Suggested Details for Your Memorial Article
Use the categories below to reflect on important moments in your life. Select any heading to expand the questions and suggested information.
Life Before West Point
- Date and place of birth.
- Family background, including military connections or experiences that helped prepare you for West Point.
- High school name, city, and state.
- Prior college attendance, including school name, city, and state.
- Why did you want to attend West Point?
Cadet Life
- Special achievements or meaningful experiences as a cadet that reveal more about you as a person.
- Significant values, experiences, or instruction from West Point that influenced your life after graduation.
Active Duty Period
- Branch of service.
- Military assignments.
- Is your Register of Graduates information current and complete?
- Significant assignments and achievements.
- Date you left military service.
- Did you retire from military service?
- Place of retirement.
- Rank at retirement, specifying active duty, National Guard, or Reserve status.
Civilian Employment After Military Service
- Career field.
- Postgraduate schools attended and degrees earned.
- Positions held and significant achievements.
- Date you left civilian employment.
- Did you retire from civilian employment?
- Current city and state of residence.
Family Life
- Date and place of marriage.
- Name of spouse.
- Names of children.
Life After Retirement
- Interests, hobbies, community and religious organization memberships, pursuits, and accomplishments.
- Reflections on your life and how you would like to be remembered.
Additional Sources of Information
Consider individuals who may help provide a more complete picture of your life:
- Family members.
- Classmates.
- Friends.
- Other individuals who know your personal history.
Is there anything not covered in the preceding categories that you would like to share?
Suggested Documents for Your Cullum File
In addition to your written history, supporting documents can help preserve a fuller picture of your military service, professional life, family, and accomplishments.
View Suggested Documents
- First orders.
- Announcements of marriage, births of children, degrees earned, promotions, hiring, or other achievements.
- Change-of-station records.
- Change-of-rank records and professional photographs.
- Newspaper or magazine clippings.
- Self-written biography.
- Press releases.
- Awards received.
- Covers of published books.
- Resume.
- Vital Statistics Sheet.
- Genealogical information about you and family members who attended West Point.
Military Service Documentation (DD214)
Your DD214 or other applicable military service and discharge/release documentation is required to verify eligibility for interment at West Point.
Important: Do not email an unredacted DD214. Provide documentation through the designated Autobiographical/Vital Statistics Form.
The DD214 is also used to confirm service information and as a reference when ordering government headstones.
If you need to request military service records, visit the National Archives Military Service Records page for instructions, including information about Standard Form 180 (SF-180).
Need Assistance?
Memorial Article Team
WPAOG’s Memorial Article team can assist with research and organizing a Memorial Article.