If your specific question is not answered here, you can email our archivist team at DMA-Archivists@mail.mil.
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No. DMA maintains a centralized, standardized program to professionally scan, track, preserve and archive each piece of visual information, as well as manage any associated metadata. This program is designed to take the burden off the DoD commands, organizations, units and personnel. There is no need to scan anything yourself or send it through DVIDS, email or other electronic means. Do not create VIRINs for physical media if one does not exist. The DMA archival team will assign identification numbers to the digitized files. Contact DMA-Archivists@mail.mil if you have questions.
No. The records are DoD property, and are subject to the DoD archival process before they are offered to NARA. DMA is the official VI records center and conduit for transferring DoD visual information to NARA.
No. The DMA archival staff must coordinate all incoming media with submitting organizations for the purposes of scheduling and providing specific shipping guidance. Shipments received without prior coordination are subject to being returned to the sender.
Contact the DMA archival staff (DMA-Archivists@mail.mil) to coordinate the use of external hard drives containing sufficient storage for your digital files and associated metadata. Follow their instructions to send the drives back to DMA.
The DMA archival staff will issue specific guidance on a case-by-case basis.
Regardless of its age or condition, physical VI is still a federal record that must not be thrown away, per federal regulations and the VI Records Schedule described above. Please inform your command of these requirements, and contact DMA archival staff for guidance assistance.
No. This program is for content produced/created on behalf of the DoD by military, civilian and contract employees. Certain types of copyrighted content are eligible; please contact the DMA archival staff for more clarification. Private donations of content are sometimes accepted.
No. DMA maintains a centralized, standardized program to professionally scan, track, preserve and archive permanent DoD visual information records, as well as manage any associated metadata. This program is designed to take the burden off the DoD commands, organizations, units and personnel. There is no need to scan anything yourself or send it through DVIDS, email or other electronic means. Do not create VIRINs for physical media if one does not exist. DMA will assign identification numbers to the digitized files. Contact the DMA-Archivist (DMA-Archivists@mail.mil) if you have questions.
Please contact the DMA archival staff to discuss the unique nature of your request. Email DMA-Archivists@mail.mil or https://www.dimoc.mil/Customer-Service/Contact-US/
In almost all cases, no. The original media, which belongs to the DoD, will be preserved in a climate-controlled facility. We can provide you digital access via the web and in some cases, DVD copies with the content. Please include this in your request when you contact us.
It varies, depending on the amount and type(s) of physical media. Items requiring more preservation will take longer to make available to the public. The DMA archival staff can provide specific information related to your collection.
DMA archival staff will provide shipping instructions. We provide tracking information, and an email receipt is sent upon arrival.
In most cases, no. DMA will work with contributing organizations to ship the media on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further discussion.
We cannot take floppy or zip disks, but NARA can. Please contact the DMA archivist to discuss the nature of such holdings. While we do not have a film lab, we can accept the negatives if you can get the film developed.
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time Except federal holidays Email: DMA-Archivists@mail.mil