Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program

(Toll Free Helpline: 800-462-3683)

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is the Department of Defense (DOD) executive Agent for the 

Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program, which serves veterans who participated in U.S. atmospheric 

nuclear tests, served with the U.S. occupation forces of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, or were prisoners of 

war in Japan at the conclusion of World War II. The primary purpose of the NTPR Program is to provide 

participant data and radiation dose information for veterans. Since its inception in 1978, the NTPR Program 

has identified approximately 550,000 DOD personnel as participants in four missions: 1) post-World War II 

occupation forces of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; 2) prisoners of war in Japan at the conclusion of World War II; 

3) participants of U.S. atmospheric nuclear tests (1945 - 1962), conducted primarily in Nevada and the Pacific 

Ocean; and 4) participants of U.S. underground nuclear testing between (1951 - 1992), conducted primarily in 

Nevada.

Mission

The NTPR Program has four elements designed to assist veterans by: 1) providing participant and radiation 

dose information; 2) conducting historical records research; 3) performing veteran outreach, and 4) supporting 

independent scientific studies. All of these elements are designed to assist veterans who participated, to help 

the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in responding to claims, and to 

provide information to veterans who are concerned about the possible health effects associated with 

participation in U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing.

Participant and Dose Information

The first mission element of the NTPR Program is to provide participation and radiation dose information to 

support medical and compensation programs administered by VA (http://www.va.gov) and DOJ 

(http://www.usdoj.gov). When requested by VA or DOJ, the NTPR Program draws upon the results of 

extensive historical research, technical information, and veteran input to provide participation data and 

radiation dose information. The VA and DOJ are solely responsible for determining the service-connection of 

disabilities and the administration of benefits. The NTPR Program plays no role in the administration of the VA

or DOJ programs or the adjudication of claims.

The NTPR Program also ensures that veterans can obtain access to documents concerning U.S. atmospheric 

nuclear tests and the occupation forces of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When available, film badge data is used 

to establish radiation dose levels. In instances where film badge data is not available or where film badges are 

not capable of measuring all of the radiation contributions that comprise a total dose (e.g., internal and neutron 

doses), scientific techniques are used to provide VA with a calculated radiation dose for claim adjudication. 

For example, because Japanese prisoners of war did not have film badges, their doses must be calculated to 

account for potential radiation exposure. About 45 percent of U.S. atmospheric nuclear test participants have 
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some film badge data. Individual dose reconstructions are based on evaluations of records from all sources 

and any available statements, questionnaires, or interviews concerning the veteran's activities.

In 1985, the NTPR dose reconstruction methodology was published after a period of public comment in Title 32

of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 218 (32 CFR 218). Since then, the Government Accountability Office 

(GAO) (http://www.gao.gov) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (http://www.nas.edu) have 

performed several reviews of the scientific methods used by the NTPR Program, most recently in 2003. The 

GAO is the investigative arm of Congress, chartered to study the programs and expenditures of the federal 

government in an independent and nonpartisan fashion. The NAS is a private, non-profit organization 

chartered by Congress to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. For more 

information, see the NTPR Program: Program Reviews and Scientific Studies fact sheet on DTRA’s webpage.

Historical Records Research

The second mission element of the NTPR Program involves comprehensive research of the broadest scope. 

Over 100 archives nationwide have been researched for relevant information. The program has located, 

retrieved, declassified, and preserved records pertaining to U.S. atmospheric nuclear tests. More than 

40 historical volumes and 25 analytical reports have been developed to provide details of each test and 

operation. These records are diverse in nature and are vital in documenting participation activities and 

establishing radiation dose levels. The documentation includes service and medical records, film badge 

records, pocket dosimeter logs, test program documents and technical reports, special orders, muster rolls, 

unit memoranda, ship deck logs, morning reports, flight logs, personal accounts, diaries, and other relevant 

papers. Although the majority of the archival research effort was completed prior to 1984, the NTPR Program 

continues to seek and obtain new information from all available sources.

Public Outreach

The third mission element of the NTPR Program is to provide a public outreach service to veterans and their 

families, including appointed representatives. This outreach includes personal contact with veterans and mass 

media announcements to locate atomic veterans and publicize the availability of services such as the VA’s 

health care and entitlement programs. The NTPR toll-free helpline (800-462-3683) was created in 1978 and 

continues to facilitate direct contact by veterans. The helpline has handled over 102,000 calls since its 

inception, and the NTPR Program has completed over 215,000 correspondence actions in response to 

veterans, their families, Congress, Federal agencies, and the media.

A 41-volume summary of each U.S. atmospheric nuclear test operation was developed and made available to 

700 public libraries throughout the United States as well as to VA. The Nuclear Testing Archive, a repository 

for over 300,000 nuclear test era documents, has been established in Las Vegas, Nevada, for public use. 

Additionally, the NTPR Reading Room in Reston, Virginia, contains about 500 linear feet of reference 

information for public review. The public can also access basic NTPR information and other associated 

internet sites through DTRA’s webpage.

Scientific Studies Support

The final element of the NTPR Program is the support of independent scientific studies to ascertain whether 

U.S. atmospheric nuclear test participants have experienced adverse health effects as a result of their 

participation. The NTPR Program has supported NAS studies to determine whether there is an increased 

incidence of radiogenic disease-specific (such as leukemia, liver cancer, or thyroid cancer) mortality among 

U.S. atmospheric nuclear test participants. See the NTPR Program Reviews and Scientific Studies fact sheet 

for more information on the results of these studies.
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Medical/Compensation Programs

Various public laws, enacted between 1981 and 2003, provide the basis for medical care and compensation 

entitlement for radiation exposed veterans. These public laws are codified by VA in Title 38 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 3.309 and Part 3.311, and by DOJ in 28 CFR 79.

Military Personnel and Medical Records

The NTPR Program does not maintain a file of military personnel service or medical records. These records 

are maintained by the National Archives and Registration Administration at the National Personnel Records 

Center (NPRC):

National Personnel Records Center

Military Personnel Records

1 Archives Drive 

St. Louis, Missouri 63138

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/

Copies of military records may be requested by submitting a Standard Form 180 to the NPRC. Additional 

information about the NPRC and instructions on requesting records are available on the NPRC website.

Unit Records

Historical records for military units are not maintained by the NTPR Program, but copies may be requested 

from the following offices:

Army:

U.S. Army Center for Military History

Fort McNair, Building 35

103 3rd Avenue

Washington, DC 20319-5058

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/

Navy:

Deck Logs 1942-1973:

Textual Reference Branch, Archives II

National Archives & Records Admin.

8601 Adelphi Road

College Park, Maryland 20740-6001

Deck Logs 1974 and later:

Naval Historical Center (DL)

Washington Navy Yard

805 Kidder Breese SE

Washington, DC 20374-5060

Air Force:

Air Force Historical Studies Office

Research and Analysis Division

3 Brookley Avenue, Box 94

Bolling Air Force Base

Washington, DC 20032-5000

Marine Corps:

Marine Corps History Division

3078 Upshur Avenue

Marine Corps Base 

Quantico, Virginia 22134
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NTPR Inquiries

Individuals seeking information about the NTPR Program can address their inquiries to:

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

ATTN: RD-NTS (NTPR)

8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201

Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060-6201

(800) 462-3683

E-mail: dtra-ntpr@mail.mil

https://www.dtra.mil/DTRA-Mission/Reference-Documents/NTPR-info/

September 2021