This study compares Navy outpatient alcoholics, inpatient alcoholics, and a general outpatient psychiatric population on a number of demographic and clinical variables. Compared to inpatients, the outpatient alcoholics were younger, more often married, and were more frequently given favorable discharges. Compared to nonalcoholic outpatients, the outpatients were older, had lower socioeconomic origins, and were more often given favorable discharges. The characteristics of outpatient alcoholics are discussed, and an attempt is made to lay the groundwork for early case finding and prevention of alcoholism in the service.