Free Military Letter of Recommendation Template (with Example)

One of the essential tools of any ambitious servicemember, regardless of their branch of service, is the Military Letter of Recommendation. These reference letters, written by people capable of attesting to a candidate’s character and abilities, are used to support almost any formal military application. They are crucial elements of military school admission kits and requests for assignments, promotions, and commendations.

With none being over six months old, several recent recommendations are generally required for each of these applications. So, it is important to know the requirements and obtain enough necessary to meet your particular needs. When all is said and done, the effort you put into acquiring these letters could ultimately determine the success or failure of your bid.

Who to Select?

When deciding who to recruit to write your recommendation letters, it is crucial that you keep certain considerations in mind. First, you should only find people, preferably high-ranking officers, who know you personally and can vouch for your leadership abilities and professional growth. If you are unable to obtain a personal reference from a high-ranking member of your chain of command, it is acceptable to seek one from someone in the civilian world, like a former employer or teacher, who can personally attest to your character and talents. Secondly, you should get relevant and consistent recommendations from a broad array of people that paint a clear, definitive picture of your true personality and capabilities. Remember, these attestations represent your argument and are what reviewers use to determine your eligibility for admission, a particular position, a promotion, or an award/medal.

Military Letter of Recommendation Format

Like most service-related documents, a specific format is required for military letters of recommendation. Military personnel, but not civilians, are required to write them with organization letterhead and numbered paragraphs. These paragraphs are to be arranged into an introduction, a letter body of between one and three paragraphs and, then, a conclusion. The general requirements for each section are as follows:

Introduction

Depending on its author, the introduction of a military reference letter could be anywhere from one to three sentences long. All that is really needed in this part is an identification of the applicant in question and a statement about why the letter is being written. However, if the recommender wants to strengthen their claims, they can do so in one or two extra sentences stating their particular background, connection to the applicant, and what makes them uniquely able to provide the candidate with a credible reference.

The best introductions often include certain elements. They certainly include candidate details like name and rank and the benefit sought. The better ones briefly highlight the writer’s personal understanding of the applicant, the military’s needs, and how the candidate could be an asset to the organization in a new capacity or why they deserve a certain benefit.

Letter Body

The body of the letter, composed of between one and three paragraphs, details the specific reasoning behind the writer’s recommendation. This is where the recommender provides a full description of the applicant’s personality and how their character traits make them a good fit for a new school or position. The author can further enhance the power of these descriptions and explanations by providing personal examples and anecdotes about their experiences with the candidate. The specific recollections of a superior officer about the applicant’s leadership skills or those of a school administrator attesting to their academic abilities can go a long way to ensuring a successful application.

Conclusion

As you can imagine, the conclusion of a Military Letter of Recommendation is where the writer summarizes their reasons for advocating for the candidate and how they believe it will benefit the military. Moreover, it is where they reaffirm their strong confidence in the applicant’s abilities and potential for organizational success. Here, the letter’s author may include their contact details so that they can provide application reviewers with additional information, if necessary. At the end of the conclusion, the writer should use a formal sign-off and print and sign their name. However, the formal sign-off is optional for military personnel.

Military Letter of Recommendation (Word Template)