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An army letter of recommendation is a written endorsement for military applicants. This page offers a free army template, a writing guide, and sample letters for several branches and boards. Applicants use one for officer school, a promotion board, an award, or an academy nomination.
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An army letter of recommendation, also called a military letter of recommendation or army LoR, is a letter in which an officer, a supervisor, or a mentor describes an applicant’s character, skills, and service to support a military application.
The letter shows a selection board what a resume cannot: how the applicant behaves, leads, and grows, seen first hand by the writer. Each claim in it rests on an example the writer saw. The format section below gives a general layout; a writer in any service follows that service’s own correspondence rules.
For a letter outside the military, such as a job or a college application, use the general recommendation letter template.
A military letter of recommendation supports an application where a board compares candidates on character as well as on paper, such as these:
Each program sets its own rules for how many letters it accepts, who may write them, and whether it uses its own recommendation form. Read the program’s instructions, or ask your recruiter, before you request a letter.
The best writer for an army LoR is a person who has supervised or mentored you long enough to describe your work with real examples, ideally a senior officer in your chain of command.
If a senior officer knows you well, ask that officer first. If no senior officer knows your work, a specific letter from someone who served beside you for years is usually stronger than a vague letter from a high rank. A board reads the examples, not only the signature block.
The writer should have seen your growth, dedication, professionalism, and leadership over time. A short acquaintance gives them little to write about.
In short, the best writer for your recommendation is one of these:
Yes, if the program accepts a civilian writer, a teacher, coach, employer, or mentor can write a military letter of recommendation when they know your character well and can back each point with an example from your time together. Read the program’s instructions first to see whether it names who may write its letters.
A civilian writer uses a plain business letter. There is no need for them to write on letterhead or use the memorandum lines shown in the format section below.
Ask for a letter of recommendation by telling the writer what you are applying for, when the letter is due, and where it goes, then give them the papers they need to write about you in detail.
If you ask for several letters, give each writer a different focus, such as leadership, technical skill, or conduct. Letters that confirm your strengths from different angles read as more convincing than letters that repeat each other.
You cannot tell a writer what to say. You can point them to the qualities the program asks about and to the parts of your career that show them.
An army letter of recommendation has a heading, an introduction, a main body, a conclusion, and a sign-off, written in plain, formal language that fits on a single page.
Keep the tone official and specific. Every paragraph should help the reader decide whether the applicant fits the position.
A writer in uniform usually writes the recommendation as a memorandum, while a civilian writer uses an ordinary business letter. If the program gives its own layout or form, use that instead. The table is a general guide: for the exact memorandum layout, follow your unit’s correspondence rules.
| Layout | Who uses it | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Memorandum | An officer or noncommissioned officer | Unit letterhead where the limit below allows it, MEMORANDUM FOR and SUBJECT lines, numbered paragraphs, signature block with rank |
| Business letter | A teacher, coach, employer, or mentor | Date, greeting, plain paragraphs, signature with name and contact details |
Official stationery has a limit. Under 5 CFR 2635.702(b), a federal employee may use their official title on a requested recommendation only when it rests on personal knowledge of someone they dealt with in the course of Federal employment or are recommending for Federal employment. For a personal friend they have not dealt with in the Government, 5 CFR 2635.702(b) says the employee should not use official stationery or sign with their official title, unless the recommendation is for Federal employment.
5 CFR 2635.102(h) applies that rule to officers but not to enlisted members, and 5 CFR 2635.103 lets each agency issue its own ethics rules for enlisted members, so a noncommissioned officer should check their service’s own rules.
The heading names the date, the recipient, the writer, and the subject, so the reader sees at once who the letter is about and who stands behind it. A military writer lists these lines:
[Date]
MEMORANDUM FOR President, Officer Candidate School Selection Board
SUBJECT: Letter of Recommendation for SGT John Smith
A civilian writer, such as a teacher or a coach, puts only the date and a greeting at the top.
The introduction names the applicant, the program or position they want, and how long and in what role you have known them, which shows the reader why your opinion counts.
Within the first three sentences, specify the candidate’s name and the letter’s purpose (the position the individual is applying for). Point out the nature and duration of your relationship. It effectively establishes your right to recommend the person.
The main body proves the recommendation with examples of the applicant’s service, character, and fit for the position, and it carries most of the letter’s weight.
The central part of the letter contains one to three paragraphs. Here, the author of the recommendation should indicate:
Give each example its own paragraph: what happened, what the applicant did, and the result. A concrete detail, such as the size of a team they led or a course they finished with honors, turns praise into evidence.
The conclusion gives the writer’s overall recommendation in a short closing and offers to answer questions, so the board ends on a clear judgment.
Demonstrate that the applicant is prepared for the position or worthy of the award. Add any point the main body left out, and say that you are ready to answer if a board member wants to know more about the candidate.
The sign-off gives the writer’s name, rank or title, contact details, and signature, so the board can reach the writer and see who vouches for the applicant.
Write in order your name, full postal address, phone number, and email for feedback. Affix your signature below to certify the paper.
The five parts of the letter at a glance:
| Part | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Heading | Date, recipient, author, and subject lines |
| 2. Introduction | Applicant name, purpose of the recommendation, and how you know the applicant |
| 3. Main body | Experience, personal qualities, and how both fit the position |
| 4. Conclusion | A closing statement and an offer to answer questions |
| 5. Sign-off | Name, postal address, phone number, email, and signature |
The army letter of recommendation examples below show working wording for officer school, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, a congressional nomination, and a promotion board; each is a draft to fill with your own facts.
The samples leave out the heading, so add the date, recipient, writer, and subject lines from the format section above.
Use this sample when a company commander or a senior noncommissioned officer recommends an enlisted Soldier for Officer Candidate School and wants to show leadership already proven in the ranks.
I recommend _____________ (candidate’s rank and full name) for selection to Officer Candidate School without reservation. I have served as (his or her) _____________ (your position) in _____________ (unit) since _____________ (date), and I have watched (him or her) lead Soldiers in garrison and in the field.
When _____________ (candidate’s surname) took over _____________ (team, section, or task), (he or she) _____________ (give one specific example and its result). (He or She) briefs clearly, takes responsibility for mistakes, and puts the welfare of (his or her) Soldiers ahead of (his or her) own comfort.
_____________ (candidate’s rank and surname) has the judgment, discipline, and character the Army expects of an officer. I am glad to answer any questions the board has; please call or email me.
Use this sample when a Navy officer recommends a sailor for admission to a school or a training program and wants to show the sailor’s drive to learn.
I have the honor to recommend _____________ (indicate candidate’s full name and rank) for admission to the ______________ (name the school). I have had the opportunity to observe _____________ (candidate’s surname and rank) since ______________ (specify the date) as a ______________ (point out your position). (He or She) demonstrates outstanding intelligence, maturity, and dedication.
_____________ (candidate’s surname and rank) is responsible for ______________ (specify the main position). Last year, (he or she) completed ______________ (specify the quality or volume of tasks), which ______________ (describe the result for the team). To improve (his or her) work, _____________ (candidate’s surname and rank) took advanced training courses (name the title, organization, and terms) after working hours, which shows a deep commitment to the naval service.
_____________’s (candidate’s surname) hard work and diligence lead me to recommend (him or her) for admission to your school. I am sure (he or she) will become a worthy member of your class. For more details, please contact me by phone or email.
Use this sample when a mentor recommends a Marine for a Marine Corps program and wants to show steady professional and personal growth over time.
I am very pleased to recommend _____________ (point out candidate’s full name and rank) for the _____________ (specify the Marine Corps program). I have known (him or her) for _____________ (set the period) as a dependable and responsible Marine.
During the time I have been (his or her) mentor, I have been impressed by _____________’s (candidate’s surname) professional achievements and perseverance. I met _____________ (candidate’s surname) when (he or she) joined _____________ (name the unit) as _____________ (indicate the position of the applicant). Since then, (he or she) has grown both in (his or her) professional field and in personal qualities.
From my _____________ (number of years) years of service as a _____________ (your role), I am convinced that _____________ (candidate’s surname) is ready for this program, given (his or her) aspirations and talents. I am ready to tell you more about (him or her); please call or write if needed.
Use this sample when a supervisor recommends an Airman for a new position or a promotion and wants to show discipline and leadership of a team.
I strongly recommend _____________ (enter candidate’s full name and rank) for the position of ______________ (point out the unit and position). (He or She) has worked under my leadership in ______________ (indicate the location) for ______________ (specify the term of your cooperation) and has shown the qualities of a military professional and loyalty to the mission.
Promoting _____________ (candidate’s rank and surname) to ______________ (the position) would be the right decision, as (he or she) has proven time and again to be a disciplined, hard-working, confident leader. (His or Her) team is well organized, which shows (his or her) ability to manage (himself or herself) and the Airmen under (his or her) charge.
These qualities convince me to recommend _____________ (candidate’s rank and surname) for the post of ______________ (the position). I am sure the new position is earned by honest work. For more information, please call or email me.
Use this sample when a commander supports a candidate’s request for a congressional nomination to a service academy and wants to show character proven under command.
A serving Soldier has another route to West Point: 10 U.S.C. 7442(b)(2) and (3) also provide nominations by the Secretary of the Army from enlisted members of the Regular Army and of the reserve components. That section covers West Point only, so read the other academies’ own instructions.
I am honored to recommend _____________ (enter the candidate’s name, position, and rank) for a nomination to _____________ (name the academy). In my years as a commander, I have rarely seen a young service member so dedicated to the Army.
During the _____________ (determine the term) that _____________ (candidate’s rank and surname) has served under my command, I have seen (his or her) intelligence, ingenuity, hard work, and diligence again and again. (He or She) earned my trust early, when _____________ (give an example). _____________ (candidate’s surname) has since shown _____________ (list special character traits), and (his or her) effort was recognized with _____________ (name the military awards).
I fully support the nomination of _____________ (candidate’s rank and surname) and am ready to provide more information. Please do not hesitate to call or email me.
Use this sample when a leader recommends a Soldier to an Army promotion board and wants to show progress from an early role to a position of trust. First confirm in the board’s announcement whether it accepts a letter from a third party and by what route.
I have the honor to recommend _____________ (indicate candidate’s rank and name) for promotion to _____________ (indicate the rank or position). For _____________ (specify the period of cooperation), (he or she) has set a high standard in our unit.
During (his or her) service in our unit, _____________ (candidate’s rank and name) has advanced from _____________ (specify the starting position) to _____________ (specify the current position). (He or She) has built strong working relationships with fellow Soldiers and the whole unit. _____________’s (candidate’s rank and name) drive and dedication have been an example for others again and again. (Give one example that shows this.)
Based on _____________’s (candidate’s rank and name) outstanding qualities, I strongly support (his or her) promotion to the rank of _____________. I am convinced this decision is right for (him or her) and for the Army. Please contact me if you would like to clarify any part of my recommendation.
A military recommendation letter loses weight when it praises in general terms, gets the applicant’s details wrong, or reads like a form letter sent to every board. Check the draft for these slips:
Read the letter once more against the program’s instructions before it goes out. Back each quality with evidence; otherwise, the letter will be weak and vague.
An army letter of recommendation always comes from someone else, so when the letter is about you and in your own words, you need a letter of intent or a letter to the board instead.
An army letter of intent is written by the applicant and explains why they want the program, what they bring to it, and what they plan to do once selected. A program can ask for both: your own letter of intent and letters of recommendation from others.
A letter to the president of the board is written by the candidate to a selection board to explain or add a point about their own career. For an officer selection board convened under section 611(a), 10 U.S.C. 614(b) says the letter is to arrive not later than 10 calendar days before the date the board convenes. For any other board, check the board’s announcement for who may send one, how, and by when before you write. This template covers recommendations only.
A strong army letter of recommendation comes from a writer who knows you well and can back each point with a real example. Most questions come down to who to ask, what to include, and how to use a sample recommendation as a starting point.
An LoR in the Army is a letter of recommendation: a signed letter from an officer, supervisor, or mentor that supports your application for a school, a program, a promotion, or an award.
A senior officer who knows your work is a strong choice for an army letter of recommendation. If no senior officer knows you well, ask someone who has known you for years, such as a teacher, an employer, a mentor, or a coach, if the program accepts a letter from them.
A military letter of recommendation reads best on a single page: a heading, a short introduction, a few body paragraphs with examples, and a brief conclusion. Follow the program’s own limit if it gives one.
Tell them what you are applying for and why, then send your CV and a short summary of your goals, by email or in person. If it has been a while since you last spoke, remind them how you know each other.
You can offer notes or a draft if the writer asks for one, but the letter carries weight only when the writer puts it in their own words and signs it as their own view.
Yes, the samples cover Army OCS, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, a congressional nomination, and a promotion board. Pick the closest one, fill in the blanks, and adjust the wording to match your own experience with the applicant. Follow your own service’s correspondence rules for the layout.
Yes, use the Create My Document button at the top of this page to answer a few questions and build the recommendation online. You can save your progress, print it, or download it as a Word file.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
