I am working on reply letters for my boss to send to different individuals including several active Army personnel. One of them is the current commanding officer at a nearby military installation. His signature block on official letterhead is:
(Name)
(Rank), US Army
At the top of the letter, it states, reply to attention of Office of the Commander. So would the return letter be addressed as the following or some other format:
(Name)
(Rank), US Army
Office of the Commander
Department of the Army
(address)
And for the salutation:
Dear (Rank) (Last Name):
– DH in Nevada
Dear DH:
1) No … don’t use their e-mail letter block to address a letter.
Use the form of address for the particular rank I have on my guide to offices.
Find the rank … and follow the format.
In my book I cover invitations, place cards, name badges, introductions. what to call them in conversation, etc, if this sort of thing comes up often. But on this site I just provide the basics for business envelope, business letter’s address block and salutation.
2) If you are in Nevada, and this Office on the Commander is nearby, I doubt he is thecommander of the Department of the Army.
He must be a commander of something much smaller …. like a base or installation …. so it’s going to be something like:
(Rank) (Full Name), USA
Office of the Commander
(Name of base, installation, etc.)
3) Your salutation looks fine.
– Robert Hickey www.formsofaddress.info
