I am a US Army Reserve Retired Captain (Gray Area Retiree). I am employed in the civilian sector. One of my former soldiers (still serving), has requested a letter of recommendation from me to help him achieve a career goal.
I know that I can no longer use a military letterhead, and I intend to refer to myself as eitherCPT(R) Kenneth Norris, or Kenneth Norris, Captain, Retired.
I don’t have the name of the authority that will be evaluating my former soldier, so I was going to use To Whom it may Concern.
Can you help me with the rest of the letter formatting and correct any errors I may have made thus far?
— KC Norris
Dear CPT Norris:
The DOD guidelines do not suggests either of the forms you mention: CPT(R) Kenneth Morrison orKenneth Morrison, Captain, Retired. The forms DOD guidelines suggest for retired armed service personnel are:
Captain Kenneth Norris, USAR, Retired
or
Captain Kenneth Norris, USAR, Ret.
Being a Grey Area Retiree does not affect these forms of address.
There are innumerable books on how to set up a letter, but here’s what I would do. On your personal letterhead … or just a sheet of stationery … just set it up as you would any personal letter:
Date
Home Address
To whom it may concern:
(Text of the letter)
(Closing .. Sincerely is standard in business …
Very Respectfully is more standard among the military …
but maybe a bit odd since you don’t know of whom you are being VR?)
(Signature)
Captain Kenneth Norris, USAR, Retired
– Robert Hickey www.formsofaddress.info
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