Letters of Recommendation from Military Personnel?

Hi everyone. I've done a fair bit of work with local military volunteer groups, and I've developed good relationships with a few servicemen and servicewomen there. I was wondering if a letter of recommendation from someone in the military would carry weight with college admissions? Do colleges view them differently than letters from teachers or community leaders?

Absolutely, a letter of recommendation from a military serviceman or servicewoman can indeed be valuable in the college admissions process, especially if this individual has worked closely with you and can attest to your work ethic, leadership skills, commitment, and other qualities relevant to your college application.

However, it's important to consider the context. Recommendation letters that tend to carry the most weight in college admissions are those that come from individuals who can speak directly to your academic abilities, character, and potential for success in college. For this reason, letters from teachers, counselors, or supervisors from internships often hold more sway, as these individuals are typically able to provide insights into your abilities within an academic or professional learning context.

In other words, a letter from a military personnel would likely be best used as a supplementary letter of recommendation, rather than replacing one from a teacher or mentor in an academic or similar professional setting. It would be best suited to highlight your qualities that fit the military's core values — honor, courage, commitment, service, integrity, leadership, teamwork, and so on — and provide an additional perspective on your character, maturity, and ability to handle responsibility.

For example, if you were part of a military volunteer group and displayed leadership, teamwork, and commitment, a military personnel who supervised you could pen a very strong letter speaking to these traits. Such a letter could add a layer of depth, a different perspective to your application, and give admissions officers a fuller picture of your character.

Bear in mind, the effectiveness of a recommendation letter isn't so much about who writes it, but what they write. Recommendation letters should be detailed, give specific examples of your work or contributions, and reflect a deep understanding of you as a student and individual. If the person in the military has worked closely with you, knows you well, and can write a highly personalized recommendation, then their letter could certainly be valuable.