Writing a Letter of Recommendation for Military Enlistment

I'm planning to ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation for my military enlistment. What should be included, and how do I ensure it highlights my strengths effectively?

Having a letter of recommendation can enhance your military enlistment application, and it's good that you're thinking in terms of how to effectively highlight your strengths.

Firstly, your teacher should write about your personal characteristics that would make you a good fit for the military. This can include qualities like leadership skills, team player nature, or dedication and commitment. Let your teacher know about any activities you participated in that exhibited these characteristics.

Secondly, they should mention endurance and resilience as the military training process can often be physically and mentally demanding. If you have demonstrated these traits in school, through sports, or other extracurricular activities, it would be valuable for your teacher to highlight these.

Your teacher could also offer insights into your ability to follow the rules and respect authority, which is critical in the military context. In addition, they could discuss your tact, diplomacy, and ability to work with individuals of different backgrounds.

Lastly, ensure your teacher is aware of your career objectives within the military, so they can tailor the letter to support these goals. They might tie your future aspirations in the military back to your past experiences and classes, thus creating a clear story and argument for why you'll succeed in this career.

A then and now comparison can also be helpful. If there were substantial improvements in your grades, behaviour, or engagement over the high school years, having your teacher point out such progress can portray a positive image of your adaptability and commitment to growth and learning.

Remember it’s important for each recommendation to feel genuine and personalized, not generic, so provide your recommenders as much relevant information as possible about your experiences and goals related to the military. Good luck!