Navy Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are sometimes needed when applying for acceptance into a school or for a special duty assignment. In order to be effective, letters of recommendation should address characteristics that are relevant to the position being applied for. For example, recommendations for schools should include descriptions of academic prowess and the ability to learn. Recommendations for special duties should address traits specific to the position such as experience with the subject and the ability to operate under stress. While this will establish a solid foundation to build on, the real strength in a letter of recommendation lies with the credibility and authority of the writer. Anyone can get their friend or neighbor to write them a recommendation but that recommendation holds little weight. The writer should be someone in the person's chain of command, and the higher the grade, the more credibility will be implied.