Would anyone here be willing to help me acquire a letter of recommendation for OCS purposes or a template of how to request one, please?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:31:39 -0400

I can provide my STP for reference and BIO.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Oct 12 at 2023 6:24 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 18:24:09 -0400

Did you ask any senior leadership you've served with? It should be people who know you well who can attest to your character, etc.

I found this when I searched for it: https://www.armywriter.com/letter-of-recommendation_7.htm

Letter of Recommendation for OCS Example

Example of the Army Letter of Recommendation for OCS

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2023 7:52 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:52:57 -0400

When I went through the process from where you are right now (E5 to O1) I was instructed to get a letter from my Company Commander and my Battalion Commander (via the accessions NCO). There wasn't any hunting around for it. I was even told (at the time) not to bother with a 3rd letter of recommendation (I do realize that is probably not the norm).

What I gauged from that is the accessions process wanted the straight recommendation from who it mattered most.

If you submit an application for OCS as an NCO and your Company Commander is not your lowest level of recommendation you are probably going to set off red flags. Of all the officers that should be approachable and accessible to you your Company Commander should be among the easiest to reach out to.

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For all ambitious soldiers seeing commission:

Lay the ground work the moment you think you want a commission. Seek out mentors. I can think of three NCO's right now in my world that I'd write such letters for (who are always asking me about the process), and I'd be happy to writ write it, and I'd tell them I'm the lowest level they better be seeking (and I'd help them try and reach out to a field grade).

You're less likely to succeed in the selection process trying to come up with LOR's last minute with a generic non specific LOR that clearly conveys the recommender doesn't have familiar knowledge of the candidate.