Can anybody help me ghost write two recommendation letters for a not so usual circumstance?

2018-11-08T15:18:16-05:00

I am submitting a packet for a board which will include an exception to policy that almost no other applicants will be needing, and that the board likely hasn't come across too often. Because of this, I'm having a pretty tough time constructing these letters.

I will include all details to whoever would be willing to help, but in short, I was a student naval aviator, looking to switch to the army, and attend their flight school as a Warrant Officer.

I have the director of Naval Aviation Schools Command, and a personal instructor willing to write me letters that I have ghost written, but I am having a hard time deciding how best to use their positions as a reference for why this ETP should be granted.

Thank you for anybody who can help.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Nov 8 at 2018 4:01 PM

2018-11-08T16:01:19-05:00

Recommendation letters for? Or recommendations for awards?
Use this but just adapt it to your need instead of a "job" Instead of your "position" use the waiver type in the position.
i..e I believe i should be granted a waiver for the "school" If you have any questions about my capabilities I provide yadi-yadi individuals as my refernces.

Use 4 Pargraphs
1. Intro about yourself and what you have done (short and about the flight warrant studies and stuff) mention attached transcripts. Attach them along with a link so they can pull them up themselves..
https://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/references
2. Type main paragraph, what you intend to do, what you expect of their school and why you feel you deserve the waiver
3. Askwhat you have to do to attend the training to include a training Include the references names, positions and contact information here.
4. Thank them for their time and consideration,

Add you signature block
List the copy distributiuon at bottom left using tyhis format
1. Record:3
2. Them:1
3. Reference Name 1:1
4. Reference Name 2:1

Then mail copy 2,3,4 to the people named.

Hope this helps.

Creating a Reference List for a Potential Job | Internship and Career Center

SAMPLE REFERENCE LISTAUDREY KIM1122 Aggie Avenue • Apt. #33 • Davis, CA 95616(530) 757-XXXX • (415) 48X-XXXXakim@ucdavis.edu

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 8 at 2018 4:51 PM

2018-11-08T16:51:33-05:00

Your letter from the instructor should include a review of your performance to date in flight school reviewing your strengths to date and finishing up with his/her opinion that you have demonstrated the aptitude and ability to successfully complete the Army flight training program.
The letter from CNASC should address your performance as an officer, somehow substantiating why you would be an asset to the Army as a WO.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 8 at 2018 5:25 PM

2018-11-08T17:25:46-05:00

Addressee
Purpose of the letter
Supporting paragraphs
Conclusion

Response by SSG Byron Howard Sr made Nov 8 at 2018 6:34 PM

2018-11-08T18:34:47-05:00

Make sure you end it with. This will benefit the US Navy the US Army and the United States of America.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 8 at 2018 6:59 PM

2018-11-08T18:59:31-05:00

I find your problem interesting, for multiple reasons...I've encountered that topic on here before, believe me, it's been raised, I'd seen something about it on here a few days ago, in fact...that being said, it'd obviously help to have a somewhat more coherent idea as to your rationale, for multiple reasons...I've observed that warrants in aviation likely get more cockpit time, perhaps, with fewer distractions outside of their principal normal task, so I expect that'd be part of the whole thing...however, the thought obviously occurs to me as well that you might perhaps also seek to be allowed to do a tour with a rotary wing unit, if only for orientation sake, though, perhaps, rotary wing might appeal to you more...I'd seen in a prior writeup I'd seen about something similar where there was a discussion of Army fixed-wing, as opposed to rotary wing, which I'd thought of interest as well, as that isn't typically dealt with anywhere I'd ever seen for the most part...it'd also help to know if you're a STEM grad, assocs, bach, masters, etc., if so, what major, your GPAs, your specific coursework, if not STEM, then what other major(s) you did...would you want to stay warrant the whole remainder of a normal 20-30 yr career, as well? We have a family friend who'd been Army enlisted, got into Army WOCS for rotary wing, did a good many years there, then finished his bach in aviation with Embry Riddle Univ...after that, just as he was finishing, Army agreed to let him go, USCG picked him up, I'm unsure if he did their whole OCS, or just an OIS, an indoc school, being as he was prior warrant...obviously, in your case, the circumstances would be reversed, of course...I could try m hand at suggesting some phrasing for you, however, lemme give you a few thoughts about how to try to compose such a letter, OK?

First, don't just try to directly write it...you can't, the topic is far too arcane for such direct written construction. For the moment, just get a pad and a pen, and just free associate, don't even outline it, or try to, just jot down notes as to what's actually on your mind, just ramble on paper for a few hours...then stop, and once you're fresher at it, go back, and edit what you did, reordering it, and trying to add more. Once you've got a couple of full pages of such foolscap, then you can actually try starting to organize it, I'll try to give you what I think "might" be a halfway initial set of thoughts, obviously, you can vary these to suit your tastes, of course, my point being, the facts of a set of circumstances typically, eventually, wind up writing a letter of that sort all by themselves, you know? So, that being said, here goes:

Date

Chair, U.S. Army Aviation WOCS Selection Board (or words to that effect, obviously)

Sir/Madam:

I am writing to request consideration to be allowed to interservice transfer from U.S. Navy to U.S. Army; I had presently been a student naval aviator, and had (such and such a set of circumstances) that either precluded my being able to finish that program, and/or caused me to reflect further on where I might possibly be more suited in military aviation generally. After much reflection, and quite careful such consideration, I have concluded that I would (for whatever reasons) be more genuinely suited to a career as a U.S. Army aviation warrant officer, for reasons I will try to elaborate on further below.

I have observed, after doing considerable further research into the matter, that the actual cockpit time for U.S. Army aviation warrant officers is, I have gathered, substantially higher than for those in fixed-wing assignments. (That, of course, assumes you wanted fixed wing to begin with, and not Navy rotary wing, obviously). I am entirely aware that I would most likely need to go through Army WOCS at Ft. Rucker, which, of course, I am entirely willing to do, should that in fact be necessary. Being as I am presently a Navy O-1, I am obviously aware that seeking to convert from commissioned to warrant is certainly atypical, and would merely ask if, given my prior training, if I might perhaps also be able to go through any available Army warrant officer-indoctrination school (OIS) instead, if in fact one actually exists, though, of course, I expect that would not be the case, which is why I am of course entirely willing to begin again in seeking to go through Army WOCS directly.

(This part is if you're in fact a STEM grad.) Further, being as my undergrad major is in (whatever STEM field), and, given that, ordinarily, Army WOCS for rotary wing requires only high school, I think I could help be of significant use, after being suitably experienced, in such areas as rotary-wing test flight, or possibly other engineering aspects related to such rotary-wing aircraft design. I would in fact be most eager to ultimately seek to attend either the USAF Air Force Inst of Technology (AFIT), or possibly the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), to be allowed to go for a masters and/or Ph.D. in a suitable STEM field directly intended to increase my usefulness in such rotary-wing aviation design, or to possibly seek ultimately, after a suitable number of tours, to be allowed to try to submit for flight-test training, at any of the normal military flight-test schools, whether USAF, USN, or in the UK or France, possibly also the private Natl. Test Pilot School (NTPS) in California also used quite often by the military. I might also wish to ultimately seek, after adequate experience, to try to do tours in other services, and/or with other allied countries, in rotary-wing flight, and also have very seriously considered submitting to NASA for astronaut training as well.

I have attached endorsements from both the Cdr. of Navy Aviation Schools Command, as well as a personal instructor, and would of course be more than willing to also be personally interviewed as well at anytime, as needed. I think that with my prior Navy commissioned training (you didn't say if you were Annapolis, maritime college grad, regular Navy OCS, Navy aviation OCS, or NROTC, you could elaborate on that here as well), along with my prior fixed (and/or rotary) wing aviation exposure thus far (as well as any prior STEM training), that I would be fairly well prepared for the Arm rotary-wing aviation training. I also think that my level of physical fitness is such that, having researched the requirements of Army WOCS, that I think I am reasonably well-prepared. (Here you could go into your Navy PT scores, if any, any sports you're involved with, or had been, as well as any martial arts you also might do, as well).

I have given quite long and considerable thought as to the seriousness of my request here, entirely understand the gravity of it, and would not be asking for your consideration, were I not now entirely certain that I would deem myself better suited, as well as more useful, in your service component. For all those foregoing reasons, I would thus be most grateful for any possible serious consideration you might be able to afford me as to my request; should you and/or your colleagues need to speak with me, I am, of course, entirely at your disposal, my phone(s) and email address(es) are below. I appreciate your time and attention, and would of course be most grateful to be able to hear from you and/or they at your earliest conveniences.

Sincerely,

Now, having written all that, you can obviously understand that was, of course, merely just a form letter, obviously. As to the specifics, only you could ultimately fill in all of the needed details, and/or other relevant rationales involved, of course. By the way, I can assure you that being able to write such a letter was by no means natural for me for quite some time; it quite literally had to be pounded into me at USAF OTS, as well all four years I was on active in USAF, where I spent many an hour on word processors, learning, after being beaten over the head by those above me, constantly, over and over again, I gradually, over a very protracted period, managed to (I think) have some vague clue how to get such a letter halfway right, without looking like a total idiot in the process (which I most definitely did at first, and for quite some time thereafter, I assure you). I hope that at least gives you some halfway useful clues as to how to put such a letter together; in any event, that is how I would tackle the problem, were it me; I'd obviously be most eager for your thoughts, of course, I must admit, you did ask a quite thought-provoking question, I've gotta give you that much, if nothing else, honest, as well, of course.

Response by SrA John Monette made Nov 9 at 2018 4:14 PM

2018-11-09T16:14:53-05:00

so the director and an instructor want YOU to write a letter that THEY will sign. that does not sound like a good idea to me. kind of like plagiarism on the part of the director and instructor because, with their signatures, they are saying that they wrote the letters