Letter of Introduction?

LTC Montgomery,
Sir, I am one of those soldiers who has written a Letter of Introduction. I read the Officer Handbook prior to entering the service so when I arrived at my first unit I had a Letter of Introduction for the Commander. The Commander laughed at me about how silly I was to write one. This was the first and last time I wrote such a letter.

James, I don't like them, especially from Lieutenants. New Captains that KNOW they are on a pinpoint assignment to a unit could write the commander, but I am more influenced by a CPTs updated ORB and a strong induction in person. For Lieutenants, come in shape and eager to learn and lead...

Sir, I think the advancement of technology and implimentation of the sponsorship program has made that practice go away. I did not send a letter when I PCS'd in 2012, but the leadership already knew all my credentials, as they had contacted me via the sponsorship channels, as well as they have access to ERB, iPERMs and things of that nature.

Interesting questions, albeit 4 years ago. I'm working on that issue right now, in a different light. I wrote an email to my O6 when I transferred to Fort Leavenworth, but as an O5 it didn't seem like a huge breach of protocol. When I was a younger, I already new who my commanders where going to be, and I to them so one was not necessary. And yet again, I am PCS'ing to a new assignment where the CG and the staff already now who I am. I am tempted to send the 1-star a letter/email with my officer bio and ORB only because I serious doubt he received them. Now-a-days, I do a letter to the senior person Ill be working with/for when going on TDY for some short assignment. Just to give them a heads up on who I am, my experience, and a little background. I feel that I don't want to go in cold into a new situation especially if the people I'll be working for, no matter how short the operations, will be counting on me to make things work. If anything, they might want to write a short letter to my CO saying how much they appreciated my assistance which pays dividends come OER time. In then end, I don't think it hurts. I also think it shows you are showing some respect to their rank and position with a little curtesy. And if that gets your foot in the door and puts you on his front-burner of people he things about, so much the better. Better to be known and succeed then in the back and fail... I think that's how that saying it goes?

I am new to Rally Point and have noticed a lot of people saying not to do an intro letter. Rhetorical question, why am I doing a sample one at Captain's Career Course. As a reservist I only get two weeks...seems my time would be better spent on other things.

At OCS we were still "strongly encouraged" to write letters of introduction.

I am curious though if it's more appropriate to mail or email a letter (I forget what I did last time).

LTC Montgomery,
I hadn't heard of this (been in a bit longer than you, but RC the whole time), and think it is a phenomenal idea. Definitely very old school. However, based on the other comments in this thread, I believe it would be seen as brown nosing.

Technology and bureaucracy have some good points (yes, I said bureaucracy!!!!), but we lose something when we turn our backs on some of the old school courtly-type stuff that used to be done back in the day. It diminishes the "and gentleman" part.