SGT Private RallyPoint Member4696350<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So I graduated AIT a month ago and was promoted to PFC upon graduation. I was going to email 2 of my drill sergeants from there and ask them for a letter of recommendation if only for myself. Do those carry any weight in the future for me or is it just nice to have?Letters of recommendation?2019-06-04T12:55:11-04:00SGT Private RallyPoint Member4696350<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So I graduated AIT a month ago and was promoted to PFC upon graduation. I was going to email 2 of my drill sergeants from there and ask them for a letter of recommendation if only for myself. Do those carry any weight in the future for me or is it just nice to have?Letters of recommendation?2019-06-04T12:55:11-04:002019-06-04T12:55:11-04:00SPC Margaret Higgins4696359<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Private First Class: I would imagine that letters of recommendation carry a lot of weight. They have for me.Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jun 4 at 2019 1:00 PM2019-06-04T13:00:06-04:002019-06-04T13:00:06-04:00CPT Enrique M.4696370<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I guess I am in the school of thought that lor needs a purpose without purpose a general lor tends not to pack a punch to whomever the audience is. <br /><br />As far your question unless it's being used for a specific purpose, then it's just a nice to have.<br /><br />That's my personal opinion.Response by CPT Enrique M. made Jun 4 at 2019 1:03 PM2019-06-04T13:03:54-04:002019-06-04T13:03:54-04:00MAJ Ken Landgren4696426<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I see little value in the letters. The best way to build value is how you conduct yourself at the first unit.Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 4 at 2019 1:33 PM2019-06-04T13:33:54-04:002019-06-04T13:33:54-04:00LTC Private RallyPoint Member4696428<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Nearly 35 years in, never saw LOR do much good.Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 1:36 PM2019-06-04T13:36:13-04:002019-06-04T13:36:13-04:00SGM Private RallyPoint Member4696449<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>A letter of rec that states how you did in AIT? Nice to have.<br />I have reviewed letters of rec for hiring, retention and promotion, and what I'm looking for there is how well the Soldier did in his MOS and as a leader, performance and potential, and a letter of rec has more thought put into it than a copy/paste NCOER.<br />For AIT, I wouldn't even read the letter of rec, i would just check the 1059 to see if you made honor grad or commandant's list.<br />If you are planning to volunteer for another unit on Bragg, like 112th or something else, then you'll want to smoke your job for the next year or two and get an outstanding letter of rec from the commander you are working for now.Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 1:48 PM2019-06-04T13:48:05-04:002019-06-04T13:48:05-04:00CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member4696459<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>LOR would not be very helpful for anything more than a pat on the back. Just do your best yo carry over your performance and enthusiasm to your first unit. Your monthly councilings will be weighed heavily by your CSM and local promotion board. He would likely not even bother looking at an LOR. <br /><br />Just inquiring about this shows you care about your profession and have your mind in the right place. Sounds like you have a promising future. Good luck!Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 1:58 PM2019-06-04T13:58:14-04:002019-06-04T13:58:14-04:00CSM Darieus ZaGara4697146<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>They would do. Itching for you that I can think of. If you are using them as a reference for civilian hire, maybe. Thank you for your service.Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jun 4 at 2019 7:42 PM2019-06-04T19:42:10-04:002019-06-04T19:42:10-04:00MSG Frank Kapaun4698109<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do your drills even remember you at this point?Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Jun 5 at 2019 9:30 AM2019-06-05T09:30:07-04:002019-06-05T09:30:07-04:00SPC Robert Bobo4698153<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Kind of like an applicant giving me a letter of recommendation from a college teacher, I see no value at the AIT levelResponse by SPC Robert Bobo made Jun 5 at 2019 9:41 AM2019-06-05T09:41:47-04:002019-06-05T09:41:47-04:00SSG Private RallyPoint Member4782347<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Same thing happened to me during AIT. Got a letter from the commander and gave it to my leaders when I arrived to my unit years ago. They read it, said good job, and that was it. They were able to determine what kind of person I am from that but it really doesnt do much.Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2019 12:21 PM2019-07-05T12:21:22-04:002019-07-05T12:21:22-04:00SGT Darron Brelje5018626<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It can work for you against you. Military and civilian. It also depends on how long you been in a position and retained knowledgeResponse by SGT Darron Brelje made Sep 13 at 2019 1:42 AM2019-09-13T01:42:14-04:002019-09-13T01:42:14-04:00MAJ Ken Landgren7351548<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am going to walk back what I said. Those letters might be of value if you ETS. Here is just a thought. When I was garnering letters of recommendation for OCS, I wrote my own letters of recommendation to give to the person who I was trying to get a letter from. This did two things:<br /><br />- It made it easier for the person who you are seeking a letter from. <br />- You have relative control over the content of the letters.Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 4 at 2021 12:40 PM2021-11-04T12:40:22-04:002021-11-04T12:40:22-04:002019-06-04T12:55:11-04:00