# Command Approval Request Memo

Drafts the internal memo requesting your commanding officer's approval to participate in the SkillBridge program. Use it after you have identified a host organization and confirmed your eligibility, so your request is specific, professional, and gives your chain of command what they need to say yes.

## Prompt

## Context

You are helping [YOUR NAME], an active-duty service member, draft a SkillBridge command approval request memo. Rank and name: [RANK AND NAME]. Unit and installation: [UNIT AND INSTALLATION]. Military specialty: [MILITARY SPECIALTY]. Commanding officer name and rank: [CO NAME AND RANK]. Proposed SkillBridge host organization: [HOST ORGANIZATION NAME AND LOCATION]. Host program name (if named): [PROGRAM NAME, or write not specified]. Proposed start date: [PROPOSED START DATE]. Proposed end date or duration: [PROPOSED END DATE OR DURATION]. Separation date: [SEPARATION DATE]. Brief description of what the program covers: [PROGRAM DESCRIPTION]. Any unit coverage or handoff plan: [COVERAGE PLAN, e.g., all duties transferred to SGT Rivera as of the start date].

## Task

Draft a military-style memo with:
1. Standard memo header: MEMORANDUM FOR, FROM, SUBJECT, and DATE fields.
2. A purpose paragraph: one or two sentences stating what you are requesting and under what authority (DOD Instruction 1322.29).
3. A program details paragraph: host organization, program name, proposed dates, and duration. State that military pay and allowances continue during the program.
4. A relevance paragraph: two to three sentences connecting the program to your transition goals and target civilian career field, without overstating what the program guarantees.
5. A unit impact paragraph: describe the coverage or handoff plan from [COVERAGE PLAN] so your commander can see the unit is not left short.
6. A request paragraph: a direct, one-sentence ask for approval.
7. A signature block for [RANK AND NAME] and an enclosures line if applicable.

## Standards

Use plain military memo format. No em dashes. Use periods or commas in their place. Do not state that the host has offered or will offer employment. SkillBridge is a training program. An offer is not guaranteed. Do not invent program details, pay rules, or DOD policy language not provided. Cite DOD Instruction 1322.29 as the governing authority but do not quote or paraphrase it beyond what is standard in approval memos. Do not invent military occupational details, ranks, or unit information not provided. Keep the memo to one page. Flag if the input is too thin to write a complete memo and ask what is missing before drafting.

## Variables

- RANK AND NAME
- UNIT AND INSTALLATION
- MILITARY SPECIALTY
- CO NAME AND RANK
- HOST ORGANIZATION NAME AND LOCATION
- PROGRAM NAME
- PROPOSED START DATE
- PROPOSED END DATE OR DURATION
- SEPARATION DATE
- PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
- COVERAGE PLAN

## Input checklist

- [ ] Confirm your eligibility window: SkillBridge programs generally must begin within 180 days of your projected separation date. Verify with your personnel office before submitting any memo.
- [ ] Obtain the host organization's official program name and location from the DOD SkillBridge directory or directly from the employer. Do not guess.
- [ ] Write out your unit coverage plan in plain terms before running this prompt. Your commander's main concern is mission impact.
- [ ] Remove your Social Security number, DoD ID number, and any sensitive personal information before pasting anything. Never paste classified or operationally sensitive unit details.
- [ ] Check your unit's internal SOP (standard operating procedure) for SkillBridge requests. Some units require an additional endorsement layer before the memo reaches the CO.
- [ ] Verify that the proposed dates do not conflict with mandatory unit events, deployment cycles, or your own out-processing milestones.

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Read the program details paragraph and confirm every date, duration, and organization name is accurate and matches what you will provide to your command.
- [ ] Confirm the memo does not state or imply that the host has offered you a job. That overstates the program and may undermine your credibility.
- [ ] Check that the unit impact paragraph reflects your actual coverage plan, not a plan the AI invented.
- [ ] Verify the DOD Instruction cited is 1322.29. Do not submit a memo citing a regulation number you have not confirmed.
- [ ] Read the memo as your commander would. Does it answer: what are you asking for, when, why, and how does the unit stay covered? If not, revise before submitting.
- [ ] Confirm the signature block, rank, and unit information are accurate before printing.
- [ ] Have your first-line supervisor or career counselor review the memo before you submit it up the chain.

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

Service member: SSG Marcus Hale, 92A, 1st Brigade Support Battalion, Fort Campbell KY. CO: LTC Sandra Merritt. Host: Apex Distribution Solutions, Nashville TN. Program: Apex Supply Chain Internship Program. Dates: December 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026. Separation date: March 15, 2026. Coverage plan: all property accountability duties transferred to SSG Torres as of November 30.

MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, 1st Brigade Support Battalion

FROM: SSG Marcus A. Hale, 92A, Supply Section

SUBJECT: Request for Approval to Participate in the DOD SkillBridge Program

DATE: October 15, 2025

1. PURPOSE. I respectfully request your approval to participate in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program under the authority of DOD Instruction 1322.29. This program allows eligible service members to gain civilian work experience with approved host organizations during the final 180 days of active duty service.

2. PROGRAM DETAILS. The proposed host organization is Apex Distribution Solutions, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The program is the Apex Supply Chain Internship Program, a full-time, on-site internship focused on logistics coordination, warehouse management systems, and supply chain analysis. Proposed start date is December 1, 2025, with a proposed end date of February 28, 2026 (90 days). Military pay and allowances continue throughout the program period. My projected separation date is March 15, 2026.

3. CAREER RELEVANCE. This program directly supports my transition to a civilian career in supply chain and logistics. The skills developed during the internship align with roles I am pursuing as a logistics coordinator or supply chain analyst. Participation provides practical civilian experience that complements my eight years as a 92A.

4. UNIT IMPACT. All property accountability duties and supply section responsibilities will be transferred to SSG Torres, who has been briefed and is prepared to assume those duties as of November 30, 2025. No mission-critical functions will be left uncovered during my absence.

5. REQUEST. I request your approval for my participation in the DOD SkillBridge Program from December 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026.

Respectfully,

MARCUS A. HALE
SSG, USA
92A, Supply Section
1st Brigade Support Battalion

ENCLOSURES:
1. DOD SkillBridge Program Approval Documentation (Host Organization)
2. SkillBridge Participation Agreement

## Customization notes

Some units require the memo to go through a senior NCO or XO endorsement before reaching the CO. Check your unit's internal process and add an endorsement line if needed. If your unit uses a specific memo template format, describe it in the program description field and the AI will adjust. For National Guard or Reserve members, the command approval process may differ. Check with your readiness NCO or State G1.

---

From The Military Transition & SkillBridge Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/transition