AR · Independent reference
AR 25-50 — PREPARING AND MANAGING CORRESPONDENCE
AR 25-50: army writing style, memorandums, letters. Explore the scope overview and open the official Army source.
Official Army source
GreenBook provides independent scope overviews and catalog metadata. The official source controls the text, applicability, changes, and status; check associated directives before applying policy.
What this publication covers
AR 25-50 is the Army correspondence reference. It covers preparation and management of correspondence, including memorandums, letters, writing quality, routing, and related administrative details. It is useful when the question is how to structure an official communication rather than what substantive policy that communication should establish.
The contents separate general correspondence guidance from specific formats and Army writing style. Writers can use that structure to check the correct product before refining the wording. The publication's revision history matters: an old template may preserve formatting guidance that has since changed. GreenBook's memo-related guides can support drafting, but the signed document and its approval remain part of the official process. For a records retention question, also consult AR 25-400-2. Keep the correspondence format, the subject authority, and recordkeeping requirements distinct so a polished memo is not mistaken for an authorized policy decision.
- Army writing style
- Memorandums
- Letters
- Correspondence routing
- Administrative formatting
Who commonly uses it
Soldiers and civilian staff drafting official correspondence, supervisors reviewing products, and administrative personnel.
Where to start in the official publication
These headings were checked against the linked edition's contents. Open the PDF and use its contents or find function; page numbering can differ by viewer.
- Chapter 1: Preparing Correspondence
Common questions
What regulation covers Army memorandums?
AR 25-50 addresses preparation and management of correspondence. Consult the official edition for the applicable memorandum format and writing guidance.
Can an old template substitute for the regulation?
No. Templates may contain older formatting instructions. Compare the product against the official revision and the appropriate approval requirements.
Publication details and freshness
- Publication number
- AR 25-50
- Publication type
- AR
- Issuing authority / proponent
- Department of the Army · CIO
- APD source status
- ACTIVE
- Publication date
- 2020-10-10
- Revision date listed by APD
- 2024-10-04
- Last source verification
- 2026-10-09
- Distribution
- A APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED
APD change entries: 007 - 10/04/2024 006 - 06/29/2023 005 - 06/15/2023 004 - 11/09/2022 003 - 04/26/2021 002 - 02/04/2021 001 - 11/10/2020
Earlier editions replaced by this publication: SUPERSEDED AR 25-50, 05/17/2013. This is edition history, not a claim that the displayed publication is superseded.
APD status and distribution evidence ↗Last verification records a manual source check. GreenBook does not automatically guarantee that no later guidance has been issued.
Related publications
Related GreenBook tools and guides
- Promotion point trends
Public research aid; monthly cutoffs and individual eligibility are distinct from the regulation.
- CONOP and MFR preparation guide
Organize correspondence preparation alongside AR 25-50.