Your unit's name in capitals with the MAJCOM/FLDCOM in parentheses, per DAFH 33-337.
Letter of Counseling / Admonishment / Reprimand (DAFI 36-2907)
An LOC, LOA, or LOR built on DAFI 36-2907's sample administrative letter: facts, censure and expected improvement, the Privacy Act paragraph, the 3-duty-day response paragraph, and all four indorsements.
What this worksheet covers
Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Form details
- Unit name (letterhead)
- Street, base, state, ZIP
- Date
The date you issue the letter. The 1st Ind is dated the day the member receives it.
- MEMORANDUM FOR (recipient's rank, first, MI, last)
- FROM (issuer's organization/office symbol)
- Subject
The subject is the type of letter. Choose the least severe action that will correct the behavior.
- Paragraph 1 — the basis (what the member did or failed to do, with dates)
DAFI 36-2907 para 2.4.2.1: the reasons, including what the member did or failed to do, citing specific incidents and their dates. Start by naming who found the facts.
- Paragraph 2 — censure, impact, expected improvement, and warning
Begin "You are hereby counseled/admonished/reprimanded." State the impact, the improvement expected, and that further deviation may result in more severe action (para 2.4.2.2–2.4.2.3). If no documents support the letter, add the Attachment 5 sentence saying so.
- Paragraph 3 — Privacy Act statement
Required. Use the DAFI 36-2907 Attachment 5 wording as written.
- Paragraph 4 — acknowledgment and response rights
Space Force, Regular Air Force, AGR, ARC statutory tour, and Title 10 ANG: 3 duty days. ARC members not in a duty status: replace "3 duty days" with "45 calendar days" and use the Attachment 5 ARC wording.
- Signature block (issuer)
- Attachment(s)
List every statement, report, or document that formed the basis (redacted, marked CUI). Leave blank only if paragraph 2 says there are none.
- 1st Ind — recipient's acknowledgment of receipt
Dated the day the member receives the letter.
- 2nd Ind — recipient's response
Dated within 3 duty days (45 calendar days for ARC not in duty status). The member either submits documents or waives the right to respond.
- 3d Ind — issuer's final decision
Within 3 duty days of the 2nd Ind: withdraw, sustain, or reduce the action. For officers, forward adverse information for the OSR as required.
- 4th Ind — recipient's acknowledgment of the decision
Draft / worksheet aid. Prepare it here, then transcribe into the signed letter and indorsements, filed in the member's PIF or UIF by the commander. This is not an official submission. Check it against the current official Memorandum (DAFI 36-2907, Atch 5) before use.
How to fill out the Memorandum (DAFI 36-2907, Atch 5)
Letters of Counseling (LOC), Admonishment (LOA), and Reprimand (LOR) are administrative censures for violating standards, in increasing order of severity, all governed by DAFI 36-2907. This template follows the instruction's Attachment 5 sample letter and its required statements. When: When verbal counseling or a DAF Form 174 hasn't corrected the behavior, or the misconduct is serious enough on its own. An LOC corrects habits and shortcomings; an LOA is more severe and can document a first offense; an LOR is the strongest censure. Talk to your supervisory chain, first sergeant, or legal office before issuing one.
Step by step
- Pick the letter type. Only supervisors and the officer's chain of command may issue an LOR to an officer.
- Paragraph 1: the facts. Who found them (you, a CDI, Security Forces) and what the member did or failed to do, with specific incidents and dates.
- Paragraph 2: "You are hereby counseled/admonished/reprimanded," the impact, the improvement expected, and that further deviation may result in more severe action.
- Paragraph 3: the Privacy Act statement, word for word.
- Paragraph 4: the response paragraph. Active duty, AGR, Guardians, and Title 10 ANG get 3 duty days; ARC members not in duty status get 45 calendar days.
- List every statement, report, or document you relied on as an attachment, redacted and marked CUI. If there are none, say so in paragraph 2.
- Serve the letter; the member signs the 1st Ind on receipt. Consider their response (2nd Ind) and give your decision within 3 duty days (3d Ind). The member acknowledges the decision (4th Ind).
What a strong one looks like
- Write facts a stranger could verify: dates, times, places, and the standard. Citing the specific UCMJ article or instruction adds clarity but isn't required.
- Day counting: the day of receipt isn't counted, so a letter received Monday is due by close of business Thursday.
- Tell the member where to get help responding: Area Defense Counsel and the first sergeant.
- Decide on UIF and control roster separately. LORs for officers are mandatory UIF entries.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the Privacy Act paragraph or the response paragraph. They're required statements.
- Relying on documents you don't attach. Anything that formed the basis must be listed and provided (redacted).
- Missing the 3-duty-day decision window after the member responds.
- Using the letter to argue about character instead of documenting conduct.
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