DD Form 370 Request for Reference

DD Form 370 Instructions

The individual responsible for initiating and sending out the form is the recruiter or the appropriate recruiting personnel. The responsible official should strictly keep to the following rules:

• The DD Form 370 cannot be given to the applicant to complete under any circumstances;
• The document is either given directly to the recruiter or recruiting personnel or mailed to the institution;
• The commanding officer may request two types of references: employer references and personal references. Church pastors or schoolteachers may serve as examples of personal references. References from relatives are not accepted.

The references may be requested through a DD 370 form or via a phone call.

All of the information provided in the document is strictly confidential. It is used to make a subjective judgment on an applicant's suitability. The recruiter is not allowed to divulge it either to the applicant or upon special request. Disclosure of the data is a criminal offense and may lead to a fine or imprisonment. Confidentiality is especially important if the applicant is later rejected.

The paper should be filled out and returned as soon as possible. For the convenience of the person completing the document, the return envelope requires no postage enclosed. The instructions for completing the DD 370 are as follows:

1. The first box should contain the name and address of the law enforcement agency to which the completed document must be returned.
2. Next is the applicant's identification data. Boxes 1 through 4 are for providing their full name, a mailing address, the date of birth, and dates of school attendance or employment.
3. The entire next block is meant for the individual tasked with providing a reference for the applicant. It contains an explanation of the form, an assurance of strict confidentiality, and the release of any responsibility for the applicant's conduct if accepted or not accepted.
4. The next part of the form - Boxes 5 through 9 - requires the name of the recruiting officer, their unit or command name, a signature, the date of signing, and a mailing address of the unit or command.
5. Boxes 10 through 14 are designed to define the relationship of the person completing the questionnaire to the applicant.
6. Box 15 requires providing an assessment of the applicant's qualities.
7. The applicant's relationship with alcohol or drugs should be described in Boxes 16 and 17 if there is a reason to assume that it may prevent them from performing their duties in the Army.
8. Box 18 is intended for a personal narrative about the applicant and for a detailed explanation of Box 16 and 17 if those were answered positively.

Before sending the form back to recruiters, the individual filing the questionnaire has to provide their name and title before signing and dating the form.