How to Write Email with Military Precision

The first thing that the recipient of the email sees is the subject line, therefore it is critical that the subject clearly states the purpose of the email and what is needed to be done with it.

Military personnel use these keywords to prioritize and categorize:

• ACTION - compulsory for the recipient to take action
• SIGN - requires the signature of the recipient
• INFO - for informational purposes only, no action required
• DECISION - requires a decision of the recipient
• REQUEST - seeks permission or approval
• COORD - coordination by or with the recipient is needed

Military professionals begin their emails with a brief, staccato statement that states the purpose of the email and the action required, this is called their "BLUF" or Bottom Line Up Front.

An effective BLUF distills the most important information. It helps the reader or the recipient digest the content quickly since it answers the five Ws: who, what, when, where, and why.