brendan86

Thanks, that is very helpful. I might PM you with more details once I get the third letter from another professor. It all depends really how good that one is.

I have certainly reworded my experience. My work I did with the Colonel was at its heart combat related, but our mission had us living with the local Iraqi forces, training and advising them for 15 months. His letter of recommendation phrases it in a manner that focused on my technical abilities, along with my experience at working in a diverse environment across language and cultural barriers. I took on a range of jobs that were far above my pay grade and that is the point he drives home, no mention of combat. What he conveys is a passion for learning and a commitment to hard work. It may depend on which institution I send it to.

I am applying for several grad programs to different schools for my P.H.D. in geophysics and planetary science. Some background, I spent quite a bit of time in the Army and was on some special small combat advisor teams. I have a letter of recommendation from a Lt. Colonel along with 2 professors. Would a letter from a high ranking officer help set me apart in the application process? He has his own range of merits; he is a retired Lt. Colonel, a published author and the writer of the Gideon Hawk series, and has his own range of degrees. I could get a third academic letter, but this one is a strong letter to my professional merits as he thought very highly of me.