Office Symbol	9 October 2025

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Enter Subject Line RANK Last, First MI

This MS Word Document template contains a style set named “ArmyMemo25-50.” When selected from the Design tab of the Menu Ribbon, this style set provides correct memo format for first page and subsequent page headers, footers and margins, text and paragraph spacing, and multilevel numbered list format for paragraphs and subparagraphs, as prescribed by AR 25-50 (version 10 OCT 2020 with administrative revisions through 04 OCT 2024).

From the Home tab in the Menu Ribbon, confirm in the Styles Menu that “1. Memo Body” is selected. Then, confirm in the Multilevel List submenu that “ArmyMemo_25-50” is selected as the list style. This will ensure the correct automatic formatting for paragraphs and subparagraphs in an Army Memo, as defined in Figure 2-1 from AR 25-50. A simple way to retain this format is to write over the text of the instructions in this memo.

When a memo has more than one paragraph, number the paragraphs consecutively. Use the ENTER key to create a new paragraph with consecutive numbering. It will default to the same multilevel list format as the paragraph above it.

When paragraphs are subdivided, use the TAB key to advance through the multilevel list. Use SHIFT+TAB to reverse through the subdivisions.

This will designate first subdivisions using lowercase letters of the alphabet and indent ¼ inch as shown below.

When a paragraph is subdivided there must be at least two subparagraphs. If there is a subparagraph “a” then there must be a subparagraph “b.”

Second subdivisions, like this one, are designated by numbers in parentheses and indent ½ inch as shown.

Third subdivisions, like this one, use lowercase letters in parentheses, also indented ½ inch.

Do not subdivide beyond the third subdivision.

Do not indent beyond the second subdivision.

Ensure the paragraphs and subparagraphs are single spaced, with an added space between each paragraphs. This template’s style set does it automatically, unless overridden.

For multi-page memos, pages after the first page have a different format. Instead of the department seal and unit address, the header includes the office symbol, memo subject, and date. The page number is centered on the footer.

Note that the memo template has 1-inch margins on 8.5 x 11 inch paper. From the View tab of the Menu Ribbon, selecting the Ruler checkbox displays a ruler at the top of the screen. For simplicity and uniformity, the First Line Indent, Hanging Indent and Left Indent indicators should all be aligned together, 1 inch from the leftmost edge of the page. From there, the Right Indent should be 1 inch from the rightmost edge of the page. This defines 6.25 inches between the left and right margins for the body text. These settings ensure the paragraph and subparagraph indentions are correct and that after the first line of a paragraph or subparagraph, additional lines are flush with the left margin, not indented.

Text other than the body of the memo, such as the subject line and signature block, are not numbered and do not use the multilevel list setting. In the Home tab of the Menu Ribbon, Bullets, Numbering and Multilevel Lists are set to “None.”

The signature block is 5 single-spaces below the last paragraph. This template achieves this through the last paragraph (like all body paragraphs having an extra space), plus 4 single-spaces. The left side of the signature block (see below) is centered on the page with a tab stop at 3.25 inch from the left margin. This allows for the list of enclosures, if any, to begin flush with the left margin on the same line as the first line of the signature block. However, if the name of the enclosures is too long, the text will not automatically flow into the next line without affecting the signature block; do so manually if required (rare).

When there is more than 1 enclosure, “Encl” becomes “2 Encls” and so forth, and the enclosures are numbered in the order they appear in the memo. The numeral is flush with the left margin.

For additional guidance about enclosures and distros, consult AR 25-50.

The last paragraph customarily identifies the point of contact in a single sentence or two. The point of contact for this memorandum is RANK Last, First at Phone or email.

Encl	FIRST MI LAST

25-50_Memo_JobAid.pptx	RANK, BRANCH, CAARNG

Position